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The Old Bailey – Guided Tour

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Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London EC4M 7EH

Known as the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, is one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court. Built on the site of the old Newgate prison, the current building was opened in 1907 by Edward VII and it’s still a working court today. The neo-Baroque building with elaborately carved decorations, is topped by a 12ft gold leaf statue of a ‘lady of justice’ holding a sword in one hand and the scales of justice in the other. It's a stunning building to look at from the outside. To go inside, you'll need to book a place on a public guided tour.

Public Tours

Join City of London Guides to discover history, famous trials, unexpected artworks of the most famous court house in the world.

Public guided tours take place on Saturdays - advance booking required via Eventbrite.

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London symphony orchestra, the lookout, carter lane, new street square, carter lane gardens, st botolph-without-bishopsgate, leadenhall building (the cheesegrater), smithfield market, lloyd’s of london, street food market at the leadenhall building, paternoster square, st lawrence jewry, city of london distillery, dabbers social bingo – city, bishopsgate institute, city bouldering, the london centre, dutch church, inner temple, gresham college, holy sepulchre, the national musicians church, barbican centre, barbican cinemas, swingers city, the garden at 120, la scuola cooking school at eataly, st bartholomew’s hospital museum, beers london, barry’s, the spa at four seasons london at ten trinity square, st dunstan in the east church garden, jeff wayne’s the war of the worlds: the immersive experience, barbican architecture tours, city of london information centre, axeperience, sculpture in the city, puttshack bank, city of london guides – private tours, the gunpowder plot, st bartholomew the great church, tower of london, bridewell theatre, guildhall school of music & drama, barbican art gallery & the curve, bloomberg arcade, eastcheap records, barbican theatre, concerts at the barbican, london stone, mansion house, guildhall great hall, guildhall yard, city of london heritage gallery, london’s roman amphitheatre, guildhall art gallery, billingsgate roman house and baths, barbican conservatory, heavenly spa by westin, st mary-le-bow, st. stephen walbrook, the charterhouse, city of london guides – daily guided walks, the monument, st paul’s cathedral, red eight gallery, dr johnson’s house, st bride foundation, the guild church of st dunstan-in-the-west, all hallows by the tower, bank of england museum, tower bridge, london mithraeum bloomberg space, leadenhall market, one new change.

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Central Criminal Court

The old bailey.

Known as the Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, is one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court.

Behind its dignified façade the Old Bailey is a centre of intense activity with thousands of people entering the building on a daily basis. As well as judges, counsel, jurors, witnesses and defendants, these include the many staff needed to run the courts and the building.

Guided tours

The Old Bailey is opening its doors to the public for guided tours this summer. Join a  City of London Guide to discover history, famous trials, unexpected artworks of the most famous court house in the world.

The public galleries

Access is free and based on a first come first served basis.

• Seating cannot be reserved under any circumstances
• Groups, maximum 20 people, need to call in advance

Please note

• Comprehensive security measures include 24/7 CCTV surveillance, X-ray screening, body searches, and regular patrols. Please cooperate during checks and report any suspicious activity to security staff.
• There is no admission for children under 14 and proof of age may be requested by security.
• Visitors who wish to watch court proceedings from the public galleries are requested to dress appropriately or entry to the court building will be refused.
• No large bags or rucksacks are allowed in the building, though handbags are acceptable. Also no electronic devices, food or drink are allowed. There are no facilities for the safekeeping of such items available at the entrance to the public galleries. Download the PDF for more details.

About the Old Bailey

The City of London Corporation owns and administers the building, as department headed by the Head of Operations. This handles security, maintenance and also deals with administration of the Shrievalty, which includes execution of writs and warrants.

Staff run the courts is headed by the Court Manager who is employed by the HMCTS. The work includes the huge and complicated task of assigning cases to courts, ensuring that there are always cases ready and waiting to be heard, with witnesses, defendants and counsel available

• Historic proceedings (1674 - 1834)

Now a crown court centre, it hears cases from the City of London and the Greater London area, and those remitted to it from England and Wales.

The figure of Justice standing commandingly above the streets of the City of London is an image familiar to millions, an instantly recognisable symbol from book covers, films and television news. The building she proudly crowns is almost as well-known as she is - the Central Criminal Court, universally known as the Old Bailey, the most famous criminal court in the world.

