Great Fire Of London Locations For You And Your Kids

In 1666, one of history’s biggest accidents occurred and to this day, we’re still hearing about its impact that it had on London.

Of course, we’re talking about the Great Fire of London, where a freak spark from a baker’s oven in Pudding Lane led to four days of destruction.

This massive event changed London’s landscape forever and was written extensively about in Samuel Peyps’ famous diary.

Nowadays though, you have the opportunity to learn more by visiting the areas and walking around. 

You can listen to tour guides and read lots more around these places through a Great Fire walk – but where exactly can you go with your kids?

Well, we’ve written this handy guide that explains where you and your kids can go and find out so much more about this tragic event. 

Read on and discover what you need to know!

[1] Pudding Lane 

Where else better to start than the home of the bakery where the huge fire initially originated?

Over the years, historians and other theorists have posed conspiracy theories that argue Thomas Farriner actually started the blaze purposely. 

Indeed, it was Farriner whose family first awoke to the smell of the smoke and it is said that his maid was the first person to lose their life in the tragedy because she would not jump out of the window. 

However, she would not be the last. The official records state that six people lost their lives due to the fire, but historians argue that the number is likely to be much more than this. 

On the face of things, you would see Pudding Lane as just your average street in London, but if you take a look around, you will find a commemorative plaque that was originally granted by King Henry the Seventh in the fifteenth century. 

Speaking of this plaque, while the one in place was set up in the late 1980s, bizarrely the original one is still with us and you can find it in the Museum of London.

What kids absolutely love about this area though is the concrete blocks which have phrases like “London’s Burning!” and “Pour On Water” carved into them. They enjoy playing on them and singing along. 

This is also a place where you can get some great photography opportunities for you and your kids. Be a part of history and make your own history at the same time!

[2] The Monument 

A second stop on your Great Fire walk is only feet away from the first and it is famous for a monument that commemorates the fire. It is situated on the crossroads between Fish Street Hill and Monument Street.

It’s a very intriguing sculpture which was first designed by Sir Christopher Wren and was finalised in the late seventeenth century – although technically the final pieces of the monument were finished in 2009.

It stands at exactly 202 feet and there’s a reason for this. If you were to place it down, it would reach the spot where the Great Fire Of London first started in the bakery.

On top of the plaque which you can read at the bottom of the monument, you can climb up the 311 steps to the gallery which overlooks the City of London – which can be a remarkable sight. 

It is this climb that the kids absolutely adore the most, and again – it’s a great place where you can all catch a great photograph of you all, and indeed the view!

On the three sides of the monument, you can find Latin inscriptions, but interestingly one was removed in 1830 which blamed Catholics for the fire! 

[3] St Paul’s Cathedral 

Around the area of St Paul’s Cathedral, you will find a whole host of historical importance. Indeed, keep your eyes peeled for all that is left behind of 1600s London – like the shields on the livery halls for example. 

Speaking of remnants though, St Paul’s Cathedral has a little bit of a disastrous history, steeped somewhat in irony. Prior to the Great Fire, the Cathedral was not in great condition.

This was largely a result of a lightning strike, but the civil war wear and tear also played a key role. Prior to the Great Fire, nobody could get on the same page for what to do with the Cathedral. 

Many argued that it should be renovated, others argued it should be restored to its original design, some said it should be torn down and rebuilt and some even said to leave it alone.

Unfortunately, the Great Fire of London forced their choice! 

The fire’s great heat managed to melt the roof and explode the stone walls, causing the building to collapse.

In fact, it was one of few buildings that primarily was made of stone and some locals believed it to be a safe place to shelter, as their homes were built of wood.

Of course, we now know that this was the opposite of a good idea – but at the time, it was seemingly the right move. 

Nowadays, we are all pretty familiar with the design of St Paul’s Cathedral with its iconic dome roof designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and it’s hard to envisage a time when it wasn’t there. 

At this point, you’re probably wondering how this is going to be fun for kids – well, this is inside the Cathedral. Apart from Sundays when you cannot visit due to special services, you can go inside. 

Within, your kids can enjoy the “Whispering Gallery” which is where a whisper from one side of the wall can be heard on the other side. It’s really eerie but it’s really good! 

The cathedral is home to much more than this though, including plenty of steps which lead to more galleries and the sites of movie sets – like Harry Potter. But perhaps the most iconic are the tombs of famous Britons. 

These tombs include Sir Christopher Wren, Florence Nightingale, Lord Nelson, Lord Wellington, Samuel Johnson and perhaps most appropriately – John Donne – who was the only person to have survived the Great Fire here. 

[4] Museum Of London 

It’s no secret that a lot of London’s history had Roman influence, and on your way to the Museum of London, you can see a bit of this with the Barbican wall. 

While the museum itself has now closed and is moving to a new premises at Smithfield, you can still see some parts of the Great Fire’s history around, and indeed through their archives online. 

Indeed, the Museum housed plaques of significant history from London, including both the Black Death and the Great Fire of London.

As we mentioned earlier, the original commemorative plaque for the fire now belongs with the Museum. 

An interesting fact here is that the original plaque also blames the Catholics for the fire, with people pointing the finger at the person who was executed for the fire, a Frenchman called Robert Hubert. 

We have since learned that his confession should not have been accepted as he was described as being mentally ill and as we know the majority of the facts from the fire’s origin, we can pretty much confirm that Robert was innocent of these charges.

