PRESS RELEASES
Press Team :
0207 221 7883
Or email :
towerbridge@kallaway.com

The Monument marks 350 years since the Great Fire with a series of events and the launch of a new App

  • The Monument is hosting a series of themed events throughout August and September 2016 to mark 350 years since the Great Fire of London

  • The events – part of the Great Fire 350 festival – pay homage to the city that rose from the ashes; and include a number of free activities for the public such as: bi- weekly talks, a Fire Trail Treasure hunt, arts and crafts activities and more

  • Navigate the Great Fire season and see the capital like never before with The Monument’s new app featuring 360-degree video technology. Available on iOS and Android Market from Monday 25 July

  • FREE tickets available for The Monument over the Great Fire Anniversary weekend from Friday 2 September – Sunday 4 September. Free tickets are for specific entry times and must be booked in advance at http://www.themonument.org.uk

  • Extended opening hours: 8am-10pm apply over the Great Fire Anniversary weekend

The Monument is hosting a series of Great Fire themed activities as part of ‘Great Fire 350’, a citywide festival of arts and concepts sponsored by the City of London Corporation, which runs until 4 September 2016.
 
Built to mark the Great Fire of London, The Monument, a grade I listed building, is the tallest isolated column in the world. It stands as a beacon of Britain’s long history of strength and resilience, and this year, the perfectly fluted Doric column, is at the heart of the celebrations. Themed activities include an arts-and-crafts inspired Family Activities Weekend where children will create their own telescopes, a Design your Monument competition, a Great Fire Trail treasure hunt and free-talks on the hair-raising history of The Monument.
 
Coinciding with the City’s Great Fire season is the launch of The Monument’s new App, available to download on Android Market and Apple App Store from 25 July. This easy to navigate app allows visitors to self guide their own Great Fire journey. It covers three main areas: the devastation of the Great Fire; how London commemorated the disaster in the years following 1666; and London as we know it now. Highlighting key statistics and famous historical images from the devastating fire which ravaged the City destroying 70,000 homes, users can explore how the fire was portrayed through famous works of art. The app also delves into the brilliant minds that designed The Monument – Robert Hooke and Sir Christopher Wren. Through 360 videos, users can also experience panoramic views from The Monument’s viewing platform and explore significant locations to which the fire spread, including the spot where Samuel Pepys scaled a church to watch the fire progress – in what he described as ‘the saddest sight of desolation’, or Pudding Lane, the bakery where the fire first started. Visitors with VR headsets should not miss out on the opportunity to plug in for a fully immersive experience.
 
For more information on The Monument visit: http://www.themonument.org.uk 
 
For more information on Great Fire 350 visit: http://www.visitlondon.com/greatfire350
 
 
Join the Family Activities Weekend for arts and crafts at The Monument
 
  • Saturday 6 August and Sunday 7 August
  • This event is free, booking is not necessary

Enjoy free craft activities inspired by The Monument and meet fascinating key characters from the history of the Great Fire, including Sir Christopher Wren, Robert Hooke and Samuel Pepys.

 

Free Talks on the Fire, the history of The Monument and the City

  • Suitable for all ages, but most appropriate for ages 6-10

  • 10:30-16:00

  • Running from the 6 July to the 25 August on Wednesdays and Thursdays

  • Daily from Monday 29 August to Friday 2 September

  • Talks take place between 12:00 and 14:00, stories will be told every 30 minutes

From the alternate design proposals for the iconic column to the flaming copper orb that sits atop the structure, come and learn about the science, history and legacy behind The Monument with a series of free talks taking place in the piazza.

 

The Great Fire Trail

  • Saturday 21 July to 5 September

  • Suitable for all ages

  • Free

Embark on a treasure hunt across the City starting at The Monument, moving to other landmark locations relating to the Great Fire – collect all the clues and complete the anagram to find the missing treasure and claim your prize. With 23 clues hidden across the City, a full trail takes approximately one and a half hours to complete. There is an alternative shortened version of eight clues – perfect for families short on time. Competition entries must be submitted before the closing date of 5 September, the winner will be announced shortly after.

 

Free entry to the Monument & extended opening hours

  • Friday 2 September –Sunday 4 September only

  • Extended opening hours over the anniversary weekend from 8am-10pm

To commemorate the anniversary weekend of the Great Fire, the public is invited to explore The Monument for free. Limited special edition timed entry tickets have been created and will be required for your visit whilst all visitors can claim their certificate after climbing to the top. Opening times are also extended to 8am – 10pm on these dates, allowing visitors to get the best view in the house of the wider festivities.

-ENDS-

Media contacts:

For further information or images, please contact Kallaway PR: E: themonument@kallaway.com
T: +44 (0)207 221 7883

Notes to Editors: The Monument

  • The Monument was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke and was built in 1671-1677 to commemorate the Great Fire of London which devastated the City in 1666. It is constructed of Portland stone and the simple Doric column is topped by a flaming copper orb symbolising the Fire.

  • It is maintained by the City of London at its own expense and is open to the public every day.

Winter Opening Hours: October – March 9:30am-5.30pm daily (last admission 5pm)

o Summer Opening Hours:April–September 9:30am-6pm daily (last admission 5:30pm)

Admission costs £4.50 (adult), £3.00 (concessions) and £2.30 per child (under 16).

Joint tickets with Tower Bridge Exhibition for £11.00 (adult), £7.50 (concessions) and £5.00 (children) respectively are also available.

Joint family tickets are available from £18.30 (1 adult and 2 children).
NB: Joint tickets will not be available during the anniversary weekend, 2nd-4th September.

The nearest underground station is Monument.

http://www.themonument.org.uk

The Monument App

Discover a fresh perspective on the Great Fire story, unique to The Monument. With key facts and people from its magnificent history, the app enables visitors to discover the history behind the structure and learn about the ever-changing cityscape through interactive 360- degree video technology. Delve into the brilliant minds that designed The Monument, and the alternative designs that were proposed. Using the panoramic views seen from the column’s viewing platform, significant locations from the Great Fire are marked across the City, including Pudding Lane, the bakery where the fire first started. Don't miss the opportunity to plug in your VR headset for a fully immersive experience.

Great Fire 350

Great Fire 350 marks the 350th anniversary of the 1666 Great Fire of London. Throughout 2016, City institutions will mark the commemoration with a season of events including exhibitions, concerts, lectures and tours. At the centre of this commemorative season will be London’s Burning, running from 30th August to 4th September 2016. A festival of arts and ideas produced by Artichoke, with founding sponsorship from the City of London Corporation and major support from Arts Council England, it will highlights a catastrophic moment that had a lasting impact on the architecture, outlook and infrastructure of the City of London. Through the vision of today’s artists, writers and thinkers it will reinterpret the Great Fire and what it means today. Produced by Artichoke. Founding sponsorship from City of London Corporation with an award from Arts Council England’s Ambition for Excellence programme.

- Ends All –