Temple Church London Review: Knights Templar History & The View from the Triforium
Temple Church London Review: Knights Templar Effigies & Triforium Guide
While exploring Fleet Street on the same day as my visit to St Bride's Church, walking just a few minutes south through the stone archways into the Inner Temple felt like stepping into an entirely different century.
Hidden away from modern city traffic inside the tranquil legal courtyards of the Inns of Court stands the Temple Church.
Consecrated in 1185 by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, the church served as the English headquarters of the legendary Knights Templar. It was designed to replicate the circular shape of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, creating one of only a handful of medieval round churches surviving in England today.
Unlike museum exhibitions built primarily around display cases of excavated shards, the Temple Church is an immersive, living piece of history. The walls, vaulted stone ceilings, medieval effigies, and memorial tablets tell the story of the Crusades, the birth of the Magna Carta, and centuries of British legal tradition.
Here is my honest review of visiting the Temple Church, what to look out for on the ground floor, and why you should definitely make the climb upstairs to the gallery.
This site contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Downstairs: The Round Church & Stone Knight Effigies
Stepping through the Norman arched entrance immediately brings you into the famous Round Church:
The Circular Nave: Soaring dark Purbeck marble columns rise to support a timber roof and high arched clerestory windows, designed to transport 12th-century medieval pilgrims straight to Jerusalem.
The Knight Effigies: Resting on the stone floor of the Round Church are the famous life-sized medieval effigies carved from stone and marble. Among them lies William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke—heralded as "the greatest knight that ever lived"—who served four kings, defended the realm, and negotiated the terms of Magna Carta alongside King John.
The Long Chancel: Moving through into the rectangular chancel added in the 1240s reveals a sweeping Gothic hall with ribbed vaulted ceilings, vibrant stained-glass lancet windows, and the carved dark wood reredos designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
The Surety Barons: Displayed prominently in the church is a bronze figure representing the twenty-five Surety Barons of Magna Carta, a reminder of the temple's central role in the foundation of the rule of law.
Upstairs: The Triforium & Encaustic Tile Gallery
One of the highlights of the visit is heading up the spiral stairs to explore the Triforium (the upper gallery level above the circular arcade):
The Elevated View: From the upper walkway, you get an incredible vantage point looking down into the Round Church, giving you a much closer look at the stone carvings, vaulted arches, and upper window detailing.
Victorian Encaustic Floor Tiles: The curved upstairs floor is paved with elaborate 19th-century Minton encaustic tiles, relaying medieval patterns that incorporate the Lamb and Flag (the symbol of Middle Temple) and the winged horse Pegasus (the crest of Inner Temple).
Memorials & Reading Material: The upper gallery walls are lined with oak memorial niches, wall tablets, and historical panels detailing the figures buried on the grounds, legal scholars, and the penitential cell where insubordinate Templars were once imprisoned.
Practical Info: Visiting Details & Timing
Address: Temple, London, EC4Y 7BB, United Kingdom (accessible via Fleet Street or Tudor Street).
Admission: Typically £5 for general adult sightseeing (free for children and members of the Inns of Court).
Opening Hours: Generally open for visitors Monday to Friday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM, though opening times vary based on church services, legal events, and private bookings. Check their official schedule online on the morning of your visit.
Time Needed: Budget roughly 45 minutes to an hour—similar to St Bride's. This leaves plenty of time to inspect the knight effigies, read the detailed information guide provided at the desk, and walk the upstairs Triforium.
Nearest Stations:
Temple Station (District and Circle Lines): About a 5-minute walk east.
Blackfriars Station (District and Circle Lines / National Rail): Approximately a 6-to-8-minute walk west.
City Thameslink: Roughly an 8-minute walk down Fleet Street.
Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?
If you are fascinated by medieval history, Crusader architecture, or the legal heritage of London, the Temple Church is well worth adding to your itinerary.
It holds an immense cultural presence, and being able to walk right up to the 13th-century knight effigies and climb into the quiet upstairs gallery makes it one of the most rewarding historic stops along the Fleet Street corridor.
Have you visited the Temple Church or walked through the courtyards of the Inner Temple? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
I hope life is treating you well.
Take care
