Royal Courts of Justice

Their style may be pure 13th-century, but the Royal Courts of Justice were actually designed by George Edmund Street in the 1870s. The Victorian’s obsession with neo-Gothic design sits well in the Strand, and has become one of the capital’s most distinctive buildings.

The Royal Courts are where the country’s high-profile civil cases are contested – things like libel, slander and divorce. You can often see a famous face or two giving their interview outside, after they descend the steps in victory… or defeat.

Be aware that in order to gain entry to the building’s fifty courtrooms you will have to undergo a rigorous security check – so leave your camera at home.

There is also a small museum in the Minstrel’s Gallery charting the history of the lawcourt’s dress etiquette.

• Information
• Historical pictures

Facts and information

Address:

Royal Courts of Justice, The Strand,
London WC2A 2LL
England

Telephone:

Work +44 (0) 207 947 6000

Bus route:

1 4 6 8 9 11 13 15 17 23 25 26 45 46 59 68 76 87 91 168 172 176 189 243 253 341 521 X68

Train station:

Chancery Lane CN, Temple CR DS

Opening times:

9–4.30 (Mon–Fri)

Cost:

Free

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