Did you know? Crowning the court the statue of Justice stands 60 metres above the street and is 3.7 metres high, cast in bronze and covered with gold leaf. Her outstretched arms span 2.4 metres; in her right hand she holds the sword of retribution and in her left the equally balanced scales of justice. She is especially distinguished from other statues of Justice, by not being blindfolded.​

Early history

Before the first courthouse was built in the 16th century, sessions were held in nearby rooms specially hired for the purpose or in Newgate, the 'notorious prison' used to house prisoners from at least the end of the 12th century.

The medieval Newgate had replaced the original Roman west gate to the City. All the courthouses have been built on the line of the Roman City wall, a section of which is still preserved in the basement of the present building.

New building

Extremely poor conditions for prisoners and the fast spreading of many diseases, meant a new prison was needed. Completed in 1785, the Old Bailey, named after the street besides the new prison, soon became popular as the scene of hanging of those sentenced to death. The last ‘beheading’ in the country took place outside the prison in 1820.

The building was further enlarged in 1824 when a second courtroom was added. 10 years later, an Act of Parliament extended the Central Criminal Court jurisdiction beyond the City and Middlesex to include parts of Essex, Surrey and Kent and to British ships on the high seas.

The 1907 courthouse

By the end of the century, more expansion work was needed and in 1898 the Royal Institute of British Architects nominated six architects to submit plans, putting no restrictions on style but requiring impressiveness and dignity without excessive ornamentation.

The design of Edward Mountford was selected, who chose to complement the nearby dome of St Paul’s, which then dominated the City skyline.

The first stone of the new Old Bailey was laid in 1902, and five years later the building, with four courts, 90 cells and stones from the demolished prison used in its façade, was completed. It cost the City of London Corporation nearly £400,000 and was opened in 1907 by King Edward VII.

The present building

After extensive damage caused by an air-raid in 1941, the building was restored and enlarged and more courts added. Further work was carried out in the 60s and 70s – when an IRA car bomb damaged the building.

Did you know? In all the 18 courts the central chair is always reserved for the Lord Mayor, who is the Chief Justice of the City of London.

Famous trials

• One case has earned a commemorative plaque in the courthouse: that of Quakers William Penn and William Mead. It is a legal landmark because of the jury’s refusal to convict them, which led to the establishment of the right of juries to give a verdict according to conscience.
• Many 18th century trials became famous through the writings of the Newgate Ordinary, the prison chaplain, who published pamphlets of the lives, trials and executions of criminals.
• Among the famous trials are those of Oscar Wilde, Dr Crippen, William Joyce (‘Lord Haw Haw’), John Christie, the Krays and Peter Sutcliffe, the ‘Yorkshire Ripper’.

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The 'old bailey': saturdays.

The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, known the world over as the 'Old Bailey', is opening its doors to the public for guided tours this summer.

It is the most famous court house in the world but from the 1100s it was a prison, the notorious Newgate, and a place of execution. The last public hanging there was in 1868 and the last one behind its firmly closed doors in 1902.

The iconic ‘Old Bailey’ is packed with secrets, history, famous trials, unexpected artworks and is also a busy, working building. Come and explore it after hours with a professional City of London Guide.

NOW BOOKING FOR 2024

Please note:

This is a working court and even though the tours are on a Saturday:

• Everyone has to go through the security check on arrival.
• You will need to bring photo ID with you.
• There is no admission for children aged under 14 and proof of age may be requested by security.
• No large bags or rucksacks are allowed in the building, though handbags are acceptable.
• No photography is allowed in any Court room or the Cells.

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE   Note: booking fee applies

We offer daily, weekly and monthly walks around the City of London 

Our daily walks run from the City Information Centre, just south of St Paul's. You need to book via Eventbrite to secure you place.  Note : the cut-off time for booking our daily walks is 21:00hrs the night before. If we don't have any bookings then the walk will not take place.

Our weekly walks have individual booking pages and earlier cut-off times, please see the individual listing.  

We've added 3 new walks for this season:

Secrets and Symbols, News from Fleet Street, and From Shakespeare to Oscar Wilde

Billingsgate Roman House and Baths opens in April 

This unique site will open for this year's season for tours starting on Saturday 13 April.  Find out more.

Private tours

If you'd like to organise your own walk , lecture or a virtual tour, then please use our  Find a Guide  section. If you're a member of an Arts Society or a U3A or other group we'd love to take you on a tour of the City. And if you're a company based in the City who'd like to organise a social event for your work colleagues, why not book a walk with us? 

