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Temple Bar London

Name: Temple Bar London
Rating: 4.5

4.5 ·

Step through Wren's stone gateway, a 17th-century relic that once guarded the City of London's edge. Look up at the carved dragon crowning the arch and picture monarchs pausing here for the Lord Mayor's permission, just steps from St Paul's.

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Reasons to go

Designed by Christopher Wren and built between 1670 and 1672 as the ceremonial gateway into the City of London on Fleet Street.
Dismantled in 1878, it spent over a century as a private estate feature before being re-erected near St Paul's Cathedral in 2004.
The arch is topped by the City of London's dragon symbol and features statues of James I, Anne of Denmark, Charles I, and Charles II.

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Full description

Originally built by Christopher Wren between 1670 and 1672 to mark the ceremonial boundary of the City of London on Fleet Street, Temple Bar was dismantled in 1878 to ease traffic, spent over a century as a private estate feature outside London, and was finally returned and re-erected near St Paul's Cathedral in Paternoster Square in 2004. Its carved dragon, the symbol of the City of London, tops the arch and marks a spot where monarchs traditionally still pause to seek the Lord Mayor's permission before entering the City.

Reviewers with a 4.5 rating appreciate the layered backstory more than the structure's modest size, making it a rewarding stop for those interested in the story behind the stone rather than a visual showstopper alone.

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Address

Paternoster Lodge, 2 Paternoster Sq., London EC4M 7DX, UK · St Paul's

Website

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Booking

Walk-in

Duration

10 min

Best time

morning or afternoon

Intensity

Easy pace

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Good to know

Read up on the arch's odd journey before visiting, since the history is the main draw rather than its physical scale
combine it with a St Paul's Cathedral visit, as it now sits just beside Paternoster Square
look for the City dragon symbol on top, a recurring motif across City of London boundary markers.

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Reviews

Small historic gate moved to a new location. Statues of King James I and VI (r. 1603-1625) Queen Anne of Denmark King Charles I (r. 1625-1649) King Charles II (r. 1660-1684)

Michael Offord

3/5

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