Monument to the Great Fire of London

The Monument to the Great Fire of London, commonly called the Monument, is a freestanding stone column in the City of London commemorating the Great Fire of 1666. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, it was constructed in the late 17th century and serves as both memorial and viewpoint.

The Doric column stands over 60 metres tall with a viewing platform reached via a spiral stair. Its base marks the general vicinity of the fire’s origin and the structure bears inscriptions describing the event and its aftermath.

Built after the fire as part of the city’s reconstruction, the Monument has been maintained as a civic memorial and tourist viewpoint since its completion. It remains a prominent feature of the City of London skyline and is adjacent to the Monument Underground station.

The column is located near the northern end of London Bridge in the historic core of the City of London, close to the River Thames and major transport links.

• Height and steps: The column is 202 feet (61.5 metres) tall and reached by a narrow internal spiral staircase of 311 steps with a viewing platform at the top.
• View and location: Best views of the City of London and River Thames are on clear days; the Monument sits near the original start point of the 1666 Great Fire on Pudding Lane.