Description
The Inner Temple Garden is a stunning, award-winning historic haven located in the City of London, offering families a peaceful green escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. This beautifully maintained space, which spans three acres, is the largest private green space in the City of London and has welcomed visitors for over 700 years. If you are looking for the best things to do with kids in the City of London and the Blackfriars area, this ancient legal sanctuary serves as a magnificent outdoor rest stop between busier museum visits.
Visiting this beautifully manicured landscape is completely free during its public hours, making it an excellent budget-friendly addition to a day out in central London. There are no entry fees or standard tickets required to wander the wide lawns, allowing families to step inside a quiet paradise without spending a penny. It provides a spectacular, stress-free spot to let children unwind, rest on the grass, and take in a unique setting.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines rich medieval history with an immaculate natural setting, this garden fits the bill perfectly. It allows parents to relax on the lawns while children safely observe an array of colorful flowers, ancient trees, and urban wildlife. Its central location near the River Thames means you can effortlessly weave it into any central London sightseeing itinerary.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
What makes Inner Temple Garden unique?
- Steeped in medieval history: Originally an orchard dating back to at least the 12th century, the garden appointed its very first official gardener in 1307.
- A certified wildlife haven: Newly transformed with meadows and diverse habitats, the garden is buzzing with biodiversity, featuring everything from moths to rare bees.
- Massive ancient trees: The space is home to spectacular London plane trees, the oldest of which were planted all the way back in the 1770s.
- A rare City oasis: As the largest private green estate in the City of London, it offers an immersive pocket of calm right where traffic roars and people rush.
Top Highlights
- The Great Lawns: The central feature of the estate is its vast, rolling expanses of pristine green lawn. It provides a safe and completely open environment where young children can stretch their legs and safely move around away from busy London pavements.
- The Formal Pond and Enclosed Seating: Tucked away in the layout is a beautifully structured formal pond area accompanied by enclosed seating. It provides a quiet, reflective spot where families can sit together and watch water reflections or look out for passing birds.
- The Historic Wrought Iron Gates: Standing proudly at the site are the highly decorated wrought iron gates crafted by Richard Ellis in 1730. Children often enjoy looking at the intricate, historic metalwork shapes and learning that they are nearly 300 years old.
- The Queen Anne Sundial: Dotted among the paths is the historic Queen Anne sundial, a wonderful nod to the garden's deep roots. It offers a fantastic, hands-on opportunity to teach older children how people used to tell the time using the sun.
- Vast Ornamental Borders and Biodiversity Meadows: The perimeter features sky-scraping floral spires, ox-eye daisies, and cascading pink shrub roses. Curious kids can look for butterflies, beetles, and bees buzzing through the specially curated insect haystacks and dead wood habitats.
Beyond the Main Attraction: Because Inner Temple Garden is a tranquil pocket of nature, families can easily explore the fascinating, historic legal precinct surrounding it. Just steps from the main gate on Crown Office Row sits the famous 12th-century Temple Church, originally built by the Knights Templar. Walking through the atmospheric, traffic-free courtyards reveals stunning Georgian-style architecture and hidden alleyways. A short stroll south leads directly onto the Victoria Embankment, providing direct access to walks along the River Thames. For older kids, the historic Royal Courts of Justice are located just a short walk to the north.
0.45 miles