If you've been on a walk recently we'd love to hear from you. Why not leave a review on our TripAdvisor  page? We've been awarded TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice for 2023!

Normal price, concessions, all walks & tours.

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London's River Walk: Saturdays

In Charles Dickens' Footsteps: Wednesdays

• St. Paul's • 4 min walk
• Blackfriars • 7 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Old Bailey, London

• (0.12 mi) Premier Inn London Farringdon (Smithfield) hotel
• (0.15 mi) Lost Property St Paul's London - Curio Collection by Hilton
• (0.11 mi) Around the Corner from St Paul's Cathedral
• (0.14 mi) Club Quarters Hotel St. Paul's
• (0.23 mi) Leonardo Royal London St Paul's
• (0.02 mi) Magpie & Stump
• (0.03 mi) Caffe Nero
• (0.11 mi) Paternoster Chop House
• (0.13 mi) Beppe's Cafe
• (0.04 mi) Viaduct Tavern
• (0.03 mi) The Viaduct Tavern
• (0.03 mi) Old Bailey Insight & Legal London
• (0.17 mi) St. Paul's Cathedral
• (0.06 mi) Greyfriars Passage
• (0.06 mi) Holy Sepulchre London

100 years of the Old Bailey

Newgate formed part of the walls of the City of London until it was demolished in 1904. A courthouse had also been part of the prison since the 17th century and public hangings were held there up until 1868. Once the new court opened it handled some of the most infamous cases in Britain in the 20th century including those of American Dr Crippen, the Kray twins and the Yorkshire Ripper.

Trials at the Old Bailey are open to the public, although if you do want to go and see the theatre of a British court room you must be over 14 years of age and you can’t bring any camera equipment, phones, bags, notepads, food or drink into the court, and the Old Bailey doesn’t have any cloakroom facilities for the public to leave stuff at, so go along with only the essentials on you.

You can find out what cases are in a session at the Court Hearings page of the Old Bailey website and visitors are allowed in the public galleries from 10am-4pm during the court session. Court No.2 at the Old Bailey has the witness box below the public gallery to protect witnesses in sensitive cases.

You can find the Old Bailey on the street of the same name, off of Ludgate Hill which is just west of St Paul’s Cathedral. Look out for the gold statue on top of it with the woman holding a sword in one hand and a set of scales in the other, and if you’re in court and the judge happens to speak to you don’t forget to address him as My Lord.

• St. Paul's • 4 min walk
• Blackfriars • 7 min walk

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Old Bailey, London

• (0.12 mi) Premier Inn London Farringdon (Smithfield) hotel
• (0.15 mi) Lost Property St Paul's London - Curio Collection by Hilton
• (0.11 mi) Around the Corner from St Paul's Cathedral
• (0.14 mi) Club Quarters Hotel St. Paul's
• (0.23 mi) Leonardo Royal London St Paul's
• (0.02 mi) Magpie & Stump
• (0.03 mi) Caffe Nero
• (0.11 mi) Paternoster Chop House
• (0.13 mi) Beppe's Cafe
• (0.04 mi) Viaduct Tavern
• (0.03 mi) The Viaduct Tavern
• (0.03 mi) Old Bailey Insight & Legal London
• (0.17 mi) St. Paul's Cathedral
• (0.06 mi) Greyfriars Passage
• (0.06 mi) Holy Sepulchre London

The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

London's central criminal court, 1674 to 1913, main navigation, history of the old bailey courthouse, london's central criminal court, 1673-1913.

The Old Bailey, also known as Justice Hall, the Sessions House, and the Central Criminal Court, was named after the street in which it was located, just off Newgate Street and next to Newgate Prison, in the western part of the City of London. Over the centuries the building has been periodically remodelled and rebuilt in ways which both reflected and influenced the changing ways trials were carried out and reported.

Contents of this Article

The courtroom, 1673 open air building, 1737 refronting, 1774 reconstruction, 1907 current building, introductory reading.

The Old Bailey is located about 200 yards northwest of St Paul's Cathedral, just outside the former western wall of the City of London. It is named after the street on which it is located, which itself follows the line of the original fortified wall, or "bailey", of the City. The initial location of the courthouse close to Newgate Prison allowed prisoners to be conveniently brought to the courtroom for their trials. More generally, its position between the City of London and Westminster meant it was a suitable location for trials involving people from all over the metropolis, north of the river Thames.

