Called to the Bar: A Walk Around Temple, London’s Historic Legal District

(20 reviews)

London audio tour: Called to the Bar: A Walk Around Temple, London’s Historic Legal District

This is a 0.5mi walking tour

It takes an average of 60 mins to complete.

London

The United Kingdom

$9.99

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About the Tour

London’s historic legal district is set between two of the city‘s busiest streets, but Temple somehow delivers an air of calm and peacefulness. But don‘t let this aura of calm fool you, the Temple has a long, fascinating, and sometimes bloody history. On this walking tour, I‘ll guide you through its cobbled courtyards and covered alleyways, and I‘ll share tales of past residents, some filled with death and destruction.

Starting in front of Tudor Street‘s stone archway, you‘ll find out how even the name ‘Temple‘ sets the area apart from anywhere else in London, and also hints at ancient rituals and practices. As you make your way along King‘s Bench Walk to Middle Temple Lane where our walk ends, you‘ll hear how the area evolved from the medieval base of the Knights Templar to a centre of legal expertise. I‘ll show you Fountain Court and its gardens, and tell you about its connection to Shakespeare‘s Henry VI. In Mitre Square, I‘ll show you Inner Temple Library and reveal its centuries-old history.

On this Temple tour, you‘ll:

Be introduced to the people who made this area their home and workplace
Wander through tranquil courtyards including New Court, Elm Court, and Pump Court, each with a story to tell
Visit Temple Church, the most extraordinary church in the capital, once destined to be the final resting place of a King
Connect the dots between the origins of modern theatre and the Bard himself
Discover what life was like for a young trainee Barrister during the reign of Elizabeth I
See many of the first buildings to be rebuilt after the Great Fire

Whether this is your first time in the capital or you‘re a curious Londoner, you‘ll gain a valuable introduction to this fascinating neighbourhood‘s rich history. Allow approximately 60 minutes for this walk if you plan on keeping strictly to the route.

Tour Producer

Steve Matthews

20 tours

I’ve been guiding in London since 2010, and in that time I’ve led thousands of people through the backstreets, river paths, and half‑forgotten corners that rarely make it into the guidebooks. My work is rooted in years of on‑the‑ground experience, a lot of digging through old maps and archives, and a genuine fascination with how London’s past still shapes the city we walk through today.

What began as a hobby has grown into a long‑standing practice of researching local history — from lost streets and vanished industries to the characters who left their mark on the place. I keep my tours updated with new findings, fresh angles, and the odd surprising detail that brings a street or story to life.

I specialise in the parts of London people often overlook, helping visitors and locals alike see the echoes and footprints hidden in plain sight. My aim is simple: to share the stories I’ve gathered over the years with accuracy, enthusiasm, and a real affection for this endlessly surprising city. Whether you’re joining me for the first time or returning for another walk, you can expect a well‑researched, engaging, and reliable tour shaped by more than a decade of experience.

Preview Location

Location 10

Fountain Court

We have now entered Fountain Court, walk towards the fountain and take a seat on one of the stone benches.

Fountain Court is one of my favourite places in London. Somehow it seems insulated from all the hustle and bustle going on around it and it’s difficult to discern the... We have now entered Fountain Court, walk towards the fountain and take a seat on one of the stone benches.

Fountain Court is one of my favourite places in London. Somehow it seems insulated from all the hustle and bustle going on around it and it’s difficult to discern the traffic noise from both the busy Embankment to the south and the Strand and Fleet Street to the north. I find it a nice place to sit and have my lunch when I’m in town. You might even be sitting next to me today.

Fountain Courts layout is again thanks to Nicholas Barbon, he of the bizarre Christian name. In 1675, Barbon began developing the Essex Street area on the site of Essex House. He designed numbers 32, 33 and 34 Essex Street as terraced houses, which buildings today constitute the core of Fountain Court Chambers next to you. These buildings had unusual staircases for their time, instead of being placed alongside the party wall, the staircases were built at right angles to the fronts of the houses with open wells for lighting.

In the 1890s, Fountain Court was home to a number of well-known literary figures, including the poet W.B. Yeats. Amongst those to pass through its doors during this period were the illustrator and author Aubrey Beardsley; the writer and social reformer, Havelock Ellis; the young poet said to have inspired Oscar Wilde’s Picture of Dorian Gray, John ‘Dorian’ Gray; and the French Symbolist poet, Paul Verlaine, who wrote a poem on Fountain Court. And Charles Dickens gives the court a name check in the novel Martin Chuzzlewit.

As for the fountain itself, this has a history of changing with the times to adapt to current styles. Built in 1681, it may have been the first permanent fountain in London and could project water up to 30 feet high. Originally surrounded by wooden palisades, the fountain underwent several major renovations during the 17 to 1800s resulting in a simplified stone basin with iron railings and stone steps. Withstanding centuries of alterations, the Blitz and a fire, it continues to add to the serenity of the area just a stone's throw from the noise and bustle of central London.

