The Inns of Court
Holborn underground station, London (main exit, debouches onto Kingsway)
Guided by
Karen or Molly or Shaughan
Adult: £20 · Students & Seniors: £15 · Children: £5
Walk Times
| Day |
Walk Type |
Start Time |
End Time |
|
|
| Monday |
Weekly |
2 pm |
4 pm |
Winter Summer |
Reserve Online
|
| Wednesday |
Weekly |
11 am |
1 pm |
Winter Summer |
Reserve Online
|
N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
31-08-2026
N.B. See also our Friday VIP Lawyer-guided Inns of Court Walk 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.
The barrister’s wig — enduring symbol of the legal world explored on our Inns of Court walk.
“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…
King’s Bench Walk in the Inner Temple, one of the most atmospheric corners of London’s Inns of Court.
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.
And Guide Shaughan spake (speaks) here as well: Legal London Podcast 1. And here: Legal London Podcast 2.
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.
The superb medieval undercroft beneath Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, one of the quiet architectural glories of the Inns of Court.
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.
Middle Temple Fountain, a serene corner of the Inns of Court that earned a cameo in Dickens’s The Old Curiosity Shop.
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 Holborn Tube. 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.
Important: use the Kingsway exit at Holborn Station. Go straight ahead through these barriers. Do not exit onto High Holborn.
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.
IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE GUIDING
Don’t just take it from us…
Shaughan guides our Legal London – Inns of Court walk on Mondays. A professional actor with extensive stage and screen experience, Shaughan brings real stage craft to the streets of London.
The Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand, the great Victorian Gothic citadel of English law.
INNS OF COURT VIRTUAL TOURS
We do two very different ones. Click here to read about Jackie’s. And click here to hear her guiding a bit of it.
And click here to read about Richard III’s. And click here to hear Richard guiding his.
LONDON WALKS VIDEO
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
Temple Church, the extraordinary round church of the Knights Templar, one of the great historic treasures of the Inns of Court.
“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.
Outside the Royal Courts of Justice – wigs, gowns, brisk footsteps and the unmistakable theatre of legal London.
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.
LONDON WALKS – STREETS AHEAD!
Don’t just take it from us.
OTHER TOURS YOU MAY LIKE
Eleanor –
Simon was our guide for the Inns of Court walk today. Brilliant! He was extremely knowledgeable. Lots of information & really entertaining. Thanks very much!
Alison Williamson –
Molly was excellent, the tour was so interesting, very informative, clear and concise.
I really enjoyed it, and came away with a greater knowledge of the roles of barristers.
Really surprised to find out each Inns of Court had their own gardens and chapels. I’ll tell my friends about this tour, as I highly recommend it.
Lyn Michelle Heiming –
This was a fascinating tour of the Inns of Court. Simon related so much information in a very entertaining manner. We learnt not only about solicitors, barristers and courts but also the history of the locations and also where Dickens and Shakespeare had referenced them.
As usual, the very high standard of the London Walks guides was demonstrated. Greetings to you all. Best Wishes from Lyn Michelle and Andreas Heiming
Tim –
Simon was very informative, pleasant and kept the “history lesson” enjoyable.
Dr James Huang –
Simon provided a fascinating insightful tour of the Inns of the Court. He was informative, educational, and entertaining. I appreciated the numerous historic references.
Olga –
Inns of Court with Richard III is a real pilgrimage to the Temples of Law in London, very interesting and not boring, witty guide and a great storyteller. I ve learnt much about legal profession in the Uk as well.
Beth Willis –
Molly guided us on Wed. May 21. She was just extraordinary. A fantastic, off the beaten path couple of hours. We learned so much history and “how things work”. She was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging. And clearly very organized. One of my favorite walking tours. She wove together history and literature, systems of justice and fascinating back stories.
Pam Taylor –
Molly guided us through the Inns of Court yesterday. She was not only very knowledgeable but gave the commentary in an understandable and friendly way. Would thoughtly recommend the walk.
Sandra Clinton –
My sister and I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed it. Molly was really lovely and very professional. She waited for all participants, some of whom had difficulty walking, before she started her commentary, which was incredibly well-informed. She was very tolerant of our sneezing fits under the plane trees, then gave us lots of historical perspective but also some very recent examples of legal rulings and decisions that we found fascinating. It was great to go into some little-known gardens and chambers that we wouldn’t have known about. We’re definitely going to return for lunch in Middle Temple Dining Hall. Thank you Molly, a fabulous tour, I will recommend to all my friends when they’re visiting London 😊 x
Leslie Taylor –
Very informative and enjoyable tour of Inns of Court, related buildings and parks led by Molly. She provided good information and a historical perspective without going into overly technical detail. I now have an understanding of the difference between a barrister and solicitor!