Legal London Tours

What Can I Expect

Witness justice in action on these Old Bailey tours! We are offering two different itineraries for all you crime buffs: the Legal London Tour and the Old Bailey Insight Tour - vouchers are valid for both. Alternatively, you can book a private tour for up to five of you.

Legal London Tours meet at the Law Courts (the Royal Courts of Justice buildings) on the Strand, home to both the High Court and Court of Appeal for England and Wales. Your host, who's fully versed on the world of criminality and law, will explain the role of these courts to you before leading you inside the building.

Old Bailey Insight Tours meet at the Viaduct Tavern opposite to hear all about the history of this area. The main domed building you see today dates from 1907, but there's been a court on what was Newgate Prison for centuries. Indeed you might be surprised to hear that it wasn't all that long ago when the public floggings and hangings were finally abolished, in 1868.

The Lord Chief Justice presides over Court 4 in the Law Courts - and it's normally open to the public when in session. These tours include time to witness an appeal trial as it's actually going on. Thoroughly fascinating stuff for anyone slightly curious about legal goings on in this country!

You'll then walk behind the Law Courts to Lincoln's Inn Fields, where impressive buildings arranged around a pretty grassed square are the chambers of many of the country's top legal eagles. Your tour continues with a visit to the famed Old Bailey, which is about a half a mile stroll form the Royal Courts of Justice.

With the golden Lady Justice sitting pretty atop the dome clutching her scales of justice in one hand and her sword of retribution in the other, the visit to the Old Bailey (officially called the Central Criminal Court), is quite an eye-opener.

The wood panelled courts of the old building are notoriously cramped and uncomfortable (former liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe on trial for conspiracy to murder in 1979 knew this, as he arrived at court with his own cushion!) and, with the newer extension, there are 18 courts spread across three floors.

Courts 1 and 2 are where the most serious murder and high security cases are heard, with the likes of Oscar Wilde, the Kray twins and Peter Sutcliffe appearing in the dock to face judge and jury. In fact, more murder trials are heard at the Old Bailey than any other court in the land.

All courts are open to the public, so these Old Bailey tours allow time to watch an afternoon court sitting. Will you be there at the moment a defendant is found guilty of their heinous crime, when the judge orders them to be 'taken down' to start their punishment at Her Majesty's pleasure, to the gasps from the public gallery?

Availability

• Tours operate on weekdays throughout the year
• All dates and session times are subject to availability
• Courts sit Monday to Friday (excluding Christmas and Bank Holidays)
• Arrive at the Old Bailey at 1pm
• The court opens for its afternoon session at 2pm
• Courts rise between 4 and 4.30pm but you can leave earlier

• Legal London Tour
• Tours start at 11am at The Royal Court of Justice on The Strand

• Old Bailey Insight Tour
• Tours start at various times generally between 9.15am and 10.45am
• Meet at The Viaduct Tavern, opposite the Old Bailey

Suitable For

• Minimum age 14
• Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult
• A minimum of two vouchers must be purchased for the legal tours

Spectators

• Not suitable for spectators

Anything Else

• Access to the public galleries of the courts is subject to strict airport-style security guidelines
• Photograhy inside the building is not permitted