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Charterlegal: Magna Carter & Legal London


You will hear how this small area of London almost by accident fostered the development of the English Common Law which spread around the world to the United States of America, India, Pakistan, Africa, Australia, and many more countries and was the originator of the world's system of common law.
    

People who changed the world worked, lived, entertained, and were educated in the Inns of Court, including:

  • Seven of the signatories to the American Declaration of Independence.
  • Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan who owned over 200 bespoke (made-to-measure) suits and, as a barrister in London, was said to never wear the same silk tie twice.
  • Mahatma Gandhi who had to promise his mother that he would abstain from meat, alcohol, and women before he could enrol in Inner Temple.
  • Sir Francis Drake, a privateer, and the first Englishman to circumnavigate the World and who was then a leading light at the Inns of Court.
  • Sir William Blackstone who influenced common and criminal law in the United States and the British Commonwealth and stated that: “It is better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” 


The oldest building on the tour is the Temple Church, built in 1162 AD and consecrated in 1185 AD, which was one of the bases of King John in the Magna Carta negotiations
 
Over eight hundred years these medieval halls and buildings have witnessed many changes and we will look at some of the traditions, including eating dinners in the halls, which have endured to this day.
 

THE WALKING TOUR


We meet outside the entrance to Temple Underground Station in front of the MONOCLE kiosk.


 1. Outside visit
 Middle Temple Gates
 Hear how for seven hundred years lawyers travelled from here in wherries rowing boats and then steam ferries to the law courts at Westminster.


 2. Outside visit
 1-4 Temple Gardens
 Edward Middleton Barry the architect of Covent Garden (the Floral Hall and Royal Opera House) designed the building in the style of a French Chateau.


 3. Outside visit
 Middle Temple Hall
 Built in 1573 and said to be "the most perfect" example of an Elizabethan building remaining in Central London. So much of English history   revolves  around this building.


 4. Outside visit
 Inner Temple Hall and Gardens
 Shakespeare's Henry VI Part 1 suggests that the War of the Roses originated with the picking of red and white roses in Temple Gardens.


 5. Outside visit
 Temple Church
 Built in 1162 by the Knights Templar, in fiction it featured in Dan Brown's book and film, the Da Vinci Code, and in fact in the Magna Carta negotiations.


 6. Outside visit
 El Vino's/Sergeants' Inn
 Lord Justice Griffiths (1982) in the Court of Appeal: "El Vino's is no ordinary wine bar. It has become a unique institution in Fleet Street".


 7. Outside visit
 Clifford's Inn/St. Dunstan's Church
 Clifford's Inn was one of the Inns of Chancery.


 8. Inside Visit
 The Royal Courts of Justice
 Opened in 1882 by Queen Victoria, the building was originally designed to house 19 courts and now there are around a hundred.


 9. Outside visit
 Lincoln's Inn: Old Hall and Chapel
 This Inn produced eleven prime ministers. The Old Hall was built around 1490 and was sometimes used as a Court of Chancery.


 10. Outside visit
 Staple Inn
 Is a former Inn of Chancery. The front was erected in 1586 and is the finest example of a Tudor timber framed building in Central London.


 11. Outside visit
 Gray's Inn
 Their hall was built in 1560 and reconstructed after bomb damage. In the square there is a statue to the Inn's most prominent former member.  Hear his story and decide whether there should have been a statue to him.

Outside visit
Chancery Lane Underground Station
At the end of the tour, this is the nearest underground station.

David(31 Reviews)

Jacksonville, FL, USA

Guided by Keith

|Traveled as couple - May 2025

I have been on quite a few walking tours (and several in London) ~ this was one of the very best I have enjoyed. Keith speaks from his experience as a barrister and was able to gain access to many places the casual tourist would not be aware of. His depth of knowledge was phenomenal yet his presentation was easy to follow and understand often stopping to ask if we had any questions. He peppered the walk with personal anecdotes garnered from his extensive experience in this field. Not only did he describe the current structure of the British court sustem but he gave the historical precedent. This is a tour not to be missed especially for those with an interest in the British legal system and how it directly influenced the court structure and legal sysyem of my country (USA).

Fiona May 21, 2021 Excellent and to be recommended

Tripadvisor review: The Inns of Court and Royal Courts of Justice Walking Tour

A massive amount of history in 2 1/2 hours with someone who really knows what they are

talking about. Keith has worked in law and it would have been great to start with knowing

more about him and his history as once we knew that it all fell into place.

April(1 Review)

London

Guided by Keith

|Traveled alone - May 2025

Keith was very professional in his approach and very knowledgable on the history of the inns of court and the legal system. I would never have found these hidden places if not for this tour. Even stopped at a fantastic hidden cafe with a beautiful garden. Keith was obviously passionate about his subject and emailed me after the tour to recommended a particular book which was very thoughtful. I would recommend this tour for those who have done the “usual stuff” and want something different. A real insight into our ancient system. We visited the royal courts of justice, where you can just walk right on in, to see how it still works today. A very informative afternoon. Highly recommended. Thank you Keith.

04/17/2025

Mamta, London

Keith is very knowledgeable and passionate about the history. His tour contained a lot of details which we found fascinating! Thank you for a wonderful tour of Temple/Staple/Lincoln/Grays Inns

Henrice

Guided by Keith

|Traveled alone - Jun 2025

This is a great thematic walk. I’ve walked numerous times along the embankment and the royal court of justice but had never seen the buildings behind them which are key to British legal history. The walk sheds insights into key moment in legal history while also showing some lovely gardens in London . I had idea there were so many gardens. I particularly enjoyed visiting the royal court . Keith is knowledgable and with pictures sheds light on the history of some of the buildings. I came away realising just how much London was destroyed in the war and how quick they rebuild it.