Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
5 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
6 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
7 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
8 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England London Lincoln's Inn
AO Edited

Lincoln's Inn

This inn of the court provides a fascinating window into London’s legal and architectural history.

London, England

Added By
jonnysm
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
  rbenn250 / Atlas Obscura User
Miniature Gatehouse   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Snowdrop68 / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
14th century Fixtures   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
13th century Doorway   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
In memory of lives given in 1938-45 War   LeviEthan107 / Atlas Obscura User
Lincoln’s Inn   jonnysm / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

From Dominican monks to exiled legal scholars, Lincoln’s Inn has witnessed plenty over the course of its 800-year history.

For the last 700 years, the inn has been home to the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Court, a legal association that counts Herbert Asquith and Tony Blair as alumni. Before this, however, it was owned by Henry de Lacy, the 3rd Earl of Lincoln, from whom it derived its name.

The earl himself took over the land after it was vacated by an order of Dominican monks in the late 13th-century. They were moving to a site within London’s city walls—Blackfriars, as it would soon come to be known. Traveling in the opposite direction were another group of lawyers after King Henry III decreed in 1234 that no institutes of legal education should be allowed within the city of London. 

These lawyers went on to form four separate legal associations or "Inns of the Court." All four resettled in Holborn, and one of them was later bequeathed to the Earl of Lincoln’s land—the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

Over the following centuries, Lincoln’s Inn developed into something of a museum of English architecture. Its Old Hall dates back to as early as the 13th-century, the gatehouse was built between 1518-1521, and the chapel was constructed between 1620-1623. Remnants of the oldest part of the building can still be seen adjacent to the underground vaulted crypt, these include a wooden door and timbers of the gatehouse.

All of these buildings have witnessed numerous alterations and repairs since their construction. As a result, Lincoln’s Inn boasts architectural features from the last few centuries. Highlights include a vaulted 17th-century underlay of the chapel crypt, the Victorian Great Hall with its turret and diamond patterns, and the oldest part of the inn, the Old Hall. 

Related Tags

Design Architecture History & Culture

Know Before You Go

Lincoln’s Inn is a five-minute walk from Chancery Lane Underground Station. The main entrance is at the back of the Lincoln's Inn Fields, a medium sized park with mature trees.

It is closed to the public on weekends, but its precincts are open to visitors on weekdays: 7 am-7 pm. Its chapel is open weekdays: 9 am-5 pm.

On the first and third Friday of every month, there is a guided tour at 2 pm.

Community Contributors

Added By

jonnysm

Edited By

SEANETTA, jooniur, rbenn250, Snowdrop68...

  • SEANETTA
  • jooniur
  • rbenn250
  • Snowdrop68
  • LeviEthan107

Published

December 8, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln%27s_Inn#Chapel
  • https://thesecret.city/things-to-do/united-kingdom/england/london/lincolns-inn/
  • https://www.lincolnsinn.org.uk/
Lincoln's Inn
12 New Square
London, England, WC2A 3SW
United Kingdom
51.516041, -0.113291
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Ostler's Hut

London, England

miles away

London Silver Vaults

London, England

miles away

Hunterian Museum

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Nearby Places

The Ostler's Hut

London, England

miles away

London Silver Vaults

London, England

miles away

Hunterian Museum

London, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of London

London

England

Places 536
Stories 108

Related Places

  • Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    Budapest, Hungary

    Uránia Nemzeti Filmszínház

    A stunning Art Nouveau cinema in the heart of Budapest.

  • Hôtel Solvay

    Brussels, Belgium

    Hôtel Solvay

    This historic Art Nouveau townhouse was the former home of the son of a famous chemical inventor and industrialist.

  • Mudéjar Thematic Park

    Olmedo, Spain

    Mudéjar Thematic Park

    The best collection of Mudéjar building replicas gathered in a theme park in Olmedo.

  • St Martin’s Rotunda, Prague

    Prague, Czechia

    Rotonde Saint-Martin (St Martin’s Rotunda)

    The largest and best-preserved rotunda in Prague.

  • Granary in Jankowo up close

    Jankowo, Poland

    Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

    A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.

  • Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    La Seu d'Urgell, Spain

    Modern Cloisters of Valira Park

    This parody of ecclesiastical cloisters features famous figures from the 20th century.

  • The Little House

    Shepherdstown, West Virginia

    The Little House

    True to its name, this little house presents like a dollhouse, and surprising details are revealed with a quick peek through the window.

  • The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    Madrid, Spain

    The Sun on The Floor of La Puerta del Sol

    This little sun pays homage to a massive gate that once stood at this location.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.