London Walks 5

Group: London Walks 5

Meets: Normally the second Thursday

Venue: No Fixed Venue

Details:

We explore different areas of London normally on the second Thursday of the month. Usually working in pairs, we take turns to organise our outings. This includes deciding the route and places to visit, and usually needs a trial run to check out travel arrangements and identify locations for breaks etc. Costs are kept to a minimum and include travel, refreshments and occasionally entrance fees 

Contact: Email the group leader(s) at londonwalks5@tonbridgeu3a.uk  

Group Leader:  Ragna Tulloch

LUNCHING WITH M’LORD.

A frosty start turned into a bright and sunny day as 11 members of London Walk Group 5 met up at Charing Cross Station to begin a leisurely stroll along the Strand towards the Inns of Court. With time in hand, we had a brief stop to admire the skaters enjoying the Ice Rink in the courtyard of Somerset House.

Then we continued to walk, past St Clement Danes Church (of oranges and lemons fame), and eventually turned into Middle Temple Lane and into another world. Thoughts of Dickens immediately surfaced as we passed Brick Court on our right and caught a glimpse of the pump in the aptly named Pump Court on our left. Middle Temple Hall, our destination for Christmas  lunch, came into view and after

a few minutes of waiting to be admitted, we found ourselves inside the beautiful building with the medieval Hall dating from 1573 just off to the right. We had been allocated a table at the far end of the Hall, near to the raised dais and having taken our seats we had the opportunity to appreciate our stunning surroundings. It is impossible to miss the stained glass windows, the incredible double hammerbeam roof and the hundreds of colourful armorial panels lining the walls. There are about 700 of them spanning 400 years of history and they represent the Readers (responsible for supporting and educating students) and the Treasurers (The Inn’s Head). In pride of place on the dais there is the astonishing 29 foot bench table, cut in one piece from a single oak tree said to be gifted by Queen Elizabeth 1st from Windsor. The Benchers who run the Middle Temple dine in this Hall just as their predecessors did in the 16th century. At lunchtime, it effectively serves as the canteen for lawyers, barristers and judges etc. It’s hard to imagine a more glorious lunch venue. Our Christmas meal was very enjoyable. The table was most attractively decorated and the service was excellent. Mulled wine, crackers, paper hats and silly jokes were all very acceptable even in such grand surroundings. We were not allowed to take photos until all from the legal profession had left the Hall – a matter of safety and security for them. However, afterwards the staff were happy to help in taking group photos.

Booking needs to be made well in advance and thanks must go to our leader, Ragna, for organising our visit. There are limited dates for members of the public to enjoy this Christmas lunch experience but other Tonbridge U3A groups might like to consider this in future.

Jean Abbott. 12/12/2025