History

Great Fire of London

Step back in time to experience the events of 1666 with our immersive VR. Students witness the fire, explore daily life in 17th-century London, and understand the lasting changes that reshaped the city.

1,800+
Students per year
383,000+
Students reached
EYFS–Y6
All ages welcome
Students learning about the Great Fire of London

Duration

35–40 mins

Class Size

Up to 32

Suitable For

KS1–KS2

What's Included

VR + Resources

Bring one of history's most dramatic events vividly to life

The Great Fire of London workshop uses virtual reality to transport students to 1666. Rather than simply learning facts, children experience the drama of the Great Fire spreading through Pudding Lane, explore Tudor houses, and see how London was rebuilt. The immersive nature of VR makes this pivotal historical event memorable and emotionally engaging.

Year 1 and Year 2 students explore the fire through guided VR experiences, role-play activities, and hands-on investigations. They create before-and-after maps of London, investigate how people fought the fire with limited technology, and write diary entries from Samuel Pepys' perspective. Every activity builds understanding of cause and consequence.

Book a full-day visit and choose a different VR topic for every year group — making it super specific to each class's curriculum and exceptional value for money.

Immersive VR Experience

Immersive VR Experience

Each session includes a Virtual Reality segment where students are transported back in time. Using class sets of VR headsets, children explore 360° recreations of historical environments — from walking through ancient temples to witnessing the Great Fire of London.

360° Environments
Fully immersive historical recreations
Shared Headset Experience
One headset between two, per screen time recommendations
Guided Experience
Facilitator-led narration throughout
Curriculum Aligned
Mapped to National Curriculum KS1/KS2

Five hands-on activities, adapted by age

Every activity is designed to bring history to life. Your facilitator selects and adapts activities based on the year group.

1

Origins of the Great Fire

Discover the ignition point of the fire at Pudding Lane, examining the causes and factors that contributed to the rapid spread of flames across London.

All year groups
2

Firefighting in 1666

Explore the firefighting techniques used in the 17th century, comparing them with modern methods to highlight technological advancements and foster critical thinking.

All year groups
3

Life in 17th-Century London

Experience daily life in London before the fire, observing the tightly packed timber buildings and understanding why the city was so vulnerable to fire.

All year groups
4

Post-Fire Transformations

Learn about the changes in London’s architecture, fire safety laws, and city planning that emerged as a response to the devastation, emphasising the theme of resilience and adaptation.

All year groups
5

Rebuild and Reflect

Engage in discussions on how cities can recover from disaster, encouraging students to think about safety and adaptation in their own communities.

All year groups

What students take away

Every session is designed around measurable outcomes that align with the National Curriculum and build historical thinking skills.

Cause and consequence

Students understand how the Great Fire changed London and led to new building regulations.

Chronological understanding

Students can sequence events and understand how history unfolds over days and weeks.

Historical significance

Students recognise that some events are so important they change the course of history.

Empathy and perspective

Students can imagine what it felt like to live through a major historical disaster.

The VR experience was extraordinary. Year 2 students were genuinely moved by seeing London burning. Afterwards, they had real questions about why people stayed and how they escaped — the experience sparked genuine historical curiosity.
History Subject Lead
Primary School, London

Simple, transparent pricing

We bring everything — facilitator, VR headsets, resources, activity kits. You just tell us the date and year groups. No hidden costs, no extras.

Half Day

Up to 4 sessions
£599
Up to 128 students · £4.68 per student
  • 40 min (Y3–6) · 35 min (Y1–2 & EYFS)
  • Up to 32 students per session
  • EYFS–Year 6 adaptable
  • VR & all resources included
  • Dedicated facilitator

Sample full-day timetable

Here’s how a typical full-day VR history workshop fits around your school day. KS2 sessions run 40 minutes; KS1 & EYFS sessions run 35 minutes. We’re flexible — we’ll work around your timetable.

9:00–9:40
Session 1
Y3 · 40 min
9:45–10:25
Session 2
Y4 · 40 min
10:25–10:40
Morning break
10:40–11:20
Session 3
Y5 · 40 min
11:25–12:05
Session 4
Y6 · 40 min
12:05–1:00
Lunch break
1:00–1:35
Session 5
Y1 · 35 min
1:40–2:15
Session 6
Y2 · 35 min

Mix and match your workshop day

Schools love booking a VR History day alongside our hands-on Future Skills workshops — giving students a full spectrum of immersive learning experiences in a single day or across the term.

View Future Skills Workshops →
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