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Although the Old Bailey courthouse was rebuilt several times between 1674 and 1913, the basic design of the courtrooms remained the same. They were arranged so as to emphasise the contest between the accused and the rest of the court. The accused stood at “the bar” (or in “the dock”), directly facing the witness box (where prosecution and defence witnesses testified) and the judges seated on the other side of the room. Before the introduction of gas lighting in the early nineteenth century a mirrored reflector was placed above the bar, in order to reflect light from the windows onto the faces of the accused. This allowed the court to examine their facial expressions assess the validity of their testimony. In addition, a sounding board was placed over their heads in order to amplify their voices.

Early in the period the jurors sat on the sides of the courtroom to both the left and the right of the accused, but from 1737 they were brought together in stalls on the defendant's right, sufficiently close together to be able to consult each other and arrive at verdicts without leaving the room. Seated at a table below where the judges sat were clerks, lawyers, and the writers who took the shorthand notes which formed the basis of the Proceedings .

The medieval courthouse was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. In 1673 the Old Bailey was rebuilt as a three storey Italianate brick building, described by John Strype in 1720 as "a fair and stately building". In front of the courthouse was the Sessions House Yard, a place where litigants, witnesses, and court personnel could gather. The area inside the wall, where prisoners awaited trial, was called the bail dock. They were separated from the street by a brick wall with spikes on top to keep them from escaping.

A surprising feature was that the ground floor of the building, where the courtroom was located, was open on one side to the weather; the upper stories were held up by doric columns. A wall had been left out in order to increase the supply of fresh air to reduce the risk that prisoners suffering from gaol fever (typhus) would infect others in court. On the first floor there was a "stately dining room" for the justices. Inside the courtroom there was a bench for judges at the far end, and, on both sides, partitioned spaces for jurors and balconies for court officers and privileged observers. Other spectators crowded into the yard. The trials attracted a mixed audience of London's more and less respectable inhabitants, and it was alleged that criminals attended in order to devise strategies for defending themselves should they find themselves on trial. The crowd's presence could influence or intimidate the jurors sitting inside.

In 1737 the building was remodelled, and enclosed. Although this was purportedly in order to keep out the weather, the City authorities may also have wanted to limit the influence of spectators. The ground floor of the exterior was refaced with large masonry blocks, and the windows and roofline altered to reflect prevailing architectural styles. A passageway was constructed linking the courthouse with Newgate Prison, to facilitate the transport of prisoners between the two. The interior was rearranged so that the trial jury could sit together, since they were now expected to give their verdicts after each trial, without leaving the courtroom (see Trial Procedures ).

With the courtroom now enclosed, the danger of infection increased, and at one sessions in 1750 an outbreak of gaol fever (typhus) led to the deaths of sixty people, including the Lord Mayor and two judges. Subsequently, the judges spread nosegays and aromatic herbs to keep down the stench and prevent infection, a practice commemorated in a ceremony which continues to this day.

Spectators frequently came to see the trials, and courthouse officials had the right to charge fees for entry to the galleries. The radical John Wilkes, when Sheriff of London in 1771, thought this practice undemocratic and prohibited it. Consequently at the October sessions of that year there was almost a riot due to the pressure of the crowds trying to get in, and those inside the galleries were accused of being "turbulent and unruly". Wilkes's order was rescinded, and spectators continued to pay to see trials until 1860.

In 1774 the court was rebuilt by George Dance at a cost of �15,000. As a way of further controlling public access, a semi-circular brick wall was built around the area immediately in front of the courthouse, the bail dock. This wall provided better security for the prisoners awaiting trial and was intended to prevent communication between prisoners and the public. Public view of the courtroom windows was thereby obstructed. The narrow entrance also prevented a sudden influx of spectators into the courtroom. In addition, the passage between Newgate Prison and the Old Bailey was enclosed with brick walls. It is possible that a desire to counteract the more fortress-like appearance of the Old Bailey is one of the reasons why the City, from 1775, went to greater efforts to ensure that the Proceedings provided full and fair reports of the trials -- see the publishing history of the Proceedings .