[5] Chancery Lane 

Chancery Lane houses part of mediaeval London that survived the Great Fire, but you’re going to need to catch a bus to get here if you do not want to walk too far from your previous stop. 

The Staple Inn is one of only four remaining original Tudor buildings left in the entire City Of London and its origins date back to around the mid sixteenth century.

This specific area was famous because it is said to be where the Great Fire actually stopped. 

[6] Bonus Areas 

There are a few other places to go with your kids, but the top five we have listed here are by far the best to attend with plenty of photography opportunities and some things that kids might like to do. 

However, if you’re hoping for some more places to go to absorb much more of London’s history in terms of the Great Fire of London, then you should take a look at what we have in store next. 

If you’re hoping to see more original buildings, then on the early stages of your walk, you can find 41 Cloth Fair which is said to be the oldest house in London’s city and supposedly was built sometime between 1597 and 1614. 

Or why not visit the Tower of London – which is the oldest Church in London – and originally erected at some point during the seventh century.

In terms of the Great Fire, it was said that Samuel Peyps climbed the tower to record the Great Fire in his diary! 

Perhaps crazily, the Tower of London only survived the Great Fire due to the fact that other buildings that collapsed around it caused a firebreak. 

Finally, if you want to see something that isn’t specifically about the Great Fire but it proves something about it – you can visit the alleyways off St Martin’s Lane.

Goodwin’s Court has a fire mark on the wall, dating to about forty years after the Great Fire. 

While this was not caused by the Great Fire, it is proof that houses began to be built with some sort of fire safety afterwards – and remember, this is way before London had any sort of fire brigade. 

What Might I Need To Know? 

There’s a lot of things that you might need to remember when you’re going to attend a Great Fire of London walk. Below, we’ve got some things that you should remember. 

Tickets 

It’s possible that some of these areas will require ticket purchases.

For example, St Paul’s Cathedral costs between £17 and £20 for adults and between £7.20 and £8.50 for children if you want to walk around inside or on its grounds. 

The prices differ depending on how you purchase them, with online booking saving you a few pounds.

It’s also a good idea to book online anyway because advanced bookings are very much recommended. This is because of how popular the area is with adults and kids, tourists and locals alike.

Climbing the monument will also require a fee being paid and it’s a good idea to take physical cash with you, just in case the card machine is not working properly or you wish to tip some of the staff.

There are some ways you can save money though on this walk. For example, you can buy family tickets and dual tickets for both the Monument and Tower Bridge exhibitions.

It’s a good idea to do this anyway for a more rounded experience.

Not to mention that the staff will always try to cater for its younger visitors, so your kids won’t get bored with all the historical and architectural chatter!

Of course, there are also areas which are free to visit – like Pudding Lane for instance. However, you can purchase tickets for tour guides sometimes.

You will need to check online for these services and always ensure you are using an official tour guide. 

Changes 

As we mentioned earlier, the Museum of London is now closed and moving to new premises in the next few years. As a result, it’s always a good idea to check for any changes to exhibits or buildings before you attend. 

Changes can occur for a multitude of reasons.

Primarily, weather and bank holidays will play the biggest role – and if you are thinking about having a walk around Christmas time when the lights are very pretty around the city – you need to plan ahead. 

Speaking of the weather, it’s a good idea to plan ahead for the conditions too. Remember, it’s London – so rain is entirely possible! Therefore you might need to bring an umbrella or book for another day. 

During the summer, it can get very hot around London and the walk can sometimes be very tiring. It’s recommended that you bring water with you, sun cream and protective clothing for you and your children. 

If it is extremely hot, you should break up your walk and take as many rest stops as you need. Indeed, it is a common sight to see around London at this time, people sitting out of the sun! 

Bring Some Change 

While some people think cash is becoming a little outdated nowadays and do not feel comfortable bringing cash with them all the time, it’s a good idea to bring a small amount of physical money. 

As we said earlier, it’s possible that card machines will stop working or the operation changes to a cash only system.

On top of this, tipping is much more simple with cash and you might need a couple of pounds in change for random expenses. 

Plan Your Journey 

It’s always going to be a good idea to plan your journey in advance, but this is especially important if you live outside of London. With this kind of walk, it’s wise to plan your times for lunch, rest breaks and your travel requirements. 

If you live outside London, it’s a good idea to try to book hotels near this area. It can be problematic sometimes trying to catch transport home, especially during bank holidays or the weekends. 

Try to remember to check for any big events taking place on your proposed day of travel too.

It can often be troublesome to get around during football matches alone, so when it comes to larger scale events – it’s pretty much impossible! 

Where Can I Learn More About The Great Fire Of London?

You can visit many online resources which tell you a lot more about the Great Fire of London. When you’re on your tour, some of these resources will be pointed out to you by tour guides. 

The Museum of London’s website is an excellent tool. As they are currently closed, they provide some really handy information about their artefacts and exhibitions. 

And don’t forget to ask any staff members all of your biggest questions! They are there to help and have a huge depth of knowledge.

Will My Kids Enjoy The Walk?

Absolutely. While it’s possible that they might get a little restless during times without tour guides, the other times are tailored for everyone – so the staff always try to make it an enjoyable experience for kids and adults alike. 

Final Thoughts 

The Great Fire of London is one of the biggest historical events that happened in our country, so it’s always a harrowing experience visiting the sites where the fire initially took place. 

So, if you really want to know more about it and give your kids a head start in their schoolwork, it’s well worth a visit!