Old Bailey (Central Criminal Court)

The Old Bailey, formally the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, stands on the site of the medieval Newgate Prison in the City of London and has served as the country's principal criminal court since the first purpose-built courthouse opened there in 1673. The current Edwardian Baroque building, designed by E. W. Mountford, opened in 1907 on the footprint of the demolished prison and is topped by the bronze Lady Justice statue, sculpted by F. W. Pomeroy, holding her sword and scales high above Ludgate Hill. Wartime bombing damaged the building in 1941, and a 1972 extension added further courtrooms after an IRA car bomb exploded outside that same year. Inside, eighteen courtrooms hear the most serious criminal cases in England and Wales, from murder to terrorism, continuing a judicial tradition dating to at least the 16th century, when an earlier Sessions House stood nearby. Notable trials held here include those of Oscar Wilde in 1895, the Kray twins in 1969, and numerous cases connected to both World Wars. The public gallery, entered separately from the main court building on Warwick Passage, allows visitors to watch live proceedings in Courts 1 to 4 free of charge when court is in session. Security is strict: no bags, phones, cameras, or recording devices are permitted inside, lockers are unavailable, and there is no re-entry once a case concludes for the day. The building is not a museum and has no formal exhibition space, so its historical character is experienced through the working courtrooms and their oak panelling rather than curated displays. As a functioning court rather than a heritage attraction, opening depends entirely on the sitting calendar, and gallery seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.