Explore The Temple – A to Z of Things to do & Places to Visit in London

I have been living in London for exactly 3 years, and it honestly seems like I have only just arrived. Those 3 years have went by in blur. Every single week I’m discovering new places to visit, and new places to eat and drink in. The Temple is a historic part of the City of London that I visited for the first time earlier on this week and an absolute gem of place to explore it is too.

The Temple was originally the precinct of the Knights Templar, until they were disbanded and all their property was by papal decree transferred to the Order of Hospitallers. By the fourteenth century lawyers were already in residence in the Temple and when the Knights Hospitallers eventually left, the legal lot stayed!

Two of the four Inns of Court of England and Wales, the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple, are located here. In fact the Temple is made up of those two distinct areas, Inner Temple which is the eastern part and Middle Temple the western part. Those districts nowadays contain many barristers’ chambers, solicitors’ offices, as well as some notable legal institutions such as the Employment Appeal Tribunal and pied-à-terre homes for senior barristers and judges. Don’t let that put you off visiting…

Wandering around the Temple districts is like taking a real step back in time – the Wandering Scotsman became a time traveller for a couple of hours. Explore the various lanes, courtyards and alleyways that make up the area. Investigate all the nooks and crannies… marvel at the architecture and soak up the history of the place.

And there is more…much more. Within the Inner Temple district is a beautiful 3 acre garden that is a fantastic place to relax in. There is also the Temple Church built by the Knights Templars in the 12th century as their English Headquarters – requires a 3 quid entrance fee.

Enter the Temple precinct via Inner Temple Lane on Fleet Street and leave via the Victoria Embankment is my advice, but not before enjoying a couple of relaxing hours exploring what is a must visit London gem!

T = The Temple. For more from the A to Z of Things to do & Places to Visit in London.

Related posts:

1. Inner Temple Garden – London Sanctuary