About This Event

The City transformed by fire. The story of the Great Fire of 1666 The tour takes around 2 hours including stopping to look at things along the way. Boudica’s Rebellion, The Great Fire of London and the Blitz. London has burned several time in its 2,000 years, and on this 2-hour walk you’ll learn about the 2 cataclysmic events of 1666 and 1940/41. The Great Fire of 1666 famously started in a bakery on Pudding Lane. 4 days later more than 13,000 homes and 87 churches had burned to the ground, along with famous buildings such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Exchange. 275 years later, during the Second World War, London sustained heavy bombardment for 7 months, from August 1940 to May 1941. More than 25,000 civilians died and hundreds of thousands were made homeless. Join your City of London Guide as we walk those streets that witnessed such devastation, which will include: Firefighters’ Memorial: a fitting memorial to those brave men and women, including St Paul’s Watch who protected the Cathedral St Paul’s Cathedral: learn about Old St Paul’s, a massive gothic cathedral, larger than the present Wren masterpiece Paternoster Square: the centre of the book trade for centuries Christ Church Greyfriars: an historic Wren church and now a beautiful garden Noble Street: the Blitz uncovered some Roman remains, hidden for centuries Guildhall Yard: Guildhall burned during the Great Fire and during the Blitz - but survived Bank Junction: learn about the Underground’s role in keeping Londoners safe. The Monument: end your walk by climbing the 311 steps of a monument that commemorated the Great Fire and enjoy the spectacular view. Limited spaces which MUST be booked in advance. Reserve your place now. We try to make our tours as inclusive and accessible as possible. Safety: The safety of our guests and guides is paramount and we have limited group numbers to help manage this. All our guides are accredited by the Institute of Tourist Guiding (ITG) and follow ITG guidance for Tour Guiding. Changes and refunds ; As we only run small group tours, cancellations and changes can only be made up to 24 hours before the tour. If you wish to change your tour or tour date please cancel prior to 24 hours and rebook.

Frequently asked questions

Staying overnight?

Hotels within walking distance of City of London Information Centre.