What's Included
• Vouchers are valid for either of the following tours
Legal London Tour
• Visit the Royal Courts of Justice
• View the legal costume exhibition and Court 4, where the Lord Justice sits
• Groups usually stay for about 30 minutes listening to a criminal appeal
• Wander through the secret alleys and courtyards of the Inns of Court
• Move onto the Old Bailey, for a talk on its fascinating history
• Exclusive typed guide to the Old Bailey, including a run down on the cases of the day
• Option to purchase lunch before the court opens for its afternoon session
• You will be directed to the most interesting cases of the day at the Old Bailey
• Opportunity to watch your chosen case from the visitors gallery
Old Bailey Insight Tour
• A morning talk at the Viaduct Tavern opposite the Old Bailey
• Tea/coffee or a fruit juice plus a croissant are provided
• Hear about its the Old Baileys history and nearby places of interest
• Visit an original Newgate prison cell that now forms part of the pub's cellar
• Exclusive typed guide to the Old Bailey, including a run down on the cases of the day
• Option to purchase lunch before the court opens for its afternoon session
• You will be directed to the most interesting cases of the day at the Old Bailey
• Opportunity to watch your chosen case from the visitors gallery
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 visits the Royal Courts of Justice and the Old Bailey, or you can go in-depth on the Old Bailey Insight tour.
All Legal London tours start 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. Court 4 is where the Lord Chief Justice sits and when it’s in session it’s normally open to the public. This tour of legal London includes 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!
Then you’ll 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. Once again your host will introduce you to the building and you’ll be provided with a court listing for the day so you see what trials are in session, all ready for you to witness justice in the making.
Those who book the Old Bailey Insight tour will meet at the Viaduct Tavern opposite to hear all about this history of this area. The main domed building you see today dates from 1907, but there’s been a court on this, 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.
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, visiting 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 one and two are where the most serious murder and high security cases are heard, with the likes of Oscar Wilde, the Kray twins, Peter Sutcliffe and Ian Huntley 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, for the judge to order 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
Spectators
• Not suitable for spectators
Anything Else I Need To Know?
• Access to the public galleries of the courts is subject to strict airport-style security guidelines
• Photograhy inside the building is not permitted
Location
Legal London Tour
• The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A
• Old Bailey, London EC4M
Old Bailey Insight Tour
• Viaduct Tavern Newgate Street, London EC1A
• Old Bailey, London EC4M
