There are many ways to rise above London and take in its breathtaking scenery, both old and new. In this series of articles, we’ll show you a variety of ways to rise above it all and take in every part of the skyline. Don’t forget your cameras!

The first suggestion is operated by the City of London and is extremely inexpensive (£2.00 for adults and £1.50 for children under 16). Like all things too good to be true, there IS a catch — no elevator.

Completed in 1671, the Monument stands 202 feet high in the heart of the City of London. Offering panoramic views of the City and beyond, it is the tallest freestanding stone column on the planet and was built to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666 – which started at a Pudding Lane bakery, not coincidentally, 202 feet east of the monument’s base.

The column, designed by scientist/architects Christopher Wren (famous also for St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Observatory and Hospital in Greenwich) and Robert Hooke. It is made of Portland stone, and a copper urn and flames at its peak represents the fire. Originally, there was a dual purpose to the monument, and plans had been made to put a zenith telescope inside the copper urn. Ultimately, the building was too instable for the precision measurements needed for stargazing, and the plans were scrapped. There is still, however, a cellar laboratory away from public view below the base of the monument.

Tourists can climb the 311 spiral staircase steps to the top and an enclosed viewing platform on all four sides, where they’ll be met with fantastic views of the major London landmarks to the west, the Thames to the south, and Greenwich and the Docklands to the east. The gallery was enclosed with bars in the mid-1800s after a series of successful suicides occurred. After climbing back down, you’ll receive a certificate of achievement to mark your visit and your stair-stepping prowess.

The Monument is open daily from 10AM to 5PM. It’s easily found on Monument Street EC3R, and can be reached via the Monument Station on the Central or District and Circle Underground Lines or Docklands Light Railway.