The Great Fire of London: Places You Can Still Visit Today

London has changed dramatically since 1666, but the story of the Great Fire has never completely disappeared. More than three centuries later, you can still stand near the place where the fire began, visit churches that were rebuilt after the disaster and see monuments created to remember what happened.

The Great Fire of London was one of the most important events in the city’s history. It destroyed a huge part of the medieval City of London and changed the way the capital was rebuilt. While many of the buildings that stood in 1666 are gone, their stories remain connected to streets, churches, monuments and archaeological remains that you can still explore today.

If you are interested in Great Fire of London places to visit, you do not need to visit a museum to experience this history. Much of it is still visible in the streets of the City. Here are 10 Great Fire of London sites that you can visit today.

What Was the Great Fire of London?

The Great Fire of London began during the early hours of 2 September 1666 at the bakery of Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane in the City of London. At the time, much of the City consisted of tightly packed buildings, many made largely from timber. A long dry summer and strong winds created ideal conditions for the flames to spread rapidly.

The fire burned for four days. It destroyed around 13,200 houses and 87 parish churches, along with important buildings including the Royal Exchange, Guildhall and the medieval St Paul’s Cathedral. Around 80 percent of the City of London was affected, although the fire did not destroy the whole of London.

The response to the disaster eventually changed London itself. New rebuilding regulations encouraged the use of brick and stone, while Sir Christopher Wren became one of the most important figures in the rebuilding of the City. His work included the new St Paul’s Cathedral and numerous City churches.

Where Did the Great Fire of London Start?

The fire started at a bakery on Pudding Lane, close to the River Thames and London Bridge. Thomas Farriner was the King’s baker and his bakery became the starting point of the disaster. According to historical accounts, the fire began during the night and spread quickly through the surrounding wooden buildings. A plaque on Pudding Lane marks the location associated with the beginning of the Great Fire.

There is an interesting detail worth knowing before you visit. The modern street does not look anything like it did in 1666 and the original bakery no longer exists. The plaque therefore helps identify the historic location rather than showing you the original building.

Standing here and then looking towards the Monument is a useful way to understand the geography of the event. The Monument was deliberately positioned 202 feet from the site of the fire, making the relationship between the two locations part of the story itself.

1. Pudding Lane

Best for: Seeing where the Great Fire began

Pudding Lane is the most obvious starting point for anyone following the Great Fire of London history. In the early hours of 2 September 1666, a fire broke out at Thomas Farriner’s bakery here. What began as a local fire soon became a disaster that transformed the City of London.

The surrounding area looked very different from today’s London. Streets were narrower, buildings were packed closely together and many structures were made from timber. Warehouses and businesses around the river also contained highly flammable materials. Strong winds helped the fire move rapidly from one building to another.

Today, you will not find the original bakery. Instead, a plaque identifies the historic location. That may sound underwhelming compared with London’s grand monuments, but the simplicity of the spot can actually make the history feel more real. You are standing in the same part of the City from which the disaster began more than 350 years ago.

Location: Pudding Lane, City of London
Average time: 15-30 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free
Tip: Combine it with The Monument and nearby historic churches
Note: Do not visit Pudding Lane as an isolated stop. Walk from here to The Monument and then continue towards St Dunstan in the East or St Mary-le-Bow for a much fuller Great Fire experience.

2. The Monument to the Great Fire of London

Best for: The Great Fire memorial and City views

The Monument is probably the most recognisable Great Fire of London landmark. Standing 202 feet high near London Bridge, it was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke and built between 1671 and 1677 to commemorate the disaster and the rebuilding of the City.

Its location was carefully chosen. The Monument stands exactly 202 feet from the place on Pudding Lane associated with the start of the fire. Its height is also 202 feet, creating a deliberate relationship between the memorial and the event it commemorates. At the top is a gilded flaming urn representing the fire.

