The Great Fire of London

The 2 September 2016 marks 350 years since the start of the Great Fire of London, which changed the skyline of the capital city forever.

Let’s find out about the Great Fire of London.

Read about it and watch the videos on this site and answer the questions below.

1. Were fires in London common in 1666? Why?
2. True or False?
   1. Buildings were made of wood in 1666.
   2. Fires could spread easily because houses were built closely together.
   3. It rained a lot in the summer of 1666.
   4. The fire started at a bakery in Pudding Lane.
   5. The fire spread quickly because it was a windy day.
   6. London Bridge did not burn.
   7. St. Paul’s Cathedral was partly destroyed because of the fire.
   8. The fire was put off with water.
   9. Up to a third of the city was destroyed.
   10. 70,000 people were made homeless.

To commemorate 350 years since the Great Fire of London, an enormous sequence of toppling breeze-blocks snakes through the city, following the route of the blaze. After splitting into three seperate routes, each part of the chain reached a final pyre which burned to the ground, representing the destruction of the fire itself – and the areas where it finally came to rest.

Also, a 120-metre long (393 foot) wooden sculpture of 17th century London burn in flames to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London.

You can play this online game.