For many years Mr C and I have wanted to visit the Temple church in London. The church is only open to visitors Monday to Friday and we have historically visited London on a Saturday.

We recently took a day trip to London using our discount railcards with the specific aim of visiting the Temple Church.

Before visiting the church, we had lunch in the Spaghetti House where due to the glorious weather we able to eat outside.

We enjoyed our visit to the church and learning the history behind it.

“Temple Church, steeped in the history of Christendom, this country and the whole Common Law World. 1162: the Round Church was built to be London’s Jerusalem. 1214–19: Magna Carta was negotiated in the Temple, and its greatest hero was buried in the Church. 1584, 1776, 1787: from Raleigh’s expeditions through the colonial constitutions to the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution, the Temple was the birthplace of American Law. And to this day the Church serves the legal colleges Inner and Middle Temple, London’s residents, visiting jurists and travellers from all over the world with some of the most uplifting services, music and discussions in London. “

After our visit we walked through Victoria Embankment Gardens soaking up the sunshine. Then with time to spare we intended to visit the National Gallery but there was a long queue so we decided to walk around the corner and visit the National Portrait Gallery instead.

Before entering the galleries, we had cake, sharing two different types with a raspberry and lime refresher to drink. We were pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the gallery and how much we had changed since our previous visit over 20 years ago.

Next, we visited Foyles book shop which was on Mr C’s ‘To Do’ list for the day. He didn’t purchase anything but somehow another board game found its way into my bag…

Now it was time to head back to the station for our return journey. We purchased refreshments including a New Yorker Rye Roll to eat on the train.

The train was on time and much to the surprise of our friends were able to join them for last orders in one of our local hostelries.

Joseph Campbell