Link to the Show / Show NotesA walk around London's Inns of Court,
starting at Chancery Lane (Central Line Zone 1)
As you exit the Underground, you are
immediately entranced by the ancient timbered building in High Holborn. This wonderful half timbered building stands on the south side of High Holborn, and is on your right as you leave the Underground from exit 3.
We
leave the traffic noise behind us and hundreds of years of history by
walking through Staples Inn towards the Patent Office and London Silver
Vaults.
The walk passes through London's four
Inns of Court. This is where Barristers have their chambers. Although the strict division between Barristers and Solicitors is not as clear cut as it once was, Barristers (or Counsel) appear oin the higher courts and are briefed by Solicitors (who appear in the lower courts or brief Barristers). Barristers do not themselves generally see members of the public, but deal with clients through their solicitors.
It is advisable to take this walk during the midweek when the
Inns are accessible. Lincoln's Inn comes first, then we pass down alongside
the Royal Courts of Justice before crossing Fleet Street into the Middle
Temple. Here we visit the Temple Church which has become associated with Dan
Brown's Da Vinci Code novel.
Next comes the Inner Temple before we
turn north again and pass the church of St Clement Danes.
The Old Curiosity Shop is in Portsmouth
Street and was made famous by Charles Dickens. The death of Little Nell is one of the most poignant episodes in Victorian literature. After passing this site, we walk round Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Gray's Inn comes last, and we return to the
starting point in Chancery Lane.
This is a lovely walk, full of history,
mostly free of traffic, with lots to see and hear. It is one of my favourites, and I hope you enjoy walking with me.
This episode of the London Walks podcast
is dedicated to my father, Joseph Wright OBE Barrister of the Middle Temple
(1917 - 2002)
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