The Old Bailey is the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, the Crown Court sitting in the City of London, and it handles the country’s most serious criminal cases, including murder, terrorism, and large-scale fraud. The public galleries are free to visit on weekdays while the court is sitting, and anyone aged fourteen or over can walk in and watch a trial. The building stands on the street of the same name, on the site of the old Newgate Prison, topped by F.W. Pomeroy’s bronze Lady Justice holding a sword and scales, without a blindfold.
What the Old Bailey Is
Despite its fame, the Old Bailey is not part of the High Court. Section 8(3) of the Senior Courts Act 1981 provides that “when the Crown Court sits in the City of London it shall be known as the Central Criminal Court.”1Legislation.gov.uk. Senior Courts Act 1981 – Section 8 The formal title has been “Central Criminal Court” since 1834, but almost everyone still uses the older name.
The court primarily serves the City of London and Greater London, but cases can be transferred in from anywhere in England and Wales where a judge decides a change of venue is needed for a fair trial. That explains why so many nationally reported trials end up there. The building contains eighteen courtrooms.2City of London. Central Criminal Court
A Short History of the Building
A courthouse has stood on the street called Old Bailey since at least the medieval period, next to Newgate Prison so that prisoners could be brought quickly to trial. The medieval building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 and rebuilt in 1673 as a three-storey Italianate brick structure. A passageway linking the courthouse to Newgate was added in 1737.3The Proceedings of the Old Bailey. History of The Old Bailey Courthouse
By the 1870s both buildings were in serious disrepair, and a fire in 1877 pushed the City into action. With Newgate no longer holding long-term prisoners, officials demolished both structures and started again. King Edward VII opened the current building in 1907, and that Edwardian structure is what visitors see today.3The Proceedings of the Old Bailey. History of The Old Bailey Courthouse
Court Number One
Court Number One has been in use since the 1907 building opened and traditionally hosts the highest-profile trials. William Joyce, the wartime broadcaster known as “Lord Haw-Haw,” was tried there for treason in 1945. Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in England, was convicted there in 1955. Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe stood trial there on charges of conspiracy to murder in 1979, and Ian Huntley was tried there for the Soham murders in 2003.
Visiting the Public Gallery
The nearest Underground stations are St. Paul’s and Chancery Lane, both on the Central line and a short walk away. The court sits Monday to Friday. The public gallery is open from 10:00 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. for the morning session and from 2:00 p.m. to 3:40 p.m. (last admission) for the afternoon session.2City of London. Central Criminal Court Seating is first come, first served, and high-profile trials can draw long queues before the doors open.
The public gallery has its own entrance via a passage on the south side of the building, separate from the doors used by jurors and lawyers. No one under fourteen is admitted, and security officers may ask for proof of age. Visitors are also asked to dress appropriately; the court can refuse entry to anyone whose clothing it considers unsuitable.2City of London. Central Criminal Court
To find out what is being heard on a given day, check the daily court lists published by HMCTS online, which are finalised by 4:30 p.m. the evening before.4Court and Tribunal Hearings. Summary of Publications Lists can change at short notice, so treat them as a guide.
Security and Prohibited Items
Expect airport-style security at the gallery entrance: walk-through metal detectors, X-ray screening, and pat-down searches are all standard.2City of London. Central Criminal Court The prohibited items list is longer than most first-time visitors expect. Mobile phones, cameras, laptops, e-readers, smartwatches, and any recording device are banned. So are food, drink, liquids of any kind, sweets, and chewing gum. Large bags, perfume, batteries, helmets, and personal alarms are also prohibited.5City of London. Central Criminal Court Prohibited Items The court does not provide lockers or any storage. Anything confiscated at security becomes your problem. The practical advice: leave everything except your wallet and keys at your hotel.
The restrictions reflect two overlapping laws. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 makes it an offence to take a photograph, or make a sketch for publication, of anyone involved in court proceedings, including judges, jurors, witnesses, and defendants. The ban covers the whole building and its precincts, and extends to photographing people entering or leaving.6Legislation.gov.uk. Criminal Justice Act 1925 – Section 41 Section 9 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 makes it contempt to bring a tape recorder or any sound-recording instrument into court without the court’s permission, or to publish any recording made in court.7Legislation.gov.uk. Contempt of Court Act 1981 – Section 9 Any device capable of recording image or sound is therefore treated as contraband.
Watching a Trial
Once through security, court staff direct you to the elevated gallery seating overlooking the courtroom floor. Strict silence is expected throughout proceedings. During the lunch adjournment the gallery is cleared, and you will need to go through the full security process again to return for the afternoon session. Given the ban on food, drink, and phones, plan to leave the building entirely during the break if you need refreshments.
The experience is not like a courtroom drama on television. Proceedings move slowly, legal arguments can be technical, and there are long pauses while documents are reviewed. For anyone interested in how criminal justice actually works in England and Wales, the public gallery is one of the most direct ways to see it.
Open Justice and Reporting Restrictions
Open justice underpins how the court operates, and public observers act as a check on state power during criminal prosecutions.2City of London. Central Criminal Court Judges can close proceedings in limited circumstances, most commonly to protect national security or the identity of vulnerable witnesses. A case heard this way is said to be heard “in camera.”
Separately, judges can impose reporting restrictions under Section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, which allows a court to postpone the publication of information about a case when reporting would create a substantial risk of prejudice to the trial or to other pending proceedings.8Legislation.gov.uk. Contempt of Court Act 1981 – Section 4 Reporting restrictions limit what can be published; they do not usually clear the public gallery. You may be allowed to watch a trial but not discuss certain details until the restriction is lifted.
Since 2022, cameras have been permitted inside the Old Bailey for one narrow purpose: filming a judge delivering sentencing remarks. The Crown Court (Recording and Broadcasting) Order 2020 created an exception to the general bans on filming and recording, allowing authorised media partners to broadcast a judge’s remarks when passing sentence. Only the judge may be filmed. Victims, witnesses, jurors, and defendants do not appear on camera, and the presiding judge can refuse filming in any individual case. Members of the public in the gallery remain bound by the usual prohibitions on recording; the exception applies only to authorised media organisations operating with the court’s written permission.9Legislation.gov.uk. The Crown Court (Recording and Broadcasting) Order 2020