Paternoster Square, London EC4M 7DX, United Kingdom
Temple Bar London
Gatehouse
Place photograph
4.1
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
Check
Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.1A ceremonial gateway designed by Christopher Wren was moved from its original Fleet Street site and re-erected beside St Paul’s in Paternoster Square. Its present setting is striking, but it is not where Wren’s 1670–72 building first stood.
Temple Bar earns its place for the unusual combination of a surviving Wren-designed City gateway and a story of relocation, royal ceremony and changing London boundaries. It is a compact heritage stop rather than a destination for a long visit.
Atmospheric · Grand
Find your way
Open mapPaternoster Square, London EC4M 7DX, United Kingdom
Opening map…
Know this place a little better?
The experience
A brief architectural and history stop: view the gateway from the square, study its sculpted figures and consider how its original boundary role differs from its present setting. Interior access is not confirmed.
Things to do
Examine the gateway’s statues
Look closely at the figures on the gateway. The supplied account identifies statues of James and the first two Charleses, and notes uncertainty over the identity of a female figure.
A few minutes
Trace Temple Bar’s original location
Use the gateway’s story to picture its former position where Fleet Street met the Strand, marking the boundary between the City and Westminster.
Make a day of it
Quick escape · A short stop
A close look at the gateway
- 01
View Temple Bar from Paternoster Square.
- 02
Look over the stone gateway and its statues.
- 03
Read its present location alongside its original role at the boundary between the City and Westminster.
Half day · A short visit
Temple Bar and its Wren setting
- 01
Begin with the exterior of Temple Bar in Paternoster Square.
- 02
Notice how the gateway now frames an entrance to the square, rather than its original street position.
- 03
Continue to the nearby St Paul’s area to see the wider setting described by the source.
Verified history
The supplied historical accounts describe Temple Bar as a ceremonial gateway designed by Christopher Wren and erected between 1670 and 1672 at the point where Fleet Street met the Strand, marking the boundary between the City of London and Westminster. It was moved from that site in the nineteenth century and re-erected at Paternoster Square in 2004. A Temple Bar Trust talk says an earlier bar is recorded in 1301 and that a wooden structure preceded Wren’s gateway. The Trust’s account says the Great Fire did not reach Temple Bar, so it was not destroyed by the fire.
Hidden details
The gateway is not at its original site — Temple Bar was built where Fleet Street meets the Strand; it now stands at the entrance to Paternoster Square after being moved and re-erected in 2004.
An uncertain statue identity — A supplied account identifies a female figure as Anne of Denmark, while noting that some people identify her as Elizabeth I.
When to go
· Daylight, for viewing the exterior and statues.
The supplied sources identify no seasonal feature; the architecture can be viewed throughout the year, subject to access arrangements.
Check the forecast and dress for London weather. No weather-specific access information is supplied.
Worth pairing with
St Paul’s Cathedral area
The supplied account describes Temple Bar as standing beside other Christopher Wren buildings, including St Paul’s. Pair the exterior stop with a walk around the nearby architectural setting.
What to look for
Look for the statues on the gateway, including figures identified in the supplied account as the first two Charleses and James. One account notes disagreement over whether a female figure represents Anne of Denmark or Elizabeth I.
The story
Royalty, Archaeology
Best time to go
Year-round; choose a clear day to examine the architecture and statues comfortably.
Visit in daylight for the clearest view of the stonework and statues. Check ahead if you hope to go inside.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Website
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
Temple Bar stands at the entrance to Paternoster Square and can be viewed from the public square. Access inside the structure is not established by the available sources; check with Temple Bar London before planning an interior visit. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
Check before visiting
Parking
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Toilets
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Food & drink
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Dogs
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Accessibility
The source listing reports a wheelchair-accessible entrance. Check current arrangements and access to the interior before visiting.
Check before visiting
Cost
Check before visiting.
Check before visiting
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Temple Bar London
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
