A 2 mile walk from Blackfriars to Holborn Stations.
Note: it will not be possible to do this walk at weekends or public holidays. Some places are open at lunchtimes (details below).
A quiz is available in conjunction with this walk [click here]

From Blackfriars Station use the subway system to exit 8 and continue along New Bridge Street. Go left at Tudor Street into Inner Temple. First go to the left to view the gardens and Paper Buildings. Then return along Kings Bench Walk and go left through to Church Court just past the library.
The Library, Treasury & Hall of the Inner Temple are to left. On the right is the Master's House and Temple Church. The round section was built in 1185 and the chancel added in the 13th century. It is shared by Middle and Inner Temple. The Cloisters ahead were rebuilt after WWII bomb damage. There is a central statue of two knights on horseback.

Go to the left of the cloisters down steps to Elm Court (Garden)
There is a plaque on what was the ancient buttery

Walk through and cross Middle Temple Lane into Fountain Court.
The 16th century Middle Temple Hall with a fine hammer beam roof is on the left. There is a mulberry tree ahead.

At the fountain go to the left down steps alongside the gardens.
These would have stretched down to the river before the Embankment was built. It is traditionally thought that the red and white roses which became badges during the War of the Roses were picked here.

Go down steps at the end and through the gates into Temple Place. Go left along Victoria Embankment.
HQS Wellington - the livery hall of the Master Mariners is moored here near Temple Steps. A dragon marks the western boundary of the City.

Go through gates and arch on the left into Middle Temple Lane and follow this through.
Pump Court & Hare Court are to the right and Brick Court & Essex Court to the left.

Exit into the Strand. To visit the Law Courts go left otherwise/after go right to view Prince Henry's Room.
This 17th century building has a fine frontage and panelled first floor room with plaster ceiling and collection relating to Samuel Pepys.

Opposite this go along Chancery Lane
There is a plaque at the location of the former Sejeants Inn on the right and further along the entrance to Cliffords Inn. Hodgsons (former book auction rooms) has an interesting frontage. The old Public Records Office is now part of Kings College. Ede & Ravenscroft, old established outfitters to the legal profession, have a shop on the left.

Go left through Chichester Rents and left at Star Yard
An old cast iron urinal is sited here. The rear of Ede & Ravenscroft is of interest. In Dickens 'Bleak House' the premises of Krook were in Star Yard.

Go right at Carey Street to the junction
The Law Courts are to the left and there are examples of K2 (larger) & K6 telephone boxes. The shops and pub (the Seven Stars) on the right were added onto the back of New Square buildings.

Return along Carey Street and go through the passage on the left into New Square
Wildy & Sons Legal Bookshop is sited within this archway.

Continue ahead to view the Great Hall, Library & Gardens.
The hall and library were designed by Philip Hardwick in 1845 whilst the small building now used by the Head Gardener was designed by George Gilbert Scott in 1852.

Go right at Stone Buildings and right through Old Square. Walk through the Chapel Undercroft into Gatehouse Court.
The Old Hall to the west dates back to 1490.

Exit through the arch into Chancery Lane and go left. Go right at Southampton Buildings.
The London Silver Vaults are to the left.

At the corner continue ahead through gate into Staple Inn. Go down steps and around the garden then up steps and through the courtyard into Holborn.
The frontage of these buildings retain their timber framing.

Cross the road and go left then through the passage to the right, just before the Cittie of Yorke pub, into South Square. Continue through into Grays Inn Square ahead.
The library, hall and chapel were all reconstructed after WWII bomb damage

Go through passage to left. Continue through Field Court ahead
Grays Inn Gardens known as 'The Walks' are on the right.

At the end go right then up the steps through the gate in the wall into Jockeys Fields. Continue along Sandland Street ahead.
There are fine 18th century houses in Bedford Row to the right.

Go left at Red Lion Street. Cross High Holborn at the lights to the left and go through Great Turnstile into Lincoln's Inn Fields.
The Soane Museum is on the north side.

From NW corner take Gate Street (left of the Ship Tavern) into Kingsway. Holborn Station is on the right.

OPENINGS
Grays Inn Gardens, Lincoln's Inn Gardens & Lincoln's Inn Chapel are open 12-2:30 on weekdays:
Middle Temple Gardens are open weekdays 12 - 3 May - September
Temple Church is generally open 11-4 Wed - Fri
Prince Henry's Room is open 11-2 Mon - Fri
The Royal Courts of Justice are open 9-4:30 Mon - Fri (security checks - certain items may not be taken into the building including cameras)
Middle & Inner Temple Gardens usually open on London Garden Squares Day [more info]
Middle Temple Hall MAY be open 10-11:30 & 3-4 (check on 020 7427 4800). Guided tours can be arranged for small groups by written request to The Treasury Office, Middle Temple Lane, EC4Y 9AT.

RESOURCES
Books of London walks will often have Inns of Court/ Legal London routes including 'Walking London' by Andrew Duncan.
A comprehensive guide which includes 4 walks plus lots of photos is 'Fleet Street, Holborn and the Inns of Court' by Roger Hudson - a London Guide from Haggerston Press.
A free illustrated booklet 'The Trail of 3 Inns of Court' was produced for the String of Pearls Millennium & Golden Jubilee.

© london-footprints.co.uk 2006

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