The new courthouse still had only one courtroom, but it had new and often luxurious facilities for court personnel. There was a separate room for witnesses, so that they would not be obliged to wait their turn in a nearby pub. A grand jury room was appointed with eighteen leather seated chairs and three tables. There were also separate parlours for the Sheriff and Lord Mayor, a Lord Mayor's Clerk's Room, an Indictment Office, and a drawing room for the swordbearer and judges' clerks. The lavish provision for the judges and their servants contrasted dramatically with the prisoners' quarters in the basement. The Lord Mayor's Dining Room, for example, included a fireplace with a mosaic on the front, mahogany dining tables, chairs, a pot cupboard, and a large Turkey carpet. Looking glasses (mirrors) were added in 1787. Elaborate dinners, cooked in the kitchen on the ground floor and served with drink from the wine vault, were provided at 3pm and 5pm. Outside in the yard there was a covered colonnade for carriages and 5 coach stands. Perhaps unsurprisingly, during the Gordon Riots of 1780 the courtroom was badly damaged, and the crowds carried away the furniture and burned it on bonfires in the streets. But the damage was soon repaired.

The courtroom now had four brass chandeliers and, reflecting the increased role of lawyers , a semi-circular mahogany table for council to plead from. Since some prisoners were still branded , there were two irons for confining convicts' hands while they were burnt. A large glass mirror continued to be positioned to reflect daylight onto the face of the accused (later replaced by gas lights). Behind the jurors, and seated above them, was a gallery for spectators (fees were still charged for admission). Although only a limited number of spectators could be accommodated, the increasingly detailed Proceedings published in these years allowed anyone who read them to keep informed of events in the courtroom.

In order to accommodate the growing number of trials, a second courtroom was added in 1824 by converting a neighbouring building. Reflecting the still increasing role of lawyers, the new courtroom had seating for attorneys, counsel, and law students. There were also seats for spectators, jurors in waiting, prosecutors and witnesses, and officers of the court.

In subsequent decades two additional courtrooms were added, but conditions, as can be seen in this depiction, were cramped: the fourth courtroom contained little more room than was necessary for the judge, jury, and prisoner’s dock, with counsel and the clerk forced to sit in a narrow row of seats. There was no seating for the public, which had to stand in the gangway.

As trials lengthened and the number of those seeking to watch increased in the late nineteenth century the courthouse building became increasingly inadequate. In 1877 a fire forced the City of London to act and proposals were drawn up for a new building. Owing to the dilapidation of Newgate Prison next door, which by the 1860s no longer held long-term prisoners, it was decided to pull down both buildings to make room for a larger building.

After many delays, the new building, designed in the neo-Baroque style by E. W. Mountford and built at a cost of �392,277, was finally opened by King Edward VII in 1907. It was lavishly fitted out and adorned with symbolic reminders to the public of its virtuous purpose. On top of the 67 foot high dome a 12 foot gold leaf statue was placed of a “lady of justice” holding a sword in one hand and the scales of justice in the other; she is not, as is conventional with such figures, blindfolded. Over the main entrance to the building figures were placed representing fortitude, the recording angel, and truth, along with the carved inscription, “defend the children of the poor and punish the wrongdoer”.

The exterior was faced in Portland stone, while the interior lobbies and a monumental staircase had Sicilian marble floors, allegorical paintings representing Labour, Art, Wisdom, and Truth, and ornate mosaic arches. The four oak-pannelled courtrooms contained space for all those who needed to attend modern trials, including solicitors and barristers, court reporters, the press (who by now were the most important conduit to the public for information about trials), and spectators. Each courtroom had a spacious dock, enclosed by low partitions, for the defendants, with a staircase leading directly below to the holding cells. There were now separate rooms for male and female witnesses, and another for witnesses of “the better class”. Lawyers also had their own room, as did barristers’ clerks; the latter included a glass wall to ensure they did not engage in malpractices such as touting for business among prisoners and their associates. As in the previous building, there was an opulently appointed dining room for the judges.

At the opening ceremonies , the Recorder of London addressed the King and Queen:

The building was heavily damaged by bombing in 1941 and rebuilt. A modern extension was added in 1972. Nonetheless, the current building on the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey, which still holds trials of local and national significance and can be visited , remains at its core the building which was first opened in 1907.

