Gray's Inn, London

One of London’s four Inns of Court-the elite clubs that train barristers to argue persuasively and wear robes like it’s no big deal-Gray’s Inn is where powdered wigs, sharp tongues, and centuries of legal tradition collide! Alongside Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple, Gray’s Inn has been shaping courtroom drama since well before legal thrillers were a thing.

Governed by a council called "Pension," which sounds cozy but is not-they’re led by the Treasurer, a sort of head honcho elected yearly. The Masters of the Bench, or “benchers,” handle the serious business of keeping tradition alive while sipping tea in very old rooms. But don’t let the gravitas fool you-Gray’s Inn is also known for its leafy gardens, charmingly called "the Walks," which have been delighting stressed-out law students and ambitious climbers since at least 1597.

The Inn has a long legal rap sheet of history-law clerks have been skulking around here since 1370, and the place hit its heyday under Queen Elizabeth I, who acted as its patron. Legal legends like Francis Bacon-the English philosopher and statesman, who served as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England under King James I-once called it home. The Inn even flirted with theater fame: Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors likely premiered in Gray’s Inn Hall during a particularly fancy night of masques and revels.

And here’s where things get a little Dickensian-literally. In 1827, a young Charles Dickens began his short-lived legal career here as a junior clerk. Though he quickly realized law wasn't his jam, he did pick up shorthand-a handy trick for his later work as a reporter and novelist. Gray’s Inn even made cameo appearances in David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers, a little literary nod to the place where he almost became a barrister, but instead chose to write the books that made him a household name.

So next time you stroll past the ivy-covered buildings, remember: Gray’s Inn is where the law met literature-and both walked away a little more dramatic.