Lincoln’s Inn opens its doors for Open House 2024 on Saturday 14 September
By popular demand, and following record attendance in 2023, on Saturday 14 September, Lincoln’s Inn will once again open its doors to the public for Open House Festival. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see spaces usually closed to the general public and learn more about the history of one of London’s most fascinating estates – for free.
As one of the four Inns of Court, Lincoln’s Inn houses a thriving community of barristers and is a bedrock of the Bar of England and Wales. Standing for more than 600 years, tradition intersects modernity on this 11-acre estate, which features Grade I and II listed buildings from the mediaeval, Victorian and Georgian periods, state-of-the-art teaching and conference spaces, and lush gardens. Make your way around the Inn at your own pace, and immerse yourself in the estate’s history at one of our free talks.
Drop by between 10:00 and 15:30 (the site closes at 16:00). Inn staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions you may have. Please note, unlike previous years, we will be open for just the one day (so as to concentrate our programme of events).
Highlights
- Great Hall – opened in 1845 by Queen Victoria, the Great Hall features a Minstrel’s Gallery and is the site of some of the Inn’s historic customs, such as Benchings.
- Old Hall – dating back to 1490, the Old Hall was notably mentioned in Charles Dickens’ classic novel Bleak House.
- Chapel – having celebrated its 400 anniversary last year, the Chapel features newly restored stained glass.
- Ashworth Centre – Opened in 2018 by Queen Elizabeth II, the Ashworth Centre is named after Mercy Ashworth, who was one of the first women to be called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn. On the day, listen to a series of free talks from practising barristers, aimed at demystifying the world of law.
- Library – a working law library that has been a film location for some of Netflix’s biggest shows, including You and The Sandman.
- Refreshments – From 10:30-15:30 light refreshments (tea, coffee, cake, sausage rolls etc) will be available for purchase in the MCR Restaurant & Bar.
Attending the Event
- The event is free to attend
- Drop in between 10:00 and 15:30 (site closes at 16:00)
- Travel and accessibility information
- Entrance/Exit will be restricted to the main Gatehouse – please use postcode WC2A 3QA
What is Open House?
Open House is an annual festival in which remarkable buildings, usually closed to the public, open up their doors to all, completely free of charge. Visit the Open House website for more information about the festival.
