The Temple: A Hidden World in the Heart of London
- Andrew
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
Walking along Fleet Street, it’s easy to miss one of London’s most atmospheric enclaves. Slip through an archway, however, and you enter The Temple. This self‑contained world of cobbled lanes, quiet courtyards and medieval history is even home to one of the city’s most remarkable churches.
This Temple consists of the Inner Temple, the Middle Temple and the extraordinary Temple Church, all of which grew from the legacy of the Knights Templar. Their story is woven into the foundations of English law, the Magna Carta, and even the early shaping of the United States.
The lanes and courtyards might seem familiar to many visitors are they are frequently used as the setting for films and TV shows including The Da Vinci Code, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
A Brief History of the Inns: From Knights to Lawyers
The story begins in the 12th century, when the Knights Templar built a monastic complex on this site, complete with residences, training grounds, and a distinctive round church. Temple Church is now one of only four surviving round naves in England.
When the Templars were suppressed in the early 14th century, lawyers gradually took over the precinct. By the 15th century, the legal societies of the Inner Temple and Middle Temple were firmly established here. Their occupancy was formally secured in 1608, when King James I granted them the land on the condition that they maintain the church and its services.
Today, both Inns remain two of the four historic Inns of Court, responsible for training and calling barristers to the Bar of England and Wales.
The Inner Temple’s history stretches back to the 12th century, when the Templars first built their headquarters. After the order’s dissolution, the site evolved into a thriving legal hub. Its archives date from 1505, and its halls, gardens, and chambers have been shaped by centuries of legal tradition.
Wandering through the Inner Temple today, you’ll find elegant and perfectly-preserved Georgian and Victorian buildings, as well as the Inner Temple Garden. Only open at lunchtime on weekdays for city workers to relax, this green oasis is beautifully laid out with deep herbaceous borders, a woodland garden and views over the Embankment as far as Westminster.
Just next door, the Middle Temple shares the same medieval origins. Its lanes and courtyards still follow the footprint of the original Templar complex, which once stretched down to the Thames.
Middle Temple Hall, although not usually open to the public, is one of the best-preserved Elizabethan Halls in England. It was completed in 1573 and was the setting for the first ever performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.
Together, the Inner and Middle Temple form a serene, almost village‑like district in the heart of London. At the heart of the precinct stands Temple Church, one of London’s most beautiful and historically significant churches.
Consecrated in 1185, the Round Church was modelled on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and its circular design was meant to evoke Christ’s tomb and the promise of resurrection.
During the reign of King John, the church served as the royal treasury, reflecting the Templars’ role as early international bankers. In 1215, negotiations leading to the sealing of Magna Carta took place here. Effigies of key figures including William Marshal, one of the charter’s great champions, still lie in the Round.
Although the church was heavily damaged during the Blitz, it has since been beautifully restored. Today it remains an active church, but it is open to the public daily for a small entrance fee.
How and when to visit The Temple
The Temple contains offices, residences and even restaurants and bars for members, and although it is not strictly open to the public, the gates are open for access Monday to Friday. Temple Church is open every day for an entry fee.
The Inner Temple Garden is open free of charge Monday to Friday from 12pm-3pm.
Parts of Middle Temple, including the Elizabethan Hall, are usually open to the public once a year for the Open House Festival.
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