Monument

A good work out and a good view!

Whenever anyone of able body comes to London to visit me and I am in the area I will always take them to Monument.

For about £3 you can climb the 311 steps for some of the best panoramic views of the city.

I would give this a 5 star rating – however the steps can be a little scary if you are scared of heights as I am and when it is busy it can be very frightening when people push past you on them.

The views however are worth getting over the fear!

At 202ft, this is the tallest free-standing column in the world. breathtaking in views as well as the climb up the 311 steps to the top. King Charles the second wanted a gilded phoenix to crown this monument but the City fathers had other ideas. Begun in 1671 and designed by Wren, it took 5yrs to complete the Doric column and the funds were raised by public subscription.

Around the pedastal are friezes depicting the King and leading figures from the time as well as legend, a description of the calamity - and until quite recently - blaming the fire upon 'Popish plotters' (but this has been chisled out).

The reason why the Monument was erected here and not 202ft to the east where the fire began is because this road was the main access to the city when the Old bridge (the one with the houses on it) was the only one across the river and all traffic in and out of London passed this spot.

Monument is a really nice spot to get to see a really nice view of London - if you're up for the 311 stair climb! I believe its £3 for adults and £2 concession to get in, and you just walk up a spiral staircase all the way to the top, and its a great sense of achievement when you reach it and get to see a 360 degree view of the city :) The walk is a bit disorientating, though, but if you're up for it, it's not something you'd regret doing.

An imposing piece of architecture, but masked by surrounding tall buildings from street level and hence frequently overlooked (pun) as a place to visit. Here's a piece of trivia : originally the inscriptions around the base included a passage blaming the whole sorry affair on naughty Roman Catholics ( on the basis of no evidence whatsover); this has since been removed. Another piece of trivia: there is a school of thought that the "miraculously" low death toll , traditionally a grand total of six people, is a massive underestimate, as it didn't include those people from poorer backgrounds, or those whose remains were consumed by the conflagration; bear in mind it is estimated to have destroyed the houses of over 80 % of the population of London.

I only found out yesterday that you could climb the Monument to the Great Fire of London 1666, but it’s true - at least now, as it re-opened last week after 18 months of refurb.

But it was worth the tired feet, 15-minute queue to get in, £3 entry charge, 311 steps, and crowded staircase. It’s a nice view: you can see St Paul’s, the Eye, Battersea, and glimpse Parliament. It’s an excellent view of the City and especially of Tower Bridge.

A much undervalued attraction in these days of the London Eye in my opinion, it is currently undergoing rennovation & cleaning at the time of this review.

Built near the site of the great fire of London as a tribute to those who died, lots of commercial building have sprung up around it which have swallowed it up a little.

The plaques at the base tell the story of the fire. To get to the top when I went I paid just £1.50. Make sure you are willing to get all the way along a narrow steep spiral staircase as there is no way down until you reach the top.

Spectacular views from the top, it can get very windy but you are safely enclosed. Before the cages were introduced people used to commit suicide regularly by jumping from the top.

One of many great sights to visit in London. The monument is a favourite for me. It has impressive views from the top and I can’t wait for the refurbishments to finish (christmas 2008) so I can go visit again!

It marks the alleged starting point for the fire of London and has some good historic reading within and around the monument.

It’s fairly cheap and often quieter than more well known and popular attractions, yet is just as good.

Built in 1671 by Sir Christopher Wren to commemorate the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire of 1666, it is definitely worth climbing up as an alternative to the London Eye. It is in the heart of the City of London next to Monument tube station. It is only open Mondays to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but costs only £2. They even give you a certificate on returning to the ground! Why not also visit the Bank of England nearby while you are there?

If you want to enjoy the breathtaking view from the platform on top of the Monument, you have to wait until January 2009. The landmark is being restored right now - on the official website, you can find out about the progress of the work.

The Monument, was erected between 1671 and 1677 under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren, the man responsible for so many of Londons finest architecture. It has a claim to fame as the tallest isolated stone column in the world, quite a record to hold for so long, but then itwould be cheeky for some upstart to erect a taller one when this one was erected in commemoration of the Great Fire of London. Factoid for you, the block of Portland stone rises 202 feet high into the London skyline, and is situated exactly 202 feet west of the bakers shop on Pudding Lane where the fire started. If you're feeling spry you can climb the 312 steps to the top and enjoy the view, it's pretty vertigo inducing mind... pretty cheap for £1.50