Inner Temple

The Inner Temple is one of the four Inns of Court in the City of London, a professional body for barristers and judges. It stands near the Royal Courts of Justice in the Temple area, functioning as an independent local authority. The name comes from the Knights Templar, who once leased the land until their order was abolished in the 14th century. The Inn has been a distinct society since at least 1388 and flourished during the Elizabethan period. It expanded greatly under James I and Charles I, admitting 1,700 students between 1600 and 1640. After a pause during the Civil War, it welcomed Charles II back to London with a grand banquet after the Restoration. Today the Inner Temple is an active Inn with over 8,000 members. Its Hall and Library were rebuilt after the Blitz, completed in 1959. Visitors find historic chambers, a restored church and quiet gardens beside the Thames. The Temple retains its medieval layout with modern legal life at its heart.