The height of the column (202 feet) is exactly equal to its distance from the site of the bakery on Pudding Lane where the fire began.
The viewing platform was enclosed with a cage in the 1840s to prevent people from jumping off, following multiple suicides.
Robert Hooke’s original design included a central shaft for gravity experiments and a transit instrument for astronomical observations.
The internal spiral staircase consists of exactly 311 steps made of black marble.
The Latin inscriptions on the base were removed in 1830 because they falsely accused Catholics of starting the fire.
The gilded urn at the top weighs approximately 200 kilograms.
The Monument was completed in 1677, eleven years after the fire destroyed the majority of the medieval city.
It is built on the site of the former church of St Margaret, New Fish Street, which was destroyed in the 1666 fire.
The Monument to the Great Fire of London is a 62-meter-tall fluted Doric column designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. It stands 61 meters from the site in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire started in 1666. The structure is built from Portland stone and features a gilded urn of fire at its summit. Visitors reach the viewing gallery by climbing 311 spiral stone steps. The gallery offers panoramic views of the City of London and the Thames. The base of the column is adorned with a relief sculpture by Caius Gabriel Cibber. It remains one of the tallest isolated stone columns in the world. The Monument serves both as a memorial and as a site for scientific experiments, originally intended for use as a zenith telescope.
The viewing gallery provides a unique vantage point for architectural photography of the London skyline.
Wear comfortable, flat shoes as the 311-step climb is narrow and requires significant physical effort.
Visit on a clear day to maximize visibility from the gallery, as the platform is outdoors and exposed to the elements.
Keep your commemorative certificate, which you receive upon completing the climb to the top.
Do not attempt the climb if you suffer from claustrophobia or fear of heights, as the staircase is confined.
Closed on December 24th, 25th, and 26th.
Physical fitness is required for the climb; visitors should be mindful of others in the narrow spiral stairwell.
