Learn all about the Great Fire of London and how it changed the city forever.
The fire began in the early hours of 2 September 1666 in a bakery on Pudding Lane.
A small fire started in the bakery's oven and quickly spread through the wooden building. At the time, most houses in London were made of wood and built very close together. Because of this, the flames moved quickly from one house to another.
Strong winds made the fire spread even faster across the city.
Several things helped the fire grow out of control:
Because of these conditions, the fire burnt for four days.
By the time the fire was finally put out on 6 September 1666, much of London had been destroyed. The fire burnt:
Thousands of people lost their homes and had to live in temporary shelters outside the city.
Firefighters in the 1600s did not have modern equipment like fire engines or hoses. Instead, people tried to stop the fire by pulling down buildings to create gaps so the flames could not spread. These are called 'fire breaks'.
This difficult decision, along with the fact that the wind eased, helped slow the fire and eventually stop it.
After the fire, London had to be rebuilt. The king at the time, Charles II supported plans to rebuild the city in a safer way.
A famous architect, Christopher Wren, helped design many new buildings, including a new St Paul's Cathedral.
The Great Fire of London changed the city forever. It led to safer buildings, better streets and improved ways to prevent fires. Today, it is remembered as an important event that helped shape modern London.
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