THE CITY WALK - London 2015 - page 424

blustery weather, the fire swept westward, leaping from house to house until The City was
a square mile of flame.
You can climb the Monument's 311 steps for a view that's still pretty good, despite
modern buildings.
• From here, hike out over the river on...
London Bridge
End our walk at The City's beginning. (For the history of London Bridge, see here . )
The City was born as a river-trading town. The Thames flows west to east, from the
interior of England to the open sea. It's a tidal river from here to the sea, so ancient boats
hitched rides on the tide in both directions. London Bridge, first built by the ancient Ro-
mans, established a north-south axis. Soon, goods from every corner of the world were
pouring into this, one of the modern world's first great urban centers. Surviving plagues,
fires, blitzes, economic changes, and even the Great Recession, with its worldwide finan-
cial network and cultural heritage, The City thrives.