Temple Church Reviews Summary

Category: Church London

Address: Temple, London, EC4Y 7BB, United Kingdom

Phone: +442073538559

Rating: 4.6
based on 134 reviews.

Historical Significance

Pros:

  • "One of the most remarkable and historic sites in London, yet it's little known and you can have the place almost to yourself."
  • "It’s fascinating to learn about the Templar Knights, the Magna Carta and the American Declaration of Independence here."
  • "The Temple Church is an 850-year-old church steeped in the history of Christianity. The Magna Carta was signed in this temple."
  • "Amazing history about Knights Templers! Haven't seen so many Knights Templars burried in one place before!"
  • "One of the nine stone effigies in the nave, William Marshall acted as negotiator for King John at the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215."
  • "Interesting history behind one of Londons oldest churches - the church was pivotal in the early makings of the Magna Carter, Declaration of Independence and UN Human Rights Act."
  • "The iconic round structure, like many Templar buildings, is similar to that of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem."

Cons:

  • "The church itself was bombed in WW2, and has been rebuilt in the 50s."
  • "It's a shame it was mostly destroyed in WWII but none the less its role in history can't be appreciated without a visit."
  • "The church was stripped of its treasures when the Knights Templar were disbanded, but the architecture and the tombs of said knights are amazing."
  • "The Knights Templar were destroyed and abolished on 1307."
  • "Made popular by the film and book but doesn't contain the bodies of templars!"
  • "However, call me a bluff old stick-in-the-mud but I'm not accustomed to paying an entrance fee (in this case £5) to get into a church."
  • "A charge is made to enter which is a shame, was a location used for the Da Vinci code filming apparently so suppose it's on the money making tourist trail."

Architecture and Atmosphere

Pros:

  • "A wonderful place to visit with a warm welcome from the staff, featuring fantastic architecture, sculpture, stained glass and a gallery giving views the length of the church."
  • "Beautiful historical location! The knights Templar where there, a long time ago."
  • "Magnificent architecture and quite breathtaking."
  • "It is a stunning Gothic building, with high vaulted ceilings and excellent stained glass."
  • "A captivating haven of history and architectural splendour tucked away in the heart of London."
  • "The triforium that you can climb too is wonderful with its fabulous floor tiles and views from above."
  • "Beautiful oasis of calm, superbly maintained church."

Cons:

  • "For 5 GBP, the exhibition area is quite small, although I did learn a little."
  • "It's not a large church, so can reasonably be seen in under an hour."
  • "But expected more museum for 5£."
  • "The church escaped the Great Fire of London, but was extensively remodelled by Christopher Wren anyway."
  • "Save your money and see this church from the outside."
  • "Though we didn't pay to go in, we did enjoy the surrounding courtyard and the beautiful architecture."
  • "It looks lovely from the outside but was closed when we arrived."

Accessibility and Visitor Experience

Pros:

  • "Easy access for disabled."
  • "If you like charming places this is a must for a London visit."
  • "A very modest entrance fee of 5 Pounds did not deter a visit to this very old and holy place."
  • "Only £5 entry per adult and you can spend 45-90mins inside easily."
  • "£5 entry and worth every penny!"
  • "The extremely nice gentleman at the desk was super knowledgeable about the place and was answering very happily to all questions asked."
  • "The person that was taking care of the entrance was a nice old chap with a great amount of knowledge about the church and its history."

Cons:

  • "I begrudge paying to go into a church."
  • "Very frustrating to say the least and we’ve pretty much given up on actually viewing the inside of this place…"
  • "Unfortunately, there was no service in August on Sundays, so I will need to return later on to see the choir."
  • "Unfortunately we arrived a few minutes after four pm and the church was closed for visitors."
  • "It may be difficult to visit because of the limited opening hours."
  • "You can never rely on the opening hours on the website neither on the board at the entrance."
  • "Just missed visiting this so make sure you check the opening times."

Location and Discovery

Pros:

  • "It’s in a great walking area adjacent The Inns of Court."
  • "It's an amazing burst of history! The Temple church was worth the walk from Temple station."
  • "The River Thames is only a 5 min walk away."
  • "A peaceful respite away from the bustling London streets."
  • "Set in the midst of the city of London, calm quiet place away from the bustle of the city."
  • "Quiet little spot within the city, the atmosphere is charged with history."
  • "A must visit building, it is a little hard to find, but well worth the effort."

Cons:

  • "The church is a little tricky to find."
  • "This was a little difficult to find & we saw several others searching in the area, so you may need to ask directions from a local on the street."
  • "I'd like to see a bit more signage as we came from Temple tube and wandered around before finding it."
  • "It's not a typical tourist location and is off the main paths, so you'll have to search it out."
  • "If you want a quieter tourist attraction that only costs £5 to enter, this fits the bill."
  • "Well worth the visit! It is a beautiful piece of history. Temple Church is a bit off the beaten tourist path and for this reason there are fewer people."
  • "This is one of those places where it's a 'hidden jewel' amongst the hustle and bustle of London."

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