A Walk around the Inns of Court

This walk should be done on a weekday as some areas within the Inns are closed at weekends.

Turn left out of Temple underground station, go up steps, turn right into Temple Place, then left on Milford Lane, then right through gate. Cross the car park, turn left through another gate; go up steps to Garden Court.

On your right are Middle Temple Gardens.

In Fountain Court, turn right.

On the right, Middle Temple Hall hosted the first performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night in 1602.

Continue under the arch to Lamb Building; walk up steps, bear left.

Ahead is Temple Church (1185), with its 13th-century Crusader knight effigies.

Leave Temple past Dr Johnson’s Buildings, under the arch to Fleet Street.

On your right and up a flight of stairs is 400-year-old Prince Henry’s Room and Pepys Exhibition (open Mon-Sat 11–2).

Cross Fleet Street, turn left, then right on Bell Yard, passing the Royal Courts of Justice. Turn left on Carey Street, right into New Square and Lincoln’s Inn.

On your left is Lincoln’s Inn hall; to the right the 1623 chapel.

Continue through Old Square, turn right at Stone Buildings; exit through a gate to Chancery Lane. Turn right, then left into Southampton Buildings.

On your left are the Silver Vaults, 30 shops selling a huge range of antique silver.

At the end of Southampton Buildings, enter Staple Inn, turn left for High Holborn. Cross High Holborn, turn left, then right into Gray’s Inn, by the Citttie of York pub. Turn left into Field Court, past Gray’s Inn Gardens. To the left, Fulwood Place leads back to High Holborn and Chancery Lane Tube station.

Distance Approximately 4km (2.5 miles)

Time 2–3 hours depending on visits

Start point Temple (closed Sun) Map Reference 17J

End point Chancery Lane (closed Sun) Map Reference 18L

Lunch Cittie of York, Holborn (£)