Old Bailey Insight Tour

To book a place now or in future on on of our tours or seminars please email info@oldbaileyinsight.co.uk or give us a call for further information.

Exterior of the Old Bailey
The Old Bailey

This tour starts in the Viaduct pub, opposite the Old Bailey in Newgate Street usually at 10.30am other times can be arranged if you are a group (10.45am is latest start time) and includes a coffee/tea. All visitors have a choice of coffee/ tea or a fruit juice plus a croissant. As part of the package you will be able to visit an original Newgate prison cell that now forms part of the pub’s cellar. There is also a talk covering the history of the Old Bailey and places of interest connected to the court, such as the site where public hangings were carried out – and the pub where the wealthy rented rooms to get the best view of the executions.

At the end of the talk, each visitor is provided with a run-down of what is on in all the Old Bailey’s 18 courtrooms. This includes details about the cases on that day so you can make an informed choice about which court to go into. If there is an interesting trial on you will know about it; if one of the country’s top criminal barristers is in action you can be there to witness advocacy at its best. As the court is a high security building please note that visitors are only given access to the public galleries from which a trial can be viewed. It is a bit like being in the balcony seats of a small theatre looking down on the court. The public are not allowed to wander around the court.

For schools, colleges and universities, I can provide a special teachers’ information pack as part of the service. This is sent out before your visit and gives teachers all the information they need to prepare a lecture or class, so students come to the court properly informed and knowing what to look for.

The pack includes significant dates in the court’s 1,000-year history; an outline of the English Justice System and how it compares with legal systems in other countries; what sentences criminals can expect if convicted of certain crimes, and a guide to the layout of the court.

The cost of this tour is £15.

Note: you need to book to reserve a place.

Courts sit Monday to Friday (excluding weekends/Christmas and bank holidays). Entrance to the public galleries in the court is free – minimum age 14 years. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

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. We can guarantee that you will be perfectly prepared for your day in court.   

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. 

For important information for visitors to the Old Bailey, please see: Visiting the Old Bailey.

Also available:

Legal London 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, 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 on the fascinating history of the court and a guide to the most interesting trials being heard that day. For more information, see Legal London Tour.

Royal Courts of Justice and 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.

CONTACT US ON:  Mobile: 07866 690618, Office: 01206 751671 (Answer Machine)  or EMAIL: info@oldbaileyinsight.co.uk

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 date.

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We are delighted to announce that tickets are now available for our Crime & Punishment Webinar, which will take place on the 8th February. We have Three top speakers including a former Oxford don and an expert in body language, who will reveal the “tells” that are unwittingly revealed when someone is lying, using examples of high profile convicted criminals. David Tadd, the former head of Scotland Yard’s forensic unit, who led over 950 officers, bringing terrorists and criminals to justice and convicted armed robber Scott Walsh giving his take, from the other side of the law into our prisons and criminal justice system. All will give their unique insights into our criminal justice system from very different perspectives. For more information please visit our Crime & Punishment page or Click here to purchase your tickets for this fascinating insight into our criminal justice system.