Gray's Inn, London

Name: Gray's Inn
Address: 38 Grays Inn Rd, London, WC1X 8JP, United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 20 7242 3143

#170 among attractions in London

Sport venue, Sport, Historical place, Architecture

Gallery (14)

Map

Gallery

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Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of London, Gray's Inn stands as a testament to the city’s rich legal history and tradition. This esteemed institution, one of the four Inns of Court, has been a hub for barristers and legal education for centuries. With its origins dating back to at least the 14th century, Gray's Inn offers visitors a unique glimpse into the legal heritage of the United Kingdom.

Gray's Inn is not just a place for legal minds; it is a serene enclave in the bustling city, featuring manicured gardens, historic halls, and striking architecture. The Inn's gardens, known as The Walks, are particularly noteworthy. Originally laid out in 1606 by the then Treasurer, Sir Francis Bacon, the gardens offer a peaceful retreat with well-kept lawns and flowerbeds, ideal for a leisurely stroll or a quiet moment away from the city's pace.

The Hall at Gray's Inn is the heart of the establishment, exuding a sense of grandeur and history. It has been a setting for many significant events over the years, including royal visits and banquets. Inside, visitors can marvel at the high timbered roof, impressive stained glass, and portraits of notable figures associated with Gray's Inn.

While access to Gray's Inn is limited, as it remains a working legal institution, the general public can enjoy the gardens and attend certain events, such as Open Days or pre-booked guided tours, which offer an in-depth look at the Inn’s history and function.

Alternative names: Coordinates: 51°31'12"N, 0°6'46"W

Address

38 Grays Inn RdCamden (Holborn and Covent Garden)London WC1X 8JP United Kingdom

Contact

+44 20 7242 3143

Website

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London

Day trips

Gray's Inn – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Hatton Garden, Cittie of Yorke, Leather Lane, Turnmills.

~670 ftE
Shopping, Street, Shopping district
Hatton Garden, London
4 min walk • Nestled in the heart of London, Hatton Garden is renowned for being the epicenter of the UK's diamond and jewelry trade. This illustrious street, lined with an array of jewelry shops, wholesalers, and diamond dealers, offers a glittering experience for both the...
~540 ftS
Nightlife
Cittie of Yorke, London
3 min walk • The Cittie of Yorke is a grade II listed public house on London's High Holborn, and is listed in CAMRA's National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. The pub is owned and operated by Samuel Smith's Old Brewery.
~980 ftSE
Shopping, Shopping district
Leather Lane, London
5 min walk • Leather Lane is a street west of Hatton Garden, in the Holborn area of London. It is home to a well-used weekday market which specialises in clothing, footwear and fruit and vegetables.
~1730 ftNE
Dancing, Nightlife
Turnmills, London
9 min walk • The Turnmills building was a warehouse originally on the corner of Turnmill Street and Clerkenwell Road in the London Borough of Islington. It became a bar in the 1980s, then a nightclub. The club closed in 2008 and the building was later demolished, replaced with an office building.
~1520 ftSW
Museum, Art museum, Vernacular architecture
Sir John Soane's Museum, London
8 min walk • Sir John Soane's Museum is a house museum, located next to Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn, London, which was formerly the home of neo-classical architect, John Soane.
~1460 ftNW
Museum, Vernacular architecture, History museum
Charles Dickens Museum, London
8 min walk • The Charles Dickens Museum is an author's house museum at 48 Doughty Street in Holborn, London Borough of Camden. It occupies a typical Georgian terraced house which was Charles Dickens's home from 25 March 1837 to December 1839.
~1130 ftS
Park
Lincoln's Inn, London
6 min walk • The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of the four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar.
~1770 ftSW
Nightlife
Ship Tavern, London
9 min walk • The Ship Tavern is an inn at the western corner of Lincoln's Inn Fields, at the corner of Gate Street and the Little Turnstile in London. Established in 1549, at the height of the English Reformation, when Catholicism became illegal, it was used to shelter Catholic priests and hold secret Catholic services.
~860 ftW
Museum
Novelty Automation, London
5 min walk • Novelty Automation is an amusement arcade of satirical game machines in Holborn, London. The machines are constructed by cartoonist and engineer Tim Hunkin, often by hand, and the arcade includes an expressive photo booth, an interactive divorce and a "small hadron collider".
~1180 ftNE
Church
St Peter's Italian Church, London
6 min walk • St Peter's Italian Church is a Roman Catholic basilica-style church located in Saffron Hill on Clerkenwell Road, Holborn, London. It lies just within the boundaries of the London Borough of Camden, but is particularly associated with the Italian community of Clerkenwell.
~1260 ftS
Memorial
Lincoln's Inn Chapel, London
7 min walk • Lincoln's Inn War Memorial is a war memorial in Lincoln's Inn, London. It was erected in 1921 as a memorial to members of the Inn of Court who died on active service during the First World War. It became a Grade II listed building in 1999.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Gray's Inn?

Nearby attractions include Hatton Garden, London (4 min walk), Leather Lane Market, London (4 min walk), Royal Fusiliers War Memorial, London (4 min walk), Novelty Automation, London (5 min walk).

How to get to Gray's Inn by public transport?

The nearest stations to Gray's Inn:

Bus

Gray's Inn Road • Lines: 17, 38, 46, 55, N38, N55 (2 min walk)
Chancery Lane Station • Lines: N242 (4 min walk)

Metro

Chancery Lane • Lines: Central (4 min walk)
Farringdon • Lines: Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan (9 min walk)

Train

City Thameslink (14 min walk)
London Blackfriars (20 min walk)

Ferry

Blackfriars Pier • Lines: Rb6 (21 min walk)
Festival Pier • Lines: Green Tour (24 min walk)

Light rail

Bank Platform 10 • Lines: B-L, B-Wa (31 min walk)