Temple is a fascinating area steeped in legal history and haunted by characters from Dickens and famous old court cases. The Inns of Court are peaceful green oases with their own cobbled streets just like little sections of historic London with no traffic. The extravagant High Court looks like a fairytale palace but has been the scene of famous and dramatic legal cases.

• Turn left out of Temple tube station, walk up the steps and through Temple Gardens .
• Leave the gardens and walk up Milford Lane. 2 Temple Place on your left is free to visit when there is an exhibition, and the stained glass and wonderful staircase are well worth it. There is a gateway in the wall on your right before the bend in the lane. Walk through it and follow the path up through hushed Middle Temple, past Fountain Court and left then right through Devereux Court to reach Fleet Street. In front of you are the magnificent Royal Courts of Justice.
• Turn left along the Strand. You are looking for an entrance through black wrought iron gate taking you up a tiny lane called Clement’s Inn. On your left you will pass London School of Economics Pankhurst and Fawcett Houses, dedicated to campaigning for women. Go up the steps and keep straight on until you come out on Portugal Street. Go right then immediate left into St Clement’s Lane, then right again and round to the left past the Old Curiosity Shop to reach leafy Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Walk through the park taking the exit by the band stand. Opposite you is the wonderful John Soanes Museum
• Go left then turn right up the alleyway keeping the historic Ship Tavern on your left. Cross busy High Holborn using the crossing and walk up Proctor Street, turning right through quiet Red Lion Square gardens. Carry straight on until you hit elegant Bedford Row.
• Go left and through the gateway in the wall into Grey’s Inn. Follow the path straight past the huge wrought iron gates of the gardens in through the gateway into Grey’s Inn Square. Turn right, passing South Square and the statue of Sir Francis Bacon and come out on High Holborn where you will go left and cross over to admire Staples Inn. Just before the Inn, turn right into Staples Inn Buildings, following lane round to the right and going straight on past the Silver Vaults on you right and into Chancery Lane.
• Turn right then enter Lincoln’s Inn on your left, walking left through Old Square. In front of you you will see a vaulted stone gateway. Walk through here and out into New Square on your left. Walk down and out through the gateway, turning left into Carey Street, then left into Chancery Lane.
• Go first right into Bream’s Buildings, then cross New Fetter Lane and straight on into New Street Square. Keep left and you will see a gateway labelled Dr Johnson’s House which takes you to lovely cobbled Square where you can visit the house and view the statue to Johnson’s beloved cat! With the cat on your left turn right down the alley and keep left until you come out on Fleet Street. You will pass Johnson’s local Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on your left. Turn right.
• Go left into Bouverie Street then second right into Temple Lane. In front of you is the entrance to Inner Temple. Go through and turn right up historic King’s Walk and up towards Old Mitre Court keeping your eyes open for a gateway in the wall on your right. This will lead you through to ancient Temple Church. Carry straight on through Pump Court onto Middle Temple Lane, turn left and take the narrow cobbled Street down the hill and through the gateway. Stop to look back at its highly decorated exterior. A right turn on the Embankment will take you back via Temple Gardens to the tube station.

More soon!