• Howson, Gerald, Thief-Taker General: The Rise and Fall of Jonathan Wild (London, 1970), Appendix IV
• Jackson, Stanley, The Old Bailey (London, 1978)
• Rumbelow, Donald, The Triple Tree: Newgate, Tyburn, and the Old Bailey (London, 1982)

For more secondary literature on this subject see the Bibliography .

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Central Criminal Court

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About this event.

The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, known the world over as the 'Old Bailey', is opening its doors to the public for out of hours guided tours .

It is the most famous court house in the world but from the 1100s it was a prison, the notorious Newgate, and a place of execution. The last public hanging there was in 1868 and the last one behind its firmly closed doors in 1902.

The iconic ‘Old Bailey’ is packed with secrets, history, famous trials, unexpected artworks and is also a busy, working building. Come and explore it after hours with a professional City of London Guide.

P lease note:

The only way to reach the cells is by stairs. For other levels of the building there is a lift

T his is a working court and even though the tours are on a Saturday:

• E veryone has to go through the security check on arrival.
• You will need to bring photo ID with you.
• There is no admission for children aged under 14 and proof of age may be requested by security.
• No large bags or rucksacks are allowed in the building, though handbags are acceptable.
• Mobile phones are allowed on the tour but no photography is allowed in any Court room or the Cells.
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• London Tours
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• #historywalk
• #unique_experience
• #guided_tour
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A family day out

Family reviews of attractions, events, walks and cycle rides, mostly in the UK.

Visiting the Old Bailey and Inns of Court, London

Have you ever watched a court case? I’ve wanted to visit the Old Bailey ever since I realised the general public were allowed to observe trials. When a recent child free day came along I jumped at the opportunity to see the Old Bailey and other law related places in the city.

The Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)

The Old Bailey deals with major criminal cases, mainly from the Greater London area. There are eighteen courts covering serious cases such as murder, terrorism and drug related crimes.

Despite being on the right side of the law I was a little nervous walking towards the public gallery entrance. I rang the doorbell, hidden down Warwick Passage, and waited to be called up for the security check. After passing through security I asked one of the guards about the best trial to visit.

The courts were relatively quiet on the day of my visit and the only option was a terrorism trial. The case related to four defendants, accused of supporting the funding of terrorism. The case had already been ongoing for several days; I entered the public gallery as the prosecutor was giving his closing speech to the jury.

The court room was smaller than I expected but familiar from TV court dramas. Visitors sit in a small balcony area, opposite the jurors. To my right sat the four defendants, to the left the judge. In the middle sat the Court Clerk and barristers. Their wigs intrigued me. Made from horsehair, evidently the older and grubbier they look the better!

It was really interesting to listen in and watch the workings of the court. I’m not going to write about the trial itself as it impacts real lives. Suffice to say the evidence was compelling and the subsequent outcome wasn’t a surprise.

Once in the courtroom there is a 30 minute minimum stay. However time passed quickly and I stayed for a couple of hours. Leaving as quietly as possible I crept out of the galleries and headed to my next destination, Temple Church.

The Temple Church

It’s hard to imagine that the serene Temple Church is just a couple of minutes walk from Fleet Street. Founded in the 12th Century by the Knights Templar it’s modelled on the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In 1608 the Temple was granted to two societies of lawyers, the Inner and Middle Temple, who look after it to this day.

The most distinguishing feature of the church is its round nave. Certainly impressive but I enjoyed the interior stonework just as much. On the floor of the nave lies the effigies of nine knights, whilst all around are grotesque gargoyles.

The nave contains a lot of display boards detailing the history which I really should have read.  But I was more interested in climbing the winding staircase to the clerestory for views back across the church.

Inns of Court

The area around Temple Church is surrounded by two of the Inns of Court. These are the professional associations for barristers; every barrister needs to belong to one of them. There are four Inns in London; Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn, Middle Temple and Inner Temple; I explored the lanes and gardens of the latter two.

Wandering down the lanes it was hard to believe I was in central London. Lined with barristers’ chambers and intercepted by gardens and courtyards it feels more like a film set. I half expected Sherlock Holmes to walk down the street. There are maps dotted around the area but it’s more fun just to stroll around.

The buildings themselves are off limits to casual wanderers. Fortunately I didn’t need to be a barrister to enjoy the gardens. The borders were in full bloom, perfectly demonstrating the beauty of high summer. If I ignored the background sound of car horns, I could almost imagine I was enjoying a town garden.