The whole area of the Temple does exude an atmosphere of calm, but this hasn't always been the case. During the Peasants Revolt of 1381, part of the mob marauded their way towards the Temple from the Charing Cross area. They stopped on the Strand to set fire to the house owned by the Duke of Lancaster. This being thirsty work, they moved on to his cellars, which were copious in size and the rabble was quite seriously depleted when the authorities managed to barricade the cellar’s exit trapping many inside. Not so bad you might think being left in a wine cellar, but the authorities had no intention of letting them out and everyone inside eventually died a rather slow and horrid death. Those evading capture moved on to this area of the Temple where they rested. Overnight many fights took place among members of the mob, some settling old scores, others due to drink which further depleted their numbers and so as dawn rose the authorities met with little resistance as they put many to the sword and incarcerated the remainder.

In happier times the Inns of Court were famous for their revelry around Christmastime, which at certain points in history could last for over three months, from All Saints’ Eve to Candlemas Day. These celebrations involved riotous feasting, drinking, dancing, processions and marauding, as well as the coronation of a ‘Prince of Love’ to rule over the festivities. An account survives of the 1598 revels, and the Minutes of Parliament are full of references to ‘misdemeanours and abuses’ at this time of year.

One Candlemas Feast towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign, in 1602, is particularly notable today. While no Middle Temple records survive, the diary of a student, John Manningham, describes the first known performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in Middle Temple Hall. While there is no reference to the actors, most likely because acting was not considered a respectable profession at the time, it seems probable that the Bard would have been present and played a part himself.

On the other side of the court stands Middle Temple Hall. Construction began in 1562 and was completed in the early 1570s. Its hammer-beam roof has been said to be the best in London. Queen Elizabeth I visited the hall in 1578, unannounced, to inspect the new building and listen to a debate between barristers. This is the earliest known visit of a reigning monarch to an Inn of Court. One of the tables at the end of the hall is traditionally said to have been made from the timbers of the Golden Hinde, the ship used by Sir Francis Drake to circumnavigate the world. The hall survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 but was damaged by bombing in the Second World War.

The Hall is at the heart of the Inn, and the Inn's student members are required to attend a minimum of 10 qualifying sessions. Qualifying sessions, formerly known as "dinners", combine collegiate and educational elements and will usually entail a dinner or reception with lectures, debates, musical performances or what is known as Mooting. This derives from the practice of the Moot Court, where students take part in simulated court cases and participate in oral arguments. It is probably where the phrase moot point comes from, an issue regarded as potentially debatable, but no longer practically applicable. Although the idea may still be worth debating and exploring academically, and such discussion may be useful for addressing similar issues in the future.

Ok, we’ll take a short stroll into Middle Temple Gardens. You’ll see some stone steps at the end of Fountain Chambers, so head down there until you reach the black metal gates of the garden. I’ll wait for you there. Read More

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Major Landmarks

Temple District
Mitre Court
Temple
Temple Church
Pump Court
New Court Chambers
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple
Fountain Court
Middle Temple Gardens
Elm Court
Middle Temple Lane
Kings Bench Walk

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Getting There

Route Overview

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Start location
Tudor St, Temple, London EC4Y 0BH, UK
Total distance

855m
Final location
2 Temple Pl, Temple, London WC2R 3BD, UK
Distance back to start location

221.65m

Directions to Starting Point

The tour begins at the junction of Temple Lane and Tudor street in front of the main access point to the Temple.
The easiest route to arrive at the starting point is from Blackfriars underground station situated on the Circle and District Lines. The station can also be accessed via London Overground rail services.
Bus numbers 4, 40 & 63 have stops near the station
It is then a short walk along Tudor Street which is opposite the station to get to the starting point

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Tips

Places to stop along the way

The halls, library and chambers are strictly for the residents of the Temple, but the magnificent medieval church must be visited. It plays host to regular private services and functions and has a rather haphazard range of opening times.Check their website before you visit and try and plan your tour at a time when they are open. At the time of writing the entrance fee is £5 for adults. During the summer months the magnificent Temple Gardens are accessible to the public on weekdays between 12-3 pm, but are closed on Bank Holidays.
There are two restaurants within the Temple serving meals, snacks and drinks. These can get very busy during lunchtimes. Alternatives can be found before or after your tour in nearby Fleet Street, which is crammed with food outlets and pubs. Try Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Fleet Street a very old and atmospheric pub, or the Blackfriars adjacent to the station of the same name with a fantastic ornate arts and crafts interior.

Best time of day

As the Temple is a place of work, learning and also residential use, pedestrian access although not strictly controlled during the day is enforced more rigorously during the evenings, so I would suggest a visit during office hours, anytime between 8am and 6pm. This would also apply to weekends when the Temple is not so busy.

Precautions

The area is considered safe, but please take the usual precautions regarding valuable items such as bags, phones and cameras.

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