Visitors can climb the 311 spiral steps to reach the viewing platform. The climb is part of the experience, although it is not suitable for visitors with mobility difficulties or wheelchair users because there is no lift to the top. The viewing platform sits about 160 feet above ground level and provides views across the modern City.

The Monument therefore gives you two experiences at once, a physical reminder of the Great Fire and a chance to look at the modern city that grew from the rebuilding that followed.

Location: Fish Street Hill, City of London
Average time: 30-45 minutes
Entry Ticket: Adult £7, child £3.50
Tip: Be prepared to climb 311 steps
Note: The Monument is currently open daily from 9:30am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, with last entry at 12:30pm and 5:30pm. Always check the official schedule before travelling because occasional closures can occur.

3. St Paul’s Cathedral

Best for: Understanding the destruction and rebuilding of Old St Paul’s

The present St Paul’s Cathedral is not the building that stood in London in 1666. The medieval Old St Paul’s Cathedral was one of the most important buildings destroyed during the Great Fire. The new cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and eventually completed in the early 18th century.

The old cathedral had already been undergoing repair work when the fire reached it. On 4 September, burning material landed on its roof, which had wooden scaffolding and timber elements associated with the restoration work. The fire quickly took hold, and the lead roof melted under the extreme heat. By the end of the disaster, the medieval cathedral was effectively ruined.

The building visitors see today is therefore one of the clearest examples of London’s post-fire rebuilding. Wren’s new cathedral became a defining feature of the rebuilt City and remains one of London’s most important landmarks.

For someone studying the Great Fire of London sites, the significance goes beyond the cathedral itself. Standing outside St Paul’s helps you understand just how far the fire reached and how dramatically the skyline changed after 1666.

Location: St Paul’s Churchyard, City of London
Average time: 1.5-2 hours
Entry Ticket: £27 adult, £10.50 child for sightseeing
Tip: Visit the Crypt as well as the Cathedral Floor
Note: Current sightseeing admission is £27 for adults and £10.50 for children aged 6-17, with the Cathedral Floor, Crypt and Dome Galleries included. Services remain free to attend separately.

4. St Dunstan in the East

Best for: Historic ruins and understanding London’s repeated destruction

St Dunstan in the East is one of the most atmospheric places connected with London’s history. Today it looks like a peaceful garden surrounded by the remains of a church, but its story involves several different periods of destruction and rebuilding.

The church was originally built around 1100 and was severely damaged during the Great Fire of 1666. It was later rebuilt, with work associated with Christopher Wren. However, the church suffered another major disaster during the Blitz in 1941. After the Second World War, the decision was made not to rebuild it again as a functioning church. Instead, the surviving structure became a public garden.

This makes St Dunstan particularly interesting because the ruins you see today are not simply ruins left by the Great Fire. They are the result of several centuries of rebuilding, damage and changing decisions about the site.

The combination of old stone walls, arches and greenery makes the place feel remarkably removed from the surrounding financial district. It is a useful reminder that London has repeatedly rebuilt itself after major disasters.

Location: St Dunstan’s Hill, City of London
Average time: 30-45 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free
Tip: Look beyond the garden and notice the surviving church structure
Note: Entry is free and visitors can take personal photographs without needing permission. The nearest Tube stations are Monument and Tower Hill.

5. London Wall

Best for: Understanding the medieval City that existed before 1666

London Wall helps put the Great Fire into a much wider historical context. The wall itself predates the fire by more than a thousand years, with the Roman defensive wall constructed around AD 190–225. It later continued to define the boundaries of London through the medieval period.

Why does it matter to the Great Fire? Because the fire devastated a city whose streets and neighbourhoods had developed within these old boundaries. The medieval City was dense, crowded and filled with buildings and businesses packed into a relatively small area.

Today, sections of the Roman and medieval wall remain visible in different parts of the City. Around the Barbican, you can see surviving stretches of the ancient wall integrated into the modern urban landscape. The contrast between Roman masonry, medieval remains and modern architecture is one of the most interesting aspects of exploring this part of London.

