Tyla Fergusson-Platt and Rhyia Clark embark on a perilous adventure to visit every stop on the Northern Line. They will be deep diving on one unique location at each area, bringing you a comprehensive look at the best places to see on the Northern Line.

Trendy London attractions such as the Sky Garden, The Shard and Tower Bridge occupy visitors with their glitz, glam and grandeur, leaving The Monument to the Great Fire of London in their shadows. But it’s often the overlooked places that leave a bigger mark. 

When set with the challenge of climbing 311 steps up a 358 year-old tower, I wondered whether I’d feel a greater rush of adrenaline walking through Brixton after midnight. I have skydived, bungee jumped and swam with sharks. Gaping up at this 60 metre twig of a tower, I couldn’t help but chuckle. As children exited The Monument, I experienced my first taste of second-hand embarrassment for my friend’s invitation to this ‘adrenaline activity’. 

The 311 steps of the Monument

Stepping through time climbing the Monument

I planted my foot on the first step of concrete that was constructed to commemorate The Great Fire of London and recited the all too obvious nursery rhyme London’s Burning. Dissatisfied with the information less lyrics, I used Google as my history teacher instead.

In 1666 a baker’s shop on Pudding Lane became more famous for its roaring fire than its fruitcakes. It spread rapidly and destroyed 3,200 houses, 87 parish churches, The Royal Exchange, Guildhall and St. Paul’s Cathedral. London was almost totally reconstructed and with that came the build of The Monument to the Great Fire of London, which was completed in 1677.

The Monument’s height correlates to the 202 feet (60 metre) distance west of the spot where the fire started. A celebratory landmark to a devastating past. 

Every few minutes we were forced to rest and squidge ourselves against the cold wall to let others come down. An opportunity to moan about our weak knees or open the letterbox sized windows to spy on the ant-sized people outside – a source of distraction from the infinitive spiral of narrow stairs. 

The view from the top of the Monument

A Panoramic view of London

Relieved to straighten our spines and see daylight again, we admired the views over London. We pointed out the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ building, The Thames, Tower Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard. Knowing the city like the back of our hand didn’t diminish our enthusiasm though. This was London from a different building, a different angle, a new height. This was the new perspective I needed. 

We circled the 4.5 meter platform at the top of the tower, which rests under the gilded bronze urn, until the speaker announced closing time. I ran down, my speed spinning the stairs into a kaleidoscopic scene. Once my dizziness reduced I collected my certificate and posed proudly with it outside. 

The carvings on the stone exterior detail the story of The Great Fire of London with King Charles and his brother James marked as heroes, helping to stop the spread of the fire by pulling down houses. There are also Latin inscriptions explaining the events of September 1666 and its aftermath. 

Gaping up at this 60 metre twig of a tower that I just scaled, I realised that ‘adrenaline activities’ don’t have to be fast-paced, near-death experiences. I realised that there’s not much difference between the safety of walking up these fragile stairs or standing at the edge of a mountain. Both could crumble under you at any minute, but we all have fun in the risk.