St Paul's & the Great Fire of London
In 1666 this whole city burned to the ground in four days — and they hanged a man for it who wasn't even in the country when it started. A golden grasshopper has survived being burned down twice. A goose dodged the slaughterhouse for 38 years and got a funeral. And a cathedral rebuilt by an astronomer refused to fall during the Blitz while everything around it burned. How London burned and rose again — plus a few details the Bad Historian invented.
What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 45 min · ~0.9 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 8 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
8 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"In September sixteen sixty-six, this entire city burned to the ground. Four days of fire that started in a bakery a few steps from where you're standing, destroyed thirteen thousand houses, wiped out..."
"This church is St Mary-le-Bow, and the bells up in that steeple decide, by law of tradition, who counts as a real Londoner."
"Right. You walked the fire from the bakery to the dome, and the whole city rebuilt itself around you as you went. Let's sort the real from the invented — and be warned, this one's stacked against you, because the true stuff is absurd."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 11IntroductionIn September sixteen sixty-six, this entire city burned to the ground. Four days of fire that started in a bakery a few steps from where...51.5102, -0.0860 Read this stop
- 22The Monument & Pudding LaneThat column is the Monument, and it's exactly two hundred and two feet tall — which is exactly its own distance from a spot just up the road...51.5102, -0.0860 Read this stop
- 33Leadenhall MarketStep into Leadenhall Market and look up — that ornate cream, green and maroon ironwork, the painted glass roof, the cobbles under your feet.51.5128, -0.0835 Read this stop
- 44The Royal Exchange & BankThis is Bank junction — the exact centre of the money. Seven roads meet here, and the grand building with the columns and the triangular...51.5138, -0.0886 Read this stop
- 55St Mary-le-BowThis church is St Mary-le-Bow, and the bells up in that steeple decide, by law of tradition, who counts as a real Londoner.51.5145, -0.0942 Read this stop
- 66St Paul's CathedralThere it is. Saint Paul's. That dome is one of the most recognisable objects in the world, and everything about it is a rescue job after a...51.5138, -0.0984 Read this stop
- 77St Paul's & the BlitzStand here and look up at that dome, because on one night in nineteen forty, it became the most important object in Britain — and it nearly...51.5146, -0.0975 Read this stop
- 88The RevealRight. You walked the fire from the bakery to the dome, and the whole city rebuilt itself around you as you went.51.5146, -0.0975 Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The London city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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St Paul's & the Great Fire of London
$9.99 · one-time