The City within a City Oasis
My walk takes me to all four of London's Inns of Court - Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Middle Temple and Inner Temple. History at every turn - with Ian Nairn saving his praise for the hidden city within the City;
"This oasis, which most cities would give its eyes for..... as memorable as anything in Oxford or Cambridge"
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| Royal Courts of Justice, as we leave the sanctuary of Temple |
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| Obligatory Dickens reference |
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| Temple calmness |
Temple Church - London's Notre Dame - is the obvious architectural highlight. I was told to visit during last week's Worcester Cathedral visit, where my guide told me the only other effigy with an unsheathed sword was interred here. She may have got that wrong.... all swords appear to be sheathed. Regardless - an unexpected £5 entrance fee - but what does that buy you in the Smoke? Just over a half of beer, as I determine on the pub crawl later.
Temple Church, founded by the Knights Templar in the 12th century, is a rare medieval survivor hidden within London’s legal quarter. Its round nave echoes the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, and the church has long served as the ceremonial heart of the Inner and Middle Temple. Inside, carved knightly effigies and remarkable acoustics give the place a serene, time-slipped atmosphere.
As Nairn points out - along with the rest of Temple, it's incredible how much of this (and surrounding buildings) were meticulously rebuilt from photograph images after the WWII. "The best new townscape in London is neo-Georgian".
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| Temple Church |
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| The Views you get for £5 |
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| Sword Sheathed |
Onto the Pubs - for the shortest Pub Crawl in London.
Walk Details
Distance - 2 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Andrew Duncan's Favourite London Walks
Geocaches - 13
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