N.B. See also our Friday VIP Lawyer-guided Inns of Court Walk (March 28, April 4, April 11 and then from May 2 almost every Friday through late October). 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.
“A lawyer is a learned gentleman who rescues your estate from your enemies and keeps it himself” Henry Brougham*
Short read:Magic casement into an 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
*Barrister and statesman Henry Brougham (1778 – 1868) was a member of Lincoln’s Inn. Elected to Parliament in 1810, he became Lord High Chancellor and played a prominent role in passing the 1832 Reform Act and the Slavery Abolition Act. One of the chief advisers to Queen Caroline of Brunswick, the estranged wife of George, Prince of Wales, the Prince Regent and future George IV, it was suggested to Brougham that he hold back in his vigorous defense of the Princess for the sake of the country. (Her opponents wanted her stripped of her Royal title on the grounds of adultery.) Brougham responded with a now-famous speech in the House of Lords
An advocate, in the discharge of his duty, knows but one person in all the world, and that person is his client. To save that client by all means and expedients, and at all hazards and costs to other persons, and amongst them, to himself, is his first and only duty; and in performing this duty he must not regard the alarm, the torments, the destruction which he may bring upon others. Separating the duty of a patriot from that of an advocate, he must go on reckless of consequences, though it should be his unhappy fate to involve his country in confusion.
The speech has since become legendary among defence lawyers for the principle of zealously advocating for one’s client.
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 this walk on Wednesday 14th Feb, with Simon standing in last minute for Molly. Thank you Simon for a really entertaining couple of hours (nearly 3 in the end!). We visited 4 Inns of Court plus the Royal Courts of Justice and learned so much on the way about the legal system and English history. His jokes were genuinely funny and his knowledge was astonishing! Thank you also Simon for pointing out Sir John Soane’s museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields which we visited later that day, an amazing little known museum in the heart of London. We have done other London Walks which have always been brilliant but this one was one of the best we have done.
Rated 5 out of 5
Allison –
SO glad I went on this walk with Shaughan last week. I learned so much about an area of London I hadn’t visited much before and wow…it is chock-full of history. One could roam all around this area alone and enjoy it, but going with an amazing guide like Shaughan is a game-changer. Highly recommend for groups and solo travelers alike.
Rated 4 out of 5
Judy –
An interesting walk. We learned a lot about the legal systems of England. Molly was a good guide. We would have missed a lot on our own.
Rated 5 out of 5
Mike Murfitt –
What a fantastic walk given by Simon today. I was one of a party of 5 who travelled in from Hertfordshire for the walk and we were entertained and informed so well by Simon. We will be back
Rated 5 out of 5
Jane Ellis –
Simon stepped in to deliver an excellent talk. Informative, entertaining and humourous.
Rated 5 out of 5
Charo Havermans –
Had a great walk with Simon! He was unbelievably knowledgeable.
Rated 5 out of 5
Sheelagh Donovan –
So enjoyed every minute of this walk. Molly was very knowledgeable, giving us pertinent, interesting information, so we got a real feel for the origins of this area and the justice system. Molly was very happy to answer questions. This is such a fascinating part of London. We have vowed to retrace the steps of this walk in summertime.
Rated 5 out of 5
Michael Hunter –
Molly was outstanding. She has an encylopaedic memory for information pertaining to this area and buildings of note, and her explanation of the history and traditions of the legal workings were exemplary. ( Sorry Molly, I found that there was another Fountain Court,
where Blake died, further along the Strand by the Savoy!).
Hello,
I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the walk which Molly led for us last Wednesday. She was clear, knowledgeable and funny. We really had a great time with her and would highly recommend her as a guide.
Thanks.
Jan Weir
Rated 5 out of 5
Jane Wilkinson –
A thoroughly enjoyable walk around around a very attractive part of London. Our guide, Simon, gave us lots of historical details peppered with interesting stories and was lively and engaging from start to finish. Highly recommend!
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OKPrivacy policy
Chris Miller –
We did this walk on Wednesday 14th Feb, with Simon standing in last minute for Molly. Thank you Simon for a really entertaining couple of hours (nearly 3 in the end!). We visited 4 Inns of Court plus the Royal Courts of Justice and learned so much on the way about the legal system and English history. His jokes were genuinely funny and his knowledge was astonishing! Thank you also Simon for pointing out Sir John Soane’s museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields which we visited later that day, an amazing little known museum in the heart of London. We have done other London Walks which have always been brilliant but this one was one of the best we have done.
Allison –
SO glad I went on this walk with Shaughan last week. I learned so much about an area of London I hadn’t visited much before and wow…it is chock-full of history. One could roam all around this area alone and enjoy it, but going with an amazing guide like Shaughan is a game-changer. Highly recommend for groups and solo travelers alike.
Judy –
An interesting walk. We learned a lot about the legal systems of England. Molly was a good guide. We would have missed a lot on our own.
Mike Murfitt –
What a fantastic walk given by Simon today. I was one of a party of 5 who travelled in from Hertfordshire for the walk and we were entertained and informed so well by Simon. We will be back
Jane Ellis –
Simon stepped in to deliver an excellent talk. Informative, entertaining and humourous.
Charo Havermans –
Had a great walk with Simon! He was unbelievably knowledgeable.
Sheelagh Donovan –
So enjoyed every minute of this walk. Molly was very knowledgeable, giving us pertinent, interesting information, so we got a real feel for the origins of this area and the justice system. Molly was very happy to answer questions. This is such a fascinating part of London. We have vowed to retrace the steps of this walk in summertime.
Michael Hunter –
Molly was outstanding. She has an encylopaedic memory for information pertaining to this area and buildings of note, and her explanation of the history and traditions of the legal workings were exemplary. ( Sorry Molly, I found that there was another Fountain Court,
where Blake died, further along the Strand by the Savoy!).
Jan Weir –
On 21/10/2023, 10:48, “Janice Weir” <[email protected] > wrote:
Hello,
I just wanted to say how much we enjoyed the walk which Molly led for us last Wednesday. She was clear, knowledgeable and funny. We really had a great time with her and would highly recommend her as a guide.
Thanks.
Jan Weir
Jane Wilkinson –
A thoroughly enjoyable walk around around a very attractive part of London. Our guide, Simon, gave us lots of historical details peppered with interesting stories and was lively and engaging from start to finish. Highly recommend!