N.B. See also our Friday VIP Lawyer-guided Inns of Court Walk (March 28, April 4, April 11 and then from May 2 almost every Friday through late October). Full disclosure, it’s more expensive and has to be booked and pre-paid. That’s the downside. The upside is, yes, it’s always lawyer-guided and it’s a small, exclusive group (limited numbers). Ergo the VIP appellation.
“A lawyer is a learned gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps it himself” Henry Brougham*
Short read:Magic casement into an 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
*Barrister and statesman Henry Brougham (1778 – 1868) was a member of Lincoln’s Inn. Elected to Parliament in 1810, he became Lord High Chancellor and played a prominent role in passing the 1832 Reform Act and the Slavery Abolition Act. One of the chief advisers to Queen Caroline of Brunswick, the estranged wife of George, Prince of Wales, the Prince Regent and future George IV, it was suggested to Brougham that he hold back in his vigorous defense of the Princess for the sake of the country. (Her opponents wanted her stripped of her Royal title on the grounds of adultery.) Brougham responded with a now-famous speech in the House of Lords
An advocate, in the discharge of his duty, knows but one person in all the world, and that person is his client. To save that client by all means and expedients, and at all hazards and costs to other persons, and amongst them, to himself, is his first and only duty; and in performing this duty he must not regard the alarm, the torments, the destruction which he may bring upon others. Separating the duty of a patriot from that of an advocate, he must go on reckless of consequences, though it should be his unhappy fate to involve his country in confusion.
The speech has since become legendary among defence lawyers for the principle of zealously advocating for one’s client.
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.
The tour with Simon was great! Many thanks for all the detailed information and for taking the time to show four Inns of Court.
Rated 5 out of 5
Karen –
Simon was our guide. What a wealth of knowledge he shared with us. So interesting. Highly recommend. Thank you.
Rated 5 out of 5
Ybo and Lisette –
Simon was a wonderful guide with both serious and fun information – on Dickens being serious of course. It was altogether mighty interesting and worthwhile for these two Dutch visitors.
Rated 5 out of 5
Deb –
Molly brought us to parts on London we wouldn’t have otherwise seen. She was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed learning about the architecture and the British court system.
Rated 5 out of 5
David –
Simon was our guide for this. It was a top walk, both educational and entertaining, and I’ve been on many in London.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gill N –
A very enjoyable cope of hours with Simon L; we covered a lot of ground and there was not a dull moment! We learned lots of history and were reminded of plenty of things we’d forgotten. Who knew these little oases existed in the middle of London?! Lots of lovely ideas of places to revisit at our leisure, especially some good pub recommendations!
Rated 5 out of 5
Hank C. –
Richard led us on a delightful smart, funny and informative tour that covered not only the physical spaces of the Inns of Court, but also the many historical, social and legal nuances of the English legal system.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sarah –
Brilliant tour with Simon through all four Inns of court. He managed to pack so much information into the tour whilst being entertaining. As an erstwhile long term resident of London it made me realise how very little I know about it so will definitely come back again.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gabriele Tischler –
Who would have thought that Law can be so interesting and entertaining! Did this walk with Brian today and highly recommend it!
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa Krupicka –
We were led by the illustrious Richard III on our Inns of Court walk. He was very knowledgeable and funny and quite a character. His recounting of the history and traditions of the British legal profession was of great interest to me, an American lawyer, but I think my non-lawyer husband enjoyed it just as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in British history. I came home and immediately re-read one of my Rumpole of the Bailey books by John Mortimer with renewed appreciation.
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Beate –
The tour with Simon was great! Many thanks for all the detailed information and for taking the time to show four Inns of Court.
Karen –
Simon was our guide. What a wealth of knowledge he shared with us. So interesting. Highly recommend. Thank you.
Ybo and Lisette –
Simon was a wonderful guide with both serious and fun information – on Dickens being serious of course. It was altogether mighty interesting and worthwhile for these two Dutch visitors.
Deb –
Molly brought us to parts on London we wouldn’t have otherwise seen. She was very knowledgeable and we really enjoyed learning about the architecture and the British court system.
David –
Simon was our guide for this. It was a top walk, both educational and entertaining, and I’ve been on many in London.
Gill N –
A very enjoyable cope of hours with Simon L; we covered a lot of ground and there was not a dull moment! We learned lots of history and were reminded of plenty of things we’d forgotten. Who knew these little oases existed in the middle of London?! Lots of lovely ideas of places to revisit at our leisure, especially some good pub recommendations!
Hank C. –
Richard led us on a delightful smart, funny and informative tour that covered not only the physical spaces of the Inns of Court, but also the many historical, social and legal nuances of the English legal system.
Sarah –
Brilliant tour with Simon through all four Inns of court. He managed to pack so much information into the tour whilst being entertaining. As an erstwhile long term resident of London it made me realise how very little I know about it so will definitely come back again.
Gabriele Tischler –
Who would have thought that Law can be so interesting and entertaining! Did this walk with Brian today and highly recommend it!
Lisa Krupicka –
We were led by the illustrious Richard III on our Inns of Court walk. He was very knowledgeable and funny and quite a character. His recounting of the history and traditions of the British legal profession was of great interest to me, an American lawyer, but I think my non-lawyer husband enjoyed it just as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in British history. I came home and immediately re-read one of my Rumpole of the Bailey books by John Mortimer with renewed appreciation.