The Great Fire of London
8 free practice questions with explanations
PassNova has 8 free Kids History practice questions on The Great Fire of London, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
The Great Fire of London: example questions & answers
8 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
In which year did the Great Fire of London happen?
- A1666✓
- B1766
- C1600
- D1966
Answer: The Great Fire of London burned through the city in the year 1666.
The Great Fire of London started in a shop that made what?
- AShoes
- BBread✓
- CCandles
- DHats
Answer: The fire began in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, where bread was baked.
On which famous street did the Great Fire of London begin?
- ABaker Street
- BDowning Street
- CPudding Lane✓
- DOxford Street
Answer: The Great Fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in the old city of London.
Why did the fire spread so quickly through London in 1666?
- AThe houses were made of stone
- BIt was raining heavily
- CThe houses were made of glass
- DMany houses were made of wood and built close together✓
Answer: Old London's houses were made of wood and packed tightly together, so the flames jumped easily from one to the next.
Which famous person wrote a diary that tells us all about the Great Fire of London?
- ASamuel Pepys✓
- BIsaac Newton
- CCharles Dickens
- DWilliam Shakespeare
Answer: Samuel Pepys wrote a famous diary describing what he saw during the Great Fire, so we know lots about it.
How did people try to stop the fire from spreading to more houses?
- AThey planted trees
- BThey pulled down houses to make gaps✓
- CThey painted the houses blue
- DThey opened all the windows
Answer: People pulled down houses in the fire's path to make firebreaks, hoping the flames could not jump across the gaps.
Which enormous church was destroyed in the fire and later rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren?
- AWestminster Abbey
- BCanterbury Cathedral
- CSt Paul's Cathedral✓
- DYork Minster
Answer: The old St Paul's Cathedral burned down in the fire, and Sir Christopher Wren designed the beautiful new one we see today.
For about how many days did the Great Fire of London keep burning?
- AAbout four hours
- BAbout four weeks
- CAbout four months
- DAbout four days✓
Answer: The Great Fire raged for about four days in September 1666 before it was finally put out.