The Monument

In central London, right next to Monument station is The Monument.  If you are physically able and fancy a bit of exercise, you can climb the 311 spiral steps to the viewing area and get a really good view of the city of London and the river for the very small price of £3 (or £6.50 for a joint ticket with Tower Bridge).  It is nowhere near as high as the Shard, but it is an absolute bargin if you ask me, and when you get back down you even get a certificate to say you've done it.

The Monument is open from 9.30am - 5.30pm daily with the last admission being 5pm.

The Monument

View from the bottom of the steps
- looks a long way up, right?

The text reads:

The Monument

This Monument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, was built to commemorate the Great Fire of London 1666.  Which burned for three days consuming more than 13,000 houses and devastating 436 acres of the city.  The Monument is 202ft in height.  Being equal to the distance westward from the bakehouse in Pudding Lane where the fire broke out.  It took six years to construct 1677.  The balcony is reached by a spiral stairway of 311 steps and affords panoramic views of the metropolis.  A superstructure rises from the balcony and supports a copper vase of flames.

The allegorical sculpture on the pedestal above was executed by Caius Gabriel Cibber.

View towards Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf

View towards the South and Battersea