N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
25-12-2024
Short read:Magic casement into olde worlde…
Shaughan read: “My favourite walk of all. Quiet gardens, a truly eclectic architectural rattle-bag and a glorious roll-call of British eccentrics: the Wits, the Windbags and Wayward Wigs. The cream of English intellect as it battles over Wives, Writs, Wills, Widows and Wrecks. Find out what happened when Tony met Cherie! Meet Rumpole! And as these are private grounds – a privilege to be able to show you round m’lud. And hear the verdict at the end in the High Court.” Thus spake Guide Shaughan.
Long read: The Inns of Court – habitat of the wigged and gowned English barrister – could pass for a collection of Oxford and Cambridge colleges right in the heart of London. They’re a warren of cloisters, courtyards, and passageways set amongst some of the best gardens in London.
So: ancient rites and customs, high drama, colourful characters, and matters of life and death amid delightful surroundings. It’s a rich confection, making this the prettiest and most historical of our central London walks. Welcome to London’s legal enclave.
INNS OF COURT TOUR – THE PRACTICALS
Legal & Illegal London – the Inns of Court takes place at 2 pm every Monday and at 11 am every Wednesday.
The meeting point is just outside the main exit of Holborn Tube.
Here’s a photo of the meeting point when you get to the top of the escalator at HolbornTube. The ticket barrier is straight ahead of you. Ten yards beyond the ticket barrier you can see a blue-green information kiosk and a red kiosk advertising a publication called The Week. And between them – just visible in the photograph – is a (soon to be extinct) pay telephone booth. Right there, between those two kiosks, is the meeting point.
The main exit is on Kingsway. Holborn Tube, which is on the corner of Kingsway and High Holborn, has two exits. The side exit goes out onto High Holborn. The main exit – the one you want – goes out onto Kingsway. The guide will be standing just outside the main exit, the Kingsway exit, holding up copies of the distinctive white London Walks leaflet. If you take the Tube to Holborn Tube Station go up the escalator, go through the ticket barrier and go straight ahead. You’ll come out onto Kingsway, right where you need to be to meet the guide.
On Mondays the walk is guided by Shaughan. On Wednesdays it’s guided by Karen or Molly.
The walk ends at or just over the way from the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand, near Temple Tube.
Want a preview of the Inns of Court walk? Watch this little handheld video. It’ll give you a pretty good idea of the “like nowhere else” territory the walk explores – where it goes, the doors it opens, the secret little passageways and courtyards it threads its way through.
LONDON WALKS REVIEWS
“Best Tourism Experience in London” Gold Medal Winner, Visit London
“We selected the ‘Legal and Illegal’ walk to discover the four Inns of Court where Barristers have their chambers. Our guide was Angela, an actress. Her knowledge of the Inns of Court and their history was encyclopaedic. She made the tour utterly fascinating and she brought her theatrical training to bear. She needed no microphone as her delivery was clear, bright and concise and not without a good deal of humour. She was an absolute delight. The two hours tour flew past. I have in the past lived in London and worked not too far from where the walk was centred but never imagined such places existed and so close to the main thoroughfares that cross the City. I will certainly be trying more of these walks in the future, but for the sheer joy of Angela’s wonderful tour you really must do this one.” Silverdale15 Stockport, United Kingdom
“Did this walk with Angela on Friday. So interesting and got to see a most beautiful part of London you would otherwise miss. Angela was great and told us so much. We certainly got to know what she thought of the present government (not much!). But that’s good. Better than being dull. Will certainly do another walk sometime and would highly recommend this walk. Joan T. Wigg Bingley, United Kingdom 24 Feb. 2020
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
LONDON WALKS PRIVATE WALKS
If you can’t make one of the regularly scheduled, just-turn-up, The Inns of Court it can always be booked as a private tour. If you go private you can have the The Inns of Court walk – or any other London Walk – on a day and at a time that suits your convenience. We’ll tailor it to your requirements. Ring Fiona or Mary on 020 7624 3978 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll set it up and make it happen for you. A private London Walk – they’re good value for an individual or couple and sensational value for a group – makes an ideal group or educational or birthday party or office (team-building) or club outing.
GIVE THE GIFT OF LONDON WALKS
A private London Walk makes a fab gift – be it a birthday or anniversary or Christmas present or whatever. Merchandise schmerchandise (gift wrapped or not) – but giving someone an experience, now that’s special. Memories make us rich.
