The Monument (Great Fire 1666) (The Monument (London))

Member Name: Gotcha

Product:	The Monument (London)
Date:	04/07/00 (118 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic Views From Balcony

Disadvantages: Lots of Steps!

Just tucked away in a quiet corner of The City, off Eastcheap, lies The Monument – a reminder of the Great Fire of 1666.

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the Monument is 202ft tall – if you were to lay this column down and point it West, the tip would sit on the spot where the fire actually started.

Tourists can pay a fee (was a pound when I went! A few years ago now) to enter the column and climb the 311 spiral steps up to the balcony. From here, much of the city can be seen.

Interestingly, you get a much better feel for the City from this viewpoint – the new buildings blending with the old, and the hurried commuters below.

Of all the places I used to visit when working in The City, the monument is one of the most spectacular (and that`s even with my fear of heights!).

To reach this historic landmark, head for Monument Tube which is right next door, or Cannon Street Station which is just a few minutes walk away. Active sightseers can cross London Bridge on foot to reach Monument from the South and take in the wonderful view of The River Thames and HMS Belfast en-route.

If history is up your street, you could do worse than spend a few hours visiting this place!

Note: To climb the spiral staircase, you will need to be reasonably fit.

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