As I reached the front of one garden, bordering Victoria Embankment, I realised the last time I’d been near here was whilst running the London Marathon . I’d struggled the last few miles and this section didn’t hold particularly good memories! It was good to reminisce in less painful times.

Royal Courts of Justice

Close by is one of the other major legal buildings, the Royal Courts of Justice, and my last stop of the day. The Law Courts house the High Court and Court of Appeal and preside over civil, not criminal, trials. It’s a huge Victorian Gothic style building on the Strand, just opposite Temple Inn.

Although there was an airport style scanner to pass through once in you appear to be free to wander. I picked up a self-guided tour leaflet from the entrance desk; it’s also possible to book guided tours. I walked around the Main Hall, past a small costume display to the Painted Room and then along past court rooms.

In a similar way to the Old Bailey it’s possible to watch trials. Although personally I think criminal trials sound much more interesting! I’d definitely like to visit another Old Bailey trial at some point, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the workings of our legal system.

• The Old Bailey is for those aged 14+ years only; you may be asked for photo identification. Court generally sits on weekdays from 10am-1pm and from 2-4.30pm but do check before you visit. Security is strict. Cameras, mobile phones, large bags and refreshments are not permitted. You can leave mobiles at the nearby Capable Travel Agent at a cost of £1 per device. Details of the cases are posted on the boards outside.
• The Temple Church website details its varied opening times. It’s generally open on weekdays from 10am-4pm. Entry charge is £5 for adults, free for under 16s.
• Middle and Inner Temple Gardens are open to the public from 12-3pm on weekdays during the summer. There is no entrance charge.
• The Royal Courts of Justice  is open on weekdays from 9am-4.30pm. Entry is free.

23 thoughts on “Visiting the Old Bailey and Inns of Court, London”

I’m generally not the nosey type but I’ve always been curious about what goes on in court. I’m guessing the reality is far less exciting than I imagine it to be though. Some beautiful buildings, I guess they can be quite intimidating if you are ever there to answer charges. Yikes!

A lady I work with is on jury service this week but I’ve been told there’s a lot of sitting around and waiting which is very boring. I’d still love to do it though.

What an interesting experience to watch the trial of accused terrorists. I think that would give me the hibbie jibbies to be that near! #CityTripping

I don’t think the accused had really thought too much about what they were doing. It felt more like they were helping out a friend (although probably with full knowledge of why), rather than helping fund terrorism.

What an interesting place to visit – I would love to do this and see our justice system in action. #citytripping

Definitely worth a visit if you get the chance.

I just love the detail about the grubby wigs! How fascinating, to witness a trial like this. I’m going to look into visiting – I’d love to go inside the building as it always looks so imposing from the outside.

I really wouldn’t want to wear a dirty wig made from horsehair – although I guess you get used to it pretty quick.

I would love to do this #citytripping

I walked by both courts on my last trip to London and I wanted to visit the Temple Church but it was closed. I’m sorry I didn’t explore Inns of Court with its gardens. #city tripping

I think Temple Church is often closed, hope you do get to visit soon.

On the one occasion I tried to attend a trial at the Old Bailey we were defeated by the ban on mobile phones and the lack of anywhere to leave them. #citytripping

The local travel agent has certainly cottoned onto this, I’m sure they must make quite a bit of money from it.

Wow I didn’t even know you could do this. I would love to go and watch for a bit. I can understand why it would be for teens+, I kind of expected the minimum age to be 18!

I think the judge can make a decision as to whether the trial is suitable and can choose to send under 18s out if necessary.

What an interesting day out…I have been to the courts a couple of times when I was doing my journalism course…although have since managed to avoid court reporting. It is fascinating although it doesn’t sound as though the ones I went to were as interesting as the Old Bailey trial you attended. #citytripping

I can imagine some of the local trials are less than riveting!

This looks like a really interesting day out for an adult! I worked briefly at solicitors and I used to visit Holborn for court. I can’t remember did I ever go to Old Bailey or other court rooms but it is really fascinating to sit on the court cases isn’t it. It used to be my favourite part of the day. These gardens look gorgeous too. Didn’t even know all these things were close by there! #citytripping

Years ago I worked briefly as a court reporter and it was fascinating to see the court cases and procedures – there is something unique about the Old Bailey though. And I have always wanted to visit the Templar church but somehow never got around to it so I must rectify that. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

Hi Christine, what an interesting day out you had. It’s funny how just entering a building of law sets us on edge. I get edgy just driving past our local police station and I promise you I am law abiding… That woman in the dock just looked like me honest!