I’d been really looking forward to this walk and I wasn’t disappointed. It was engrossing and fascinating. Molly gave us masses of entertaining and detailed information about this part of London and some of the people associated with it, as well as giving us an insight into the legal system. A very atmospheric and enjoyable two hours.
Rated 5 out of 5
Helen Juarez –
Richard was knowledgeable and amusing. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Inns of Court and would highly recommend him!! we very much look forward to another tour with him. KBO
Rated 5 out of 5
Andrew –
This was a really informative and fun walk with Simon. He made the subject accessible and included lots of interesting anecdotes. I really enjoyed learning about the link between Charles Dickens and the law.
Rated 5 out of 5
Clare from Cambridge x –
Great London tour, a bit of secret gem. Big thanks to Simon for making it interesting and providing a great insight to the history of the area.
Rated 5 out of 5
Graham H –
Simon was an entertaining and extremely knowledgeable guide. Even as a native Londoner I learned so much about our legal history that I didn’t know before, and this tour fascinated my US friend. We loved every minute. Thoroughly recommended and such great value.
Rated 5 out of 5
Marianne –
Simon has been fantastic, a fountain of knowledge. He presented the information in a memorable way. I can highly recommend the walk.
Rated 5 out of 5
Phil and Jane –
Many thanks, Simon, for a most enjoyable and instructive walk today.
Rated 5 out of 5
Chris Miller –
We did this walk on Wednesday 14th Feb, with Simon standing in last minute for Molly. Thank you Simon for a really entertaining couple of hours (nearly 3 in the end!). We visited 4 Inns of Court plus the Royal Courts of Justice and learned so much on the way about the legal system and English history. His jokes were genuinely funny and his knowledge was astonishing! Thank you also Simon for pointing out Sir John Soane’s museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields which we visited later that day, an amazing little known museum in the heart of London. We have done other London Walks which have always been brilliant but this one was one of the best we have done.
Rated 5 out of 5
Allison –
SO glad I went on this walk with Shaughan last week. I learned so much about an area of London I hadn’t visited much before and wow…it is chock-full of history. One could roam all around this area alone and enjoy it, but going with an amazing guide like Shaughan is a game-changer. Highly recommend for groups and solo travelers alike.
Rated 4 out of 5
Judy –
An interesting walk. We learned a lot about the legal systems of England. Molly was a good guide. We would have missed a lot on our own.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
Jane –
I’d been really looking forward to this walk and I wasn’t disappointed. It was engrossing and fascinating. Molly gave us masses of entertaining and detailed information about this part of London and some of the people associated with it, as well as giving us an insight into the legal system. A very atmospheric and enjoyable two hours.
Helen Juarez –
Richard was knowledgeable and amusing. We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Inns of Court and would highly recommend him!! we very much look forward to another tour with him. KBO
Andrew –
This was a really informative and fun walk with Simon. He made the subject accessible and included lots of interesting anecdotes. I really enjoyed learning about the link between Charles Dickens and the law.
Clare from Cambridge x –
Great London tour, a bit of secret gem. Big thanks to Simon for making it interesting and providing a great insight to the history of the area.
Graham H –
Simon was an entertaining and extremely knowledgeable guide. Even as a native Londoner I learned so much about our legal history that I didn’t know before, and this tour fascinated my US friend. We loved every minute. Thoroughly recommended and such great value.
Marianne –
Simon has been fantastic, a fountain of knowledge. He presented the information in a memorable way. I can highly recommend the walk.
Phil and Jane –
Many thanks, Simon, for a most enjoyable and instructive walk today.
Chris Miller –
We did this walk on Wednesday 14th Feb, with Simon standing in last minute for Molly. Thank you Simon for a really entertaining couple of hours (nearly 3 in the end!). We visited 4 Inns of Court plus the Royal Courts of Justice and learned so much on the way about the legal system and English history. His jokes were genuinely funny and his knowledge was astonishing! Thank you also Simon for pointing out Sir John Soane’s museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields which we visited later that day, an amazing little known museum in the heart of London. We have done other London Walks which have always been brilliant but this one was one of the best we have done.
Allison –
SO glad I went on this walk with Shaughan last week. I learned so much about an area of London I hadn’t visited much before and wow…it is chock-full of history. One could roam all around this area alone and enjoy it, but going with an amazing guide like Shaughan is a game-changer. Highly recommend for groups and solo travelers alike.
Judy –
An interesting walk. We learned a lot about the legal systems of England. Molly was a good guide. We would have missed a lot on our own.