Free Entry
The leaning tower and walls of this large late medieval church in Bristol survived bombing during the Second World War. Temple Church is so called because the original church here was built by the Knights Templar, the medieval military order founded to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land. Their round church was later replaced with a more spacious rectangular one, and the shape of the first church is marked out in the ground.
The graveyard is now a public garden.
Read more about the history of Temple Church.
A Heritage Portrait of England
The Poetry Takeaway is taking to the road to create unique, made-to-order poems, with the people of Bristol. Join us at Temple Church, as we celebrate together the everyday in the everyday- where your words come to life and stories are shared.
'A Heritage Portrait of England' celebrates our everyday heritage. This event is part of a pilot project that will help to shape our ambitions for a national project in 2026-28 and is a collaboration between English Heritage and The Poetry Takeaway
Friday 25th April. 11am-7pm. Last orders at 6.30pm. Free event.
The Poetry Takeaway will be in Temple Church Garden, next to Temple Church.
The Event Forms part of the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival programme.
Sustainable travel to this event is encouraged. Where Possible, walk, cycle, use public transport or share a lift.
Before You Go
Access: The church is open 10am - 4pm daily between April and January inclusive. The surrounding garden path is suitable for wheelchairs.
Parking: There is charged on-street parking within five minutes of the site. The Church is also an easy walk from the city centre and Temple Meads station. View details.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.
Drone flying: Please see our Drone guidance
Plan a Great Day Out
Why not extend your day out with a visit to Farleigh Hungerford Castle, just 15 miles from Temple Church. Learn about the intriguing, and at times gruesome, history of the Hungerford family and explore the dark corners of the chapel crypt.