Although London Wall was not itself created because of the Great Fire, visiting it helps explain what the City looked like historically and why the medieval urban environment was so different from modern London.

Location: Around London Wall, City of London
Average time: 45-60 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free to explore visible sections
Tip: Look for the surviving Roman and medieval sections around the City
Note: Treat London Wall as a historical walking stop rather than a single attraction. Visible remains are spread across the City, so comfortable shoes are useful.

6. Guildhall

Best for: Medieval London, civic history and the destruction of the City

Guildhall has been at the centre of City of London government since the Middle Ages, making it an important place to understand what was lost during the Great Fire. The present Great Hall dates from 1411 and is the City’s only surviving secular medieval building. Remarkably, Guildhall survived the Great Fire, although its roof was destroyed.

Samuel Pepys described the scene as the fire reached Guildhall, and historical accounts show how severe the damage was. The building was later restored, allowing its medieval core and civic role to continue into the modern era. It survived another major disaster during the Blitz in 1940, when its roof was destroyed again.

That makes Guildhall particularly valuable for visitors interested in the Great Fire of London history. It was not simply another building that disappeared. It was part of the old City that endured the disaster and continued to serve as a centre of civic life.

The surrounding area also contains other historic remains, including the Roman Amphitheatre beneath Guildhall Art Gallery. This makes the area useful for understanding how Roman, medieval and modern London overlap in a surprisingly small part of the city.

Location: Gresham Street, City of London
Average time: 30-60 minutes
Entry Ticket: Exterior viewing is free, guided access may require booking
Tip: Combine Guildhall with the Roman Amphitheatre and surrounding City streets
Note: Guildhall itself is not a normal walk-in tourist attraction at all times. Guided tours of the Great Hall are available on selected dates and require advance booking.

7. All Hallows by the Tower

Best for: A church that survived the Great Fire

All Hallows by the Tower is one of the most remarkable survivors connected with the Great Fire. The church stands beside the Tower of London and has a history stretching back more than a thousand years. The present site contains architectural and archaeological evidence from different periods, including a Roman pavement and a surviving Saxon arch.

When the Great Fire reached this part of London in September 1666, All Hallows survived. The church’s survival is traditionally associated with Admiral William Penn, who helped create a firebreak by having nearby buildings destroyed. Samuel Pepys also watched the fire from the church tower, giving the building a direct connection with one of the most famous eyewitness accounts of the disaster.

The church later suffered extensive damage during the Second World War and was rebuilt after the Blitz. This makes its story particularly fascinating: it survived the Great Fire but did not escape every later disaster that struck London.

Inside, visitors can discover the church’s long history through its crypt and museum displays. The location next to the Tower of London also makes it easy to include in a wider historical sightseeing day.

Location: Byward Street, next to the Tower of London
Average time: 45-60 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free for normal church visits
Tip: Ask about the historic crypt and volunteer-led tours
Note: The church currently welcomes visitors Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10am-5pm, although services and events can affect access. Volunteer guides are available on many weekdays.

8. St Bride’s Church

Best for: Wren’s rebuilding of London and historic Fleet Street

St Bride’s Church provides another important link between the Great Fire and the rebuilding of London. The church was destroyed during the fire and was subsequently rebuilt under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren. It became one of the churches that helped reshape the skyline of the rebuilt City.

Wren’s involvement is an important part of the story. After the Great Fire, he was appointed to help rebuild London, and his work eventually transformed much of the City. St Bride’s was among the post-fire churches rebuilt according to this new architectural vision, opening for worship in 1675.

The church also has a much longer history than its current Wren structure. The site has been associated with Christian worship for around 2,000 years and later became closely connected with London’s printing and journalism industries because of its position on Fleet Street.

The crypt adds another layer to the visit. Archaeological discoveries beneath the church have revealed evidence of earlier occupation, while displays help visitors understand the site’s long history.

