All you need to know about The Great Fire

From articles, objects and games to our immersive Minecraft experience, here’s everything we have for you online about the famous fire.

In this section

We have one of the richest collections about the Great Fire of London to be found anywhere, so whether you’re learning about it for the first time or are already an expert on the subject, we’re bound to have something to pique your interest.

Great Fire live stream: Part 1 - How it began

This recording of an event for families and schools explores how the fire started and why it got so bad.
Watch now
Live stream: Part 2 - How it was stopped

This recording of Part 2 explores how people reacted to the fire and how it was put out.
Watch now
Live stream: Part 3 - How it changed London

This recording of Part 3 explores how the city was rebuilt and the fire changed London.
Watch now
3 myths you probably believe about the Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London is a very well-known disaster, and has been researched and written about extensively ever since 1666. However, there are still some enduring myths and misconceptions going around...
Find out more
Great Fire 1666: The Great Fire of London in Minecraft

Inspired by the Museum of London’s collections, the Great Fire 1666 maps allow Minecraft players to experience the story of the fire like never before. Uncover the causes of this terrible event, help fight the fire and eventually try your hand at rebuilding London.
Play now
Lolly Stick Theatre

Create your very own lolly stick theatre and re-tell the story of the Great Fire of London!
Follow these simple instructions, with templates, to create your own theatre for your performance.
Get started
From the collection: Great Fire in focus

Delve into our collection and discover the objects telling the story of the Great Fire of London, from striking paintings to maps detailing the spread of the fire and much more.
Find out more
How did an antique fire engine work?

Watch a large wooden cask be transformed back into a working engine from the time of the Great Fire!
Find out more
War, Plague and Fire

The century before the Great Fire of 1666 was one of the most turbulent in London’s history - London became a divided city, home to both pleasure seekers and Puritans. Our gallery explores how the growing city experienced death and disaster: from the execution of King Charles I in 1649, to plague in 1665 and finally the Great Fire of 1666.
Find out more
The Great Fire glossary

Explore this glossary of key words relating to the story of the Great Fire of London of 1666.
Find out more
Great Fire 1666: Story

Dive deeper into what happened using interactive maps and timelines in this interactive digital story.
Find out more
Creating Fire! Fire!

Fire! Fire! explored the fire and how it transformed the City of London and the lives of those who lived there. We spoke to exhibition curator Meriel Jeater on why the Great Fire still matters today.
Find out more
How did the Great Fire of London create insurance?

A series of objects from the museum's collection tells of one surprising outcome of the fire: the creation of modern property insurance.
Find out more
The mystery of the burnt bible

Museum of London Librarian Sally Brooks reveals the detective work behind one very battered book...
Find out more
Great Fire of London game

Help Tom fight the Great Fire in this interactive game, broken into handy bite-size chapters.
Play now
Witness accounts

It can be hard to imagine the horror Londoners faced when the Great Fire ripped through the city in 1666. Listen to these witness accounts, for just a small idea of what it would have been like to live through it.
Watch here