N.B. this walk will not take place on the following dates:
27-05-2024 26-08-2024 25-12-2024
N.B. See also our Friday VIP Lawyer-guided Inns of Court Walk (May 10th, May 24th and every Friday from June 14th through September). 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.
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
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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.
Great tour and great tour guide.
Shaughan the tour guide was very knowledgeable, very entertaining and had a great manner.
Learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rated 5 out of 5
Michael –
In the absence of the designated guide my tour today was conducted by Simon.
He was superb!
As a solicitor of nearly 50 year’s experience I thought I would be familiar with much of the tour but the insights that Simon have opened up a whole new world to me.
He was knowledgeable, interesting, witty and very personable and it was one of the best tours I have taken anywhere.
His enthusiasm was infectious and as I am on the cusp of retirement I am contemplating applying to join London Walks as a guide.
Well done Simon
A memorable afternoon!
Rated 5 out of 5
Peter Lawless –
Enjoyable and informative , Away from the hustle and bustle of London the Inns of Court are a veritable oasis of peace and quiet. Molly was a very good guide very knowledgeable about the history of this part of London.
Rated 5 out of 5
Dr Paul A Reilly –
On a warm, bright autumnal day in London the Inns of Courts walk was a huge pleasure, and Simon was both informative and amusing, not to mention patient with such a large group. The ancient buildings and associated gardens and lanes are all very beautiful and historic. I am sure we will come up to London to do more such walking tours. And at £10 for those over 65 the afternoon was a real bargain.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gary Paprocki –
Excellent tour in every way. Our guide Simon was great!
Rated 5 out of 5
Lorraine and Henry –
We did the Inns of Court walk this morning 22 October 2022 with Simon Law guiding. It was fascinating and Simon’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject together with his wit made for a most enjoyable walk, and from which we gained much knowledge. Highly recommended. Thank you Simon. Looking forward to more walks with you in the future.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lorraine and Henry –
We did the Inns of Court walk this morning with Simon Law. It was fascinating and Simon’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject together with his wit made for a most enjoyable walk, and from which we gained much knowledge. Highly recommended. Thank you Simon. Looking forward to more walks with you in the future.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mark –
A brilliant tour with a brilliant guide. I’ve been on walks with Shaughan before and he’s great. Full of knowledge and humour and his acting skills are a bonus when he’s telling some great stories. Highly recommended. Any man that was in an episode of Rumpole Of The Bailey (like Shaughan) deserves 5 stars but Shaughan deserves 5 stars for the walk too.
Rated 5 out of 5
Lucy –
Hello,
I took the Inns of Court walk this morning with Molly and it was absolutely brilliant. She’s a gem. Both knowledgeable and entertaining. I did the walk because I’m reading Bleak House and thought it would be nice. It really was. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see quiet corners in the middle of busy noisy London, and learn a bit of history.
Thanks,
Lucy
Rated 5 out of 5
Lisa & Günter –
The Inns of Court walk last week with Simon was very interesting, spiked with fascinating historical facts and presented in a most entertaining way by our guide. We recommend this walk to anyone visiting London!
John –
Great tour and great tour guide.
Shaughan the tour guide was very knowledgeable, very entertaining and had a great manner.
Learnt a lot and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Michael –
In the absence of the designated guide my tour today was conducted by Simon.
He was superb!
As a solicitor of nearly 50 year’s experience I thought I would be familiar with much of the tour but the insights that Simon have opened up a whole new world to me.
He was knowledgeable, interesting, witty and very personable and it was one of the best tours I have taken anywhere.
His enthusiasm was infectious and as I am on the cusp of retirement I am contemplating applying to join London Walks as a guide.
Well done Simon
A memorable afternoon!
Peter Lawless –
Enjoyable and informative , Away from the hustle and bustle of London the Inns of Court are a veritable oasis of peace and quiet. Molly was a very good guide very knowledgeable about the history of this part of London.
Dr Paul A Reilly –
On a warm, bright autumnal day in London the Inns of Courts walk was a huge pleasure, and Simon was both informative and amusing, not to mention patient with such a large group. The ancient buildings and associated gardens and lanes are all very beautiful and historic. I am sure we will come up to London to do more such walking tours. And at £10 for those over 65 the afternoon was a real bargain.
Gary Paprocki –
Excellent tour in every way. Our guide Simon was great!
Lorraine and Henry –
We did the Inns of Court walk this morning 22 October 2022 with Simon Law guiding. It was fascinating and Simon’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject together with his wit made for a most enjoyable walk, and from which we gained much knowledge. Highly recommended. Thank you Simon. Looking forward to more walks with you in the future.
Lorraine and Henry –
We did the Inns of Court walk this morning with Simon Law. It was fascinating and Simon’s knowledge and enthusiasm for the subject together with his wit made for a most enjoyable walk, and from which we gained much knowledge. Highly recommended. Thank you Simon. Looking forward to more walks with you in the future.
Mark –
A brilliant tour with a brilliant guide. I’ve been on walks with Shaughan before and he’s great. Full of knowledge and humour and his acting skills are a bonus when he’s telling some great stories. Highly recommended. Any man that was in an episode of Rumpole Of The Bailey (like Shaughan) deserves 5 stars but Shaughan deserves 5 stars for the walk too.
Lucy –
Hello,
I took the Inns of Court walk this morning with Molly and it was absolutely brilliant. She’s a gem. Both knowledgeable and entertaining. I did the walk because I’m reading Bleak House and thought it would be nice. It really was. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to see quiet corners in the middle of busy noisy London, and learn a bit of history.
Thanks,
Lucy
Lisa & Günter –
The Inns of Court walk last week with Simon was very interesting, spiked with fascinating historical facts and presented in a most entertaining way by our guide. We recommend this walk to anyone visiting London!