Location: Fleet Street, City of London
Average time: 30-45 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free
Tip: Don’t leave without seeing the crypt
Note: St Bride’s is free to visit and normally open Monday to Friday from 8am-5pm, Saturday from 10am-3:30pm and Sunday from 10am-6:30pm. Check for occasional closures before making a special trip.

9. St Mary-le-Bow

Best for: Wren’s churches, medieval London and Bow Bells

St Mary-le-Bow is another important Great Fire of London site hidden in one of the City’s busiest streets. The church has origins going back to around 1080 and was an important part of medieval Cheapside before the Great Fire completely destroyed the medieval building in 1666.

After the disaster, Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt the church in the 1670s. The new building became one of the most distinctive churches in the rebuilt City, with its famous tower and bells overlooking Cheapside. The crypt below the church also preserves elements connected with the site’s much older history.

The church was unfortunately not finished with its disasters in 1666. It was severely damaged again during the Blitz in 1941 and later rebuilt and re-consecrated in 1964. This makes St Mary-le-Bow another example of how London’s historic buildings often carry evidence of several different periods of destruction and renewal.

Its connection with the Bow Bells also gives the church a place in London’s cultural history. The famous Cockney tradition is associated with being born within the sound of Bow Bells, adding a distinctly London character to the historical site.

Location: Cheapside, City of London
Average time: 30-45 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free
Tip: Look for the surviving medieval crypt
Note: The church is normally open Monday to Friday during daytime hours and is also generally accessible at weekends, although weekend arrangements can vary.

10. The Golden Boy of Pye Corner

Best for: A tiny and unusual Great Fire landmark

The Golden Boy of Pye Corner is one of the smallest but most unusual Great Fire of London landmarks. Unlike the huge Monument near London Bridge, this historic figure is attached to a building in Smithfield and can easily be missed if you are not specifically looking for it.

The late 17th-century figure was erected to mark the point where the Great Fire was traditionally considered to have finally been stopped. Historic England records the statue as a Grade II listed feature and notes that it was originally associated with the idea that the fire had been caused by the “sin of gluttony.”

That explanation reflects the religious and moral thinking of the period rather than the modern understanding of how the fire began. The figure itself is deliberately unusual: a gilded boy placed high on the corner of the building. Its modest size makes a striking contrast with the enormous Monument that commemorates the beginning of the disaster.

Visiting the Golden Boy is less about spending time inside an attraction and more about discovering a piece of history hidden within an ordinary London street. It also gives the Great Fire story a useful geographical ending, from Pudding Lane, where the fire began, to Pye Corner, where it was finally brought under control.

Location: Giltspur Street and Cock Lane, Smithfield
Average time: 10-20 minutes
Entry Ticket: Free
Tip: Look up carefully, it is easy to walk past
Note: There is no ticket or formal visitor centre. Look carefully at the corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane because the figure can easily be missed while walking through the area.

How Much of London Was Destroyed by the Great Fire?

The Great Fire caused enormous destruction, but one of the most common misunderstandings is that the entire city of London burned down.

The main destruction occurred inside the medieval City of London. Historical records estimate that around 13,200 houses and 87 parish churches were destroyed, while the fire affected roughly 80 percent of the City. The Royal Exchange, Guildhall and medieval St Paul’s Cathedral were among the major buildings damaged or destroyed.

Around 100,000 people were left homeless according to historical estimates used by the City of London. Although only a small number of deaths were officially recorded from the fire itself, historians recognise that indirect deaths may have occurred because of the difficult conditions that followed.

This is important when visiting the Great Fire of London locations today. You are not walking through a city that has been perfectly preserved since 1666. You are seeing a mixture of surviving buildings, rebuilt churches, monuments and later developments that together tell the story of what happened.

How Did London Change After the Great Fire?

The destruction created an opportunity to rethink how the City should be rebuilt. Christopher Wren produced ambitious plans for a completely redesigned London, although most of his grand street planning proposals were not adopted because property ownership and practical concerns made such a transformation difficult.

