The first university-educated British Chief Rabbi and the first to undertake regular pastoral tours within the United Kingdom, he was also a founder of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty and Better Protection of Children.

[citation needed] Adler Street, in London E1, was named after him; the Jewish Institute—a reading room—and two synagogues formerly stood there until the area was destroyed in The Blitz.

His eldest son, Marcus Nathan Adler (1837–1911), was involved in scholarly activities such as writing, editing, and translating.

His youngest son, Elkan Nathan Adler (1861–1946), was an author, lawyer, historian, and collector of Jewish books and manuscripts.

He published a German translation of part of Judah HaLevi’s philosophical work, the Kuzari.