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.
We did the Inns of Court walk today (20th june). We really enjoyed the walk, and the guide was very informative and entertaining. We learnt so much about the area and the legal profession.
The only complaint we have is the walk was too short. It states on the website walks last two hours. Ours was over in an hour and a half, and we felt the guide couldn’t wait to leave. We have done other London walks and felt this one was not value for money.
Rated 5 out of 5
Margaret Creigh –
Really enjoyed the Inns of Court walk. Informative and well presented by Molly. Will look out for other interesting London walk. My son ,Matthew (a law student St Glasgow) really enjoyed the detailed knowledge. Thank you.
Rated 5 out of 5
RM –
Very interesting walk with Simon who was funny & knowledgeable
Rated 5 out of 5
Robert G. Ingram –
Simon Law’s Inns of Court tour for a group of American students was terrific. Will absolutely bringing students back for tours with Simon in the future.
Rated 5 out of 5
Thea Hitzemann-Becker –
Wonderful and entertaining walk, which gave us a lot of new informations about this fascinating area. Highly recommendable! We are looking forward to join Molly in her other walks.
Rated 5 out of 5
Kreisel-Büstgens Christiane –
We did the walk Inns of court last Wednesday with Molly. She speaks a brilliant English and we loved to hear her speech full of knowledge and spirit!
Rated 5 out of 5
Kreisel-Büstgens Christiane –
We had the walk “Inns of court” with Molly last Wednesday. Her speech and knowledge were brilliant, even as a German I could understand easily her lovely English.
Rated 5 out of 5
Jane –
Excellent and interesting walk guided by Molly (who I think has a beautiful speaking voice which adds to the experience ). This was my first London walk but I will certainly be back for more.
Rated 5 out of 5
Gill Hannington –
I did this walk with Molly on 6th April and really enjoyed it, particularly as it took me to parts of London I didn’t know existed. The history was fascinating and Molly was a great guide; very informative and interesting. I have already recommended this walk to several friends.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sue Rogers –
Yesterday was the third London walk my two friends and I have done now and we have not been disappointed. The talk was fascinating, and our guide Molly’s knowledge of the topic and area superb. She kept us thoroughly entertained for the 2 hours. So many nooks and crannies in London we would never know existed if not for these tours. Would whole heartedly recommend any of the walks. Look forward to the next one.
Julie Durling –
We did the Inns of Court walk today (20th june). We really enjoyed the walk, and the guide was very informative and entertaining. We learnt so much about the area and the legal profession.
The only complaint we have is the walk was too short. It states on the website walks last two hours. Ours was over in an hour and a half, and we felt the guide couldn’t wait to leave. We have done other London walks and felt this one was not value for money.
Margaret Creigh –
Really enjoyed the Inns of Court walk. Informative and well presented by Molly. Will look out for other interesting London walk. My son ,Matthew (a law student St Glasgow) really enjoyed the detailed knowledge. Thank you.
RM –
Very interesting walk with Simon who was funny & knowledgeable
Robert G. Ingram –
Simon Law’s Inns of Court tour for a group of American students was terrific. Will absolutely bringing students back for tours with Simon in the future.
Thea Hitzemann-Becker –
Wonderful and entertaining walk, which gave us a lot of new informations about this fascinating area. Highly recommendable! We are looking forward to join Molly in her other walks.
Kreisel-Büstgens Christiane –
We did the walk Inns of court last Wednesday with Molly. She speaks a brilliant English and we loved to hear her speech full of knowledge and spirit!
Kreisel-Büstgens Christiane –
We had the walk “Inns of court” with Molly last Wednesday. Her speech and knowledge were brilliant, even as a German I could understand easily her lovely English.
Jane –
Excellent and interesting walk guided by Molly (who I think has a beautiful speaking voice which adds to the experience ). This was my first London walk but I will certainly be back for more.
Gill Hannington –
I did this walk with Molly on 6th April and really enjoyed it, particularly as it took me to parts of London I didn’t know existed. The history was fascinating and Molly was a great guide; very informative and interesting. I have already recommended this walk to several friends.
Sue Rogers –
Yesterday was the third London walk my two friends and I have done now and we have not been disappointed. The talk was fascinating, and our guide Molly’s knowledge of the topic and area superb. She kept us thoroughly entertained for the 2 hours. So many nooks and crannies in London we would never know existed if not for these tours. Would whole heartedly recommend any of the walks. Look forward to the next one.