Instead, rebuilding happened more gradually. New regulations required many buildings to use brick or stone rather than timber, while rules were introduced concerning building heights and streets. Wren and other architects rebuilt churches and important public buildings.

The result was not the entirely new London that some planners imagined. Instead, the old street network largely remained while a new architectural layer was added. That is one reason the City of London feels so historically complex today.

When you walk from Pudding Lane to St Paul’s or from the Monument towards Cheapside, you are effectively walking through several versions of London at once – Roman, medieval, post-fire, Victorian and modern.

Can You Follow the Great Fire of London Today?

Yes, and this is one of the best ways to understand the event. You can begin at Pudding Lane, where the fire started and then walk to The Monument. From there, continue towards St Dunstan in the East, All Hallows by the Tower or St Mary-le-Bow depending on the route you prefer. Another useful direction takes you towards Guildhall, St Paul’s Cathedral, St Bride’s and the Golden Boy of Pye Corner.

You do not need to visit every location in one day. In fact, trying to rush through all 10 would take away from the experience. Choose several places and spend time understanding what happened there.

The City of London has also created self guided Great Fire routes that connect several of these historic locations, making it easier to turn the history into a walking experience rather than simply visiting isolated landmarks.

Great Fire of London: Myths and Facts

Myth: The whole of London was destroyed.
Fact: The main destruction was concentrated in the City of London. Large areas outside the City were not destroyed by the fire.

Myth: Thousands of people were officially recorded as dying in the fire.
Fact: Only a small number of deaths were officially recorded, although historians believe the true number may have been higher because some deaths may not have been documented and others occurred indirectly afterwards.

Myth: The current St Paul’s Cathedral survived the Great Fire.
Fact: The medieval Old St Paul’s was destroyed. The cathedral you see today was built afterwards under Christopher Wren’s design.

Myth: St Dunstan in the East is entirely a Great Fire ruin.
Fact: The church was damaged by the Great Fire but was rebuilt. The ruins visible today are largely connected with damage suffered during the Second World War and the decision afterwards to turn the remains into a garden.

Myth: The Monument simply marks the exact bakery building.
Fact: The Monument stands 202 feet from the location associated with Thomas Farriner’s bakery and was deliberately designed with that distance and height in mind.

Tips for Visiting Great Fire of London Sites

Start with Pudding Lane: It gives you a clear starting point for understanding the story.
Combine nearby places: The Monument, Pudding Lane, St Dunstan in the East and All Hallows can be combined relatively easily.
Check church opening times: Historic churches are working places of worship, so services and events can affect visitor access.
Book where necessary: The Monument and St Paul’s require tickets for sightseeing, while some guided tours of historic buildings require advance booking.
Wear comfortable shoes: Many of the best Great Fire sites are best experienced on foot.
Don’t expect everything to be original: Some buildings survived, others were rebuilt and some locations are marked only by plaques or memorials.
Look up and around: The Great Fire story is often hidden in details on buildings, plaques, church towers and street layouts.
Give yourself time: A slower visit to four or five places can be much more rewarding than trying to tick all 10 off in a hurry.

Londonpuri Tip

The Great Fire of London happened more than 350 years ago, but its story is still surprisingly easy to find in the modern city. You can stand on Pudding Lane and imagine the narrow streets of 1666, climb the Monument above the City, see the rebuilt St Paul’s Cathedral and walk through the atmospheric ruins of St Dunstan in the East. Churches such as St Mary-le-Bow, St Bride’s and All Hallows by the Tower add even more layers to the story.

What makes these Great Fire of London places particularly interesting is that they do not all tell the same story. Some show destruction, some show survival and others show how London rebuilt itself afterwards.
You don’t have to be a serious history enthusiast to enjoy following the Great Fire. A simple walk through the City can turn an event from a history book into something you can actually see, touch and understand.