Towering over the piazza between Monument Street and Fish Hill Street, in London’s financial district is The Monument, one of the city’s most famous attractions.
Yet, I suspect most people working or passing by in the City of London barely notice it.
I know I certainly didn’t.
You definitely get a bit blasé to some of the incredible landmarks in London when you live or work there.
So, I’ve spent the last couple of summers playing tourist in my own city to get a bit of appreciation of what is on my doorstep.
One of the landmarks I visited was The Monument to the Great Fire of London. It was a bit of a revelation to be honest.
In this post, I share my experience of what it was like to climb The Monument.
Whether you are visiting London for a city break or just a day out, this is well worth adding to your things to do in London list.
What is the Monument to the Great Fire of London?
The Monument is a tall hollow doric column built to commemorate the Great Fire of London.
On top of the column flames rise from a copper urn symbolising the Great Fire.
Located in the City of London, near the north side of London bridge, it is known just as Monument.
Why was the Monument to the Great Fire of London built?
The Monument was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London which devastated much of the city in 1666.
The fire started in a baker’s house in Pudding Lane. After a long summer with little rain, the wooden buildings of London were very dry and the fire swept through the city with ease.
It burned for four days. When it was finally extinguished, over 13,000 homes were destroyed and 100,00 people were homeless.
87 churches were also lost including the original St Paul’s Cathedral.
As the city was being rebuilt it was decided there should be a permanent memorial to the fire near where it began.
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who also designed St Paul’s Cathedral, and his colleague Dr Robert Hooke, The Monument celebrates the rebuilding of the city.
One interesting fact about The Monument is that if you laid it down, it would reach the spot where the fire started 61 meters away.
Things to know about visiting The Monument
If are you planning to visit The Monument – and I recommend you do – there are a few things to be aware of so you can make sure you trip is as smooth as possible.
Your bag will be searched before you climb the column
As you enter and before you can start the climb, your bag will be searched.
If you can, leave large bags at home. You won’t be able to take them up to the top with you.
There is a space at the bottom where you can leave them but it’s probably easier to not bring a huge bag if possible.
The space inside The Monument is limited
As you may expect with such a narrow column, space inside is limited.
Only 30 visitors are allowed to climb to the viewing platform at any one time.
It can be bit of a squeeze with people coming up and down the staircase at the same time. There is also limited space on the platform at the top.
To avoid any potential crowds or queues, it is worth getting there as early as you can.
It can be a bit of a challenging climb
There are 311 spiral steps to the top and can be bit of a tough climb. You can take the odd break, thanks to a few recesses in the wall. However, there are no seats or areas to catch your breath.
Once you start the climb you are committed so make sure you have your comfy shoes on!
You can buy a joint ticket to visit The Monument and Tower Bridge.
If you also plan to visit Tower Bridge you can buy a ticket for both attractions and save 20%.
These tickets can be bought at either attraction.
What is like to climb The Monument
When you enter The Monument, you are immediately struck by how narrow it is.
Not that it is a huge surprise but it is a little hard to believe you are standing inside the column.
After purchasing a ticket at the small ticket office, you start your climb up the 311 steps to the viewing platform.
The staircase spirals up to the top. They seem to go on forever and feel slightly narrower the higher you get. I’m sure that’s just a trick of the mind though.
There is no place to stop and take a rest however, there are a few small cavities in the wall where you can have a brief sit down.
Once you reach the top of the staircase and exit through the door onto the viewing platform you are rewarded with a 360° view of the city 160 feet above the ground.
From Tower Bridge to The Shard and beyond, it seems like you can see for miles.
The platform is quite narrow but two people can pass each other fairly comfortably.
The area is enclosed by a wire mesh so you don’t have to worry about falling off or dropping any items.
The hexagon gaps on the mesh are just about large enough to be able to take photos through.
How to visit The Monument
The Monument is open all year around expect between 24-26 December.
It is open between 9.30am-1pm and 2pm-6pm.
You can buy tickets on the day or in advance online.
The ticket prices are
Adult: £5.80
Child £2.90
Children under five are free and all children under the age of 15 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
How to get to The Monument
It is super easy to get to The Monument.
The nearest tube station is Monument which is on both the Circle and District Lines.
It is also a short walk away from Bank Station which is on the Central Line.
Other nearby stations include Cannon Street, Fenchurch Street, London Bridge and Liverpool Street.
You can also reach The Monument by riverboat with London Bridge City Pier about 10 minute walk away.
The last word
There are no shortage of places to get an aerial view of London.
However, if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary, then climbing The Monument should be top of your list.
As well as the spectacular view across the city, it provides a real connection to London’s past.
All that for little more than a fiver!
You may also like…
- Things to do near Tower Bridge
- Facts about Tower Bridge that might surprise you
- Things to do around Liverpool Street Station