I’d certainly enjoy witnessing a trial in progress given the chance.

The buildings all look very interesting and grand too.

I love finding the hidden places between the big buildings. A beautiful, peaceful garden, I’m sure. Part of me would be fascinated to go to a trial. If only to see how it all works. I really interesting trip choice.

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Old Bailey Insight & Legal London

Old Bailey and Royal Courts of Justice Tours, Talks and Seminars

Legal London Combined Tour

To book a place now or in future on on of our tours or seminars please email [email protected] or give us a call for further information.

The Legal London tour is an award winning tour that won us the Best Historical tour operator in the 2021 Southern Enterprise Awards and Best Legal Tour – London 2023. Best Legal Tour 2024. It also has been granted a certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor with 79 out of 84 reviews classing the tour as excellent and is a People’s Choice winner for 2023. It is taken by a former crime reporter, who has the inside knowledge of over 25 years covering both the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) and the Old Bailey. It is our most popular offering, ideal for schools, colleges, universities and crime buffs.  It starts at the RCJ, a stunning historical building where some of the country’s most significant legal judgements are made.

Find out why barristers wear wigs. The huge sums earned by some lawyers and why barristers working in the criminal justice system went on strike. The good and the bad in our justice system are revealed. This is followed by a wander through the secret alleys and courtyards of the nearby Inns of Court, in the footsteps of some of the country’s most renowned legal minds.

The tour then moves on to the Old Bailey, the country’s leading criminal court, for a talk outside on the fascinating history of the Old Bailey and the trials covered by the guide which shocked the nation. There is our exclusive printed guide with details of the most interesting cases being heard on the day of the visit compiled with the information from the guides contacts at the court. The Old Bailey hears more murder trials than any other court in the country.

We cannot guarantee entry to the public galleries as it is a government building and we have no control over who gets in. However it is unusual not to gain entry. What we can guarantee is that you will be perfectly prepared for your day in court.  

The tour usually starts at 11am and groups arrive at the Old Bailey by about 1pm. Lunch can then be taken. The court opens for its afternoon session at 2pm, when visitors can take their pick of the criminal cases on. It is entirely up to you how long you stay in court. The Old Bailey courts rise between 4 and 4.30pm.

Please note:  if you are bringing teenagers on the tour please ensure they have ID which proves they are over 14 as security at the Old Bailey may turn them away.  

We look forward to seeing you then.  

Note: you need to book to reserve a place. Go to the How to Book page for further details. The cost is 20 pounds a head and 12 pounds for concessions (pensioner, 65 and over and students) 

Also available :

Royal Courts of  Justice & Inns of Court Tour :

A guided tour of the Royal Courts of Justice, the stunning historical building where some of the country’s most significant legal judgements are made. This is followed by a wander through the secret alleys and courtyards of the nearby Inns of Court, following in the footsteps of some of the country’s most renowned legal minds. For more information, please see: Royal Courts of Justice and Inns of Court Tour .

Old Bailey Insight :

A talk on the fascinating history of the court, and the places of interest around it, such as the pub where wealthy people rented rooms to get the best view of the public executions. Afterwards, we can direct you straight to the most interesting cases on at the court that day. Includes, for schools, colleges and universities, a special teachers’ information pack. For more details, please see: Old Bailey Insight .

CANCELLATION POLICY

We only offer a refund if we cancel the tour. Otherwise if a change of date is needed we are happy to transfer the booking to a new

We are delighted to announce that tickets are now available for our Crime & Punishment Webinar, which will take place on the 14th November. We have three expert speakers, who will all be giving their insights into our criminal justice system. Former Chief Constable Tom Lloyd, who has contraversial opinions on how to dove our drug problem. Dr Hilary Hamnett, an expert in forensic toxicology, who has presented at international conferences and is a senior lecturer and businessman Ian Puddick, who was arrested by the anti-terror squad after his wife had an affair with a well connected senior City executive, who was worried about his reputation if the relationship became known. Purchase your tickets for this intriguing insight into crime detection and a chance to pose your questions to expert practitioners, who are top of their field Crime & Punishment page or Click here to purchase your tickets for this fascinating insight into our criminal justice system.

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