Newton Abbot Travel Club

ONE OF LONDONS HIDDEN GEMS

GUIDED TOUR OF MIDDLE TEMPLE LONDON BY TRAIN

Friday 1st March 2024

A day trip to London to this hidden gem.

We catch the 07.30 train which should arrive into Paddington approx 10.00 then make our way over most probably by bus, so bring your bus passes to the Middle Temple for a private  guided tour at 11.15 which lasts about 45/60 mins.

See  the Queens Room, Princes Room, Hall & Gardens unfortunately the Parliament Chamber already has an event on and we will be unable to visit.

At the end of the tour it may be possible to have lunch in the Hall. 

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn. 

Construction of Middle Temple Hall began in 1562 and was completed in the early 1570s. Its hammerbeam roof has been said to be the best in London. Queen Elizabeth I visited the hall in 1578, unannounced, to inspect the new building and listen to a debate between barristers. This is the earliest known visit of a reigning monarch to an Inn of Court. One of the tables at the end of the hall is traditionally said to have been made from the timbers of the Golden Hinde, the ship used by Sir Francis Drake to circumnavigate the world. Above the table is a massive painting of King Charles I thought to be a copy by Peter Lely of the original by Anthony van Dyck, and also portraits of Charles II, James II, William III, Elizabeth I, Queen Anne and George I. On the walls are panels bearing the coats of arms of Readers (senior members) dating back to 1597.

The first recorded performance of Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night occurred in the hall on 2 February 1602. Shakespeare himself was  most probably present.

The hall survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, but was damaged by bombing in the Second World War. 

There is free time in the afternoon before catching the 18.36 train home which should arrive at Newton Abbot approx 21.30

Cost of train  ticket

2nd class return & guided tour  £99.00

SORRY ALL PLACES TAKEN

Please note these train tickets are fixed for the time stated and can't be changed.

You have to make your own way to/from attractions, bus passes accepted in London.