What percentage of the city was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666?

The Great Fire of London in 1666 had a devastating impact on the city, with estimates indicating that more than 65% of the built-up area was destroyed. The fire began in a small bakery on Pudding Lane and quickly spread due to the close arrangement of timber-framed houses and the strong winds at the time.

The catastrophic aftermath of the fire led to the destruction of thousands of homes, numerous public buildings, and significant landmarks, fundamentally altering the landscape of London. This extensive damage sparked major changes in building regulations, leading to the development of fire-resistant building materials and urban planning that emphasized wider streets and more open spaces to prevent similar disasters in the future. The significant scale of destruction also underscores the urgency of these reformative measures.