Climbing to the top of The Monument to the Great Fire of London

As part of our entrance ticket to the Tower Bridge Experience (£12.00 adults £5.50 children), we also got to climb one of London’s other historic landmarks – The Monument to the Fire of London on Fish Street Hill which was built to commemorate the rebuilding of the city of London after the great fire in 1666.

We have walked passed the monument several times before on the way to Bank tube station but we never realised that you could climb to the top.

Now dwarfed by the huge skyscrapers of the city this was once one of London’s tallest structures when it was constructed in 1671 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

It stretches 202 feet into the sky, the same distance the Monument is from the bakery at Pudding Lane where the fire began.

Tucked around the back of the building was the entrance to the top of the Tower.

Climbing the 311 narrow spiral staircase to the top of the tower was definitely a 5-10 minute workout but the children loved the adventure.

Holly loved stopping off at the many tiny windows en-route to look at the views on the way to the top.

If you are claustrophobic or really don’t like heights, then this is not the place for you.  It was pretty cramped making the climb as only 33 people at a time are allowed in the structure but it was worth the effort  for the incredible panoramic views at the top.

We could see St Pauls, the skyscrapers of the city of London and where we had just come from at Tower Bridge.

Although you won’t get the same great views as those offered at the Shard or the Sky Garden, this experience was much more a fun family adventure to get to the top.

Once we came back down to ground level, we were rewarded with a certificate each for successfully making the climb to the top, which the children were particularly proud of.

It’s not every day that you get to go inside two of London’s most iconic and historic buildings and the views from both were incredible.

For the latest opening hours and admission prices visit the Monument to the Great Fire of London website

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