Legal London is far too nice to be left to the lawyers

September 22, 2023 2:53 PM

"Legal London" is beautiful and functional. Personally, I am not a lawyer, nor do I particularly like them, with their prodigious consumption of booze and cocaine (source: constantly watching my friends at it) but I once spent a lot of time in this area largely because it's rather nice - and I worked very near. I met my wife in the Cheshire Cheese pub; I bought my first suit from this Ede and Ravenscroft. And you too could do those things! I like to ensure that the lawyers can't claim this part of the public space all to themselves - and I'm sure you would too - so please visit, often.
posted by bookbook (15 comments total)

Took a walk around this part of town the last time we were in London- my great-great grandfather was born in the City of London and lived with his family and numerous other working class people in a house at 6 Temple lane. It was Sunday evening, and was absolutely deserted. I would love to go back sometime and visit when it's full of humans.
posted by oneirodynia at 3:36 PM on September 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

archived
posted by robbyrobs at 4:36 PM on September 22, 2023

Should be a free link, but thanks!
posted by bookbook at 4:44 PM on September 22, 2023

Their precincts are distinctly nicer than New York lawyers' are.

I've sometimes thought that if someone built an equivalent of the old inns of court, where single lawyers could have rooms and dine in an attractive dining hall to save on all the confounded bother of housekeeping, I might be tempted to sign up.
posted by praemunire at 4:54 PM on September 22, 2023 [8 favorites]

Where's my cocaine? I'm not sure I want it, but I'd like to be offered.
posted by atomicstone at 5:27 PM on September 22, 2023 [3 favorites]

Well, I could tell you the KC in charge of all the charlie as you’ve obviously not met him.
posted by bookbook at 6:09 PM on September 22, 2023 [1 favorite]

In law school, it was pretty clear that we were all supposed to be blown away by the trappings of these clubs that we would never, ever belong to. And of course, there’s an impressive history that cannot be denied. But this steelworker’s kid will never belong and just wants to earn a living, hopefully with more honest days than not.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:47 PM on September 22, 2023 [4 favorites]

I wonder how much stuff like business cards had to be reprinted when all the QCs became KCs last year.
posted by praemunire at 10:14 PM on September 22, 2023 [3 favorites]

oneiridynia: I would love to go back sometime and visit when it's full of humans.
Monday to Friday 7.0am-10.30am and 4.0-7.0pm, with people out drinking later if it's a sunny day. Dead otherwise.

(That space on the Tube map from Holborn to Temple to Bank and Cannon Street is smaller than the map suggests and can be walked across in 15 minutes. It's hugely cleaned up in the past 15 years, the impact of vehicles emission regulation really helping air quality and a vehicle congestion charge zone adding to the pressure to use tube trains, buses and taxis.)
posted by k3ninho at 12:23 AM on September 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

I found myself sitting in the St Dunstan in the East garden this afternoon, surrounded by people enjoying a sunny Saturday afternoon. Parents with children, locals and tourists. Definitely a lot nicer than 10, let alone 20 years ago. Walking back to Holborn was lively enough on a weekend, moreso than the CBD in my home city. On the other side, Lincoln's Inn is always a lovely place to get some quiet away from the noise of Holborn.

That said, my work has never really provided enough cocaine to be worth mentioning, so maybe I'm seeing the wrong side of it all.
posted by zeypher at 10:16 AM on September 23, 2023

I strolled around the area when I was last in London. There was a shop that sold the robes that barristers must wear when in court. The price seemed excessive but probably wasn't given the clientele.
posted by tommasz at 7:03 AM on September 24, 2023

my work has never really provided enough cocaine to be worth mentioning

Looking back on my career in the private sector, I'm pretty offended that no one ever offered me a bump in the bathroom. But then I think the transition to Adderall was underway for the more cautious.
posted by praemunire at 10:26 AM on September 24, 2023

The city is trying to make the area less of a business desert, but honestly sometimes the desert is a great option. St Dunstan in the East is a wonderful place to hang out when you luck out and find it quiet and empty (i.e. when it's raining, very early in the morning, extremely cold days) but it's usually full of aspiring fashion photographers and models taking advantage of the atmosphere. When I first moved here, I spent a good amount of time aimlessly wandering central London and marveling at the post-apocalyptical feel that comes from having such visually impressive surroundings with almost no human noise or movement (especially since, if you're out early enough, you'll see a fox or two).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 2:44 AM on September 25, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you want to people-watch, a seat outside at old-school Ciao Bella on Lamb's Conduit Street is a terrific option.
posted by yellowcandy at 9:57 AM on September 25, 2023

The real lawyers pub is The Seven Stars, behind the Royal Courts of Justice. Its older (and better) than the Cheshire Cheese and has a pub cat that wears a ruff when the courts are sitting.
posted by tallus at 9:19 AM on September 26, 2023