A local’s guide to visiting the quirky medieval Temple Church, a beautiful historical site in the City of London close to Fleet Street and the River Thames!
Temple Church in London is one of the most beautiful historical sites you will ever have the chance to visit, whether you are spending two days in London, or three, four, or ten.
Located in the historical City of London, which I have told you all about with its many ruins, secret courtyards, and small hidden alleys, Temple Church is a true medieval spot.
You can then wander through the surroundings, around Fleet Street, the secret Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, or Temple itself with the secret Elm Court, before heading back toward the nearby center of London.
But for now, let me dive into London’s history with you, into a story of Knights Templar, long before the Great Fire of London which decimated so many of its magnificent churches and medieval streets.
London’s Temple Church, A Historical Gem To See in the City
Temple Church is located in the Temple district of London, a historically legal neighborhood where you mostly find secret gardens, small alleys, hidden courtyards, and offices where the legal body is still educated today.
Built by the Knights Templar in 1185, Temple Church was intended to be part of a complex that included the Temple precincts.
This is where today you find the Inner Temple and Middle Temple, two of the four Inns of Court.
Temple Church, built to be the headquarters of the Knights Templar, features an architecture famous for its round nave, inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Temple Church was not damaged in the Great Fire of London, which started in a bakery that was actually quite close.
However, it was still damaged during WWII, just like Christchurch Greyfriars or St Dunstan in the East, both of which are church ruins turned into gardens by the city.
Indeed, and curiously enough, the Great Fire stopped really just before reaching the church.
However, as a precaution and to modernize the church, the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, responsible for rebuilding many churches such as St Paul’s Cathedral notably after the Great Fire, carried out renovations at the end of the 17th century, specifically with baroque elements and an organ.
This was not the case for other partially or completely destroyed churches.
Some became secret gardens, without ruins this time, such as the Reflection Garden in front of St Paul’s Cathedral, or the St Pancras Church Gardens also in the City of London.
Let’s go back to Temple Church now.
When you walk through the door of Temple Church, you find yourself in a magnificent church, but also in a secret museum – on your left, you will see boards telling the story of the church and the Knights Templar.
This is why you see several medieval knight effigies lying within the church, remarkable examples of funerary art, on the floor.
When I visited Temple Church last time, it cost me 5 pounds.
It really is a low price to pay if you are fond of historical places or unique spots, especially when you are tired of visiting neighborhoods like Covent Garden or Oxford Street.
Especially since inside Temple Church, which notably appeared in books and films such as The Da Vinci Code, you find in addition to the tombs of the Knights Templar, gothic architectural details and magnificent stained glass.
Don’t forget to take the stairs to go to the first floor.
When you get some height, you see Temple Church looking even more beautiful, detailed, and majestic.
Plus, the floor on the first floor is particularly beautiful, so it is indeed a must-see.
Temple Church London Photo Gallery
London’s Temple Church, A Historical Gem To See in the City
Once you have finished visiting Temple Church, there are so many things to see around it.
You could start with a breakfast made of a colorful latte and carrot cake at Press Coffee Co nearby, before admiring Temple Church.
Then, why not visit the magnificent and secret church of the City of London, St Dunstan in the West on historical Fleet Street?
You can also visit St Bride’s Church with its secret crypt and mini-museum, before heading closer to Trafalgar Square and the hidden gems of Covent Garden, further down, closer to Oxford Street.
There are so many cheap or free things to do in London!
To understand a bit more about London history, I also recommend the free Sir John Soane’s Museum, Surrey Street’s Norfolk building, or the Smithfield district with its Charterhouse and St Bartholomew the Great church.
Temple Church London
Address: Temple, London EC4Y 7BB
Website: Temple Church