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The Great Fire of London: Back to 1666 with Pip

The Great Fire of London: Back to 1666 with Pip

Learn how the Great Fire of London started, spread and changed the city in 1666, then read Samuel Pepys's diary to find out how we know.

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What you'll learn

  • The Great Fire of London happened in 1666, beyond living memory
  • The fire began in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane
  • Why wind, wooden houses and a dry summer spread the fire
  • How firefighting with buckets, squirts and firebreaks differs from today
  • How Samuel Pepys's diary and other sources tell us about the past
  • How London was rebuilt with brick, wider streets and a new St Paul's

Chapter by chapter

  1. The Great Fire of London: an event from long ago (1666) Free to try

    Years 1–2 history · 1

  2. How the Great Fire started and spread: telling the story in order

    Years 1–2 history · 1 Years 1–2 history · 2

  3. Fighting the fire: firefighting in 1666 and today

    Years 1–2 history · 1 Years 1–2 history · 2

  4. How we know: Samuel Pepys's diary and other sources

    Years 1–2 history · 3 Years 1–2 history · 2

  5. How London changed after the Great Fire

    Years 1–2 history · 1

  6. Great Fire detective quiz: answering questions about the fire (10 questions)

What the chapters cover in the national curriculum in England:

  1. Years 1–2 history: Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally
  2. Years 1–2 history: Ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show that they know and understand key features of events
  3. Years 1–2 history: Understand some of the ways in which we find out about the past and identify different ways in which it is represented

About this adventure

The Great Fire of London is an interactive history game for children aged 5–7 that teaches how the fire of 1666 started, spread and changed London, and how we know about it from sources such as Samuel Pepys's diary.

A pigeon called Pip narrates every step. Children walk a timeline back to 1666, see a spark start the fire in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, and find out why strong wind, wooden houses and a dry summer made it spread. They pass leather buckets, use a fire hook to make a firebreak (a gap with nothing left to burn), and compare this with fire engines today.

Later they act as history detectives. They open Pepys's diary, an eyewitness source written at the time, sort sources into ones made by people who saw the fire and ones made much later, and rebuild London in brick and stone.

Questions and answers

How did the Great Fire of London start?

The Great Fire of London started early on Sunday 2 September 1666 in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane. A fire from the bakery spread to the house and then along the street.

Why did the Great Fire of London spread so quickly?

The fire spread quickly because most houses were made of wood and built very close together. A long, hot, dry summer had left everything dry, and a strong wind blew sparks from house to house.

How do we know about the Great Fire of London?

We know about the Great Fire mainly from sources made at the time, such as the diaries of Samuel Pepys and John Evelyn, who both saw it. Paintings, maps, objects found by archaeologists and the Monument also help us.

What age is this Great Fire of London game for?

This game is made for children aged 5 to 7, especially Year 2, where the Great Fire of London is usually taught in KS1 history. Every line is read aloud, so early readers can play on their own.

What does the Great Fire of London game include and how long does it take?

The game has five chapters and a ten-question detective quiz, and takes about 40 minutes to play in full. Each chapter can be played on its own, so it also works in short sessions.

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