Old Bailey

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Old Bailey map

Address:

Old Bailey, Corner of Newgate and Old Bailey Street, The CityEC4M 7EH

Tel:

Work 0207 248 3277

Web:

cityoflondon.gov.uk

Opening times and price

Opening hours:

Court cases usually sit between 9.55 AM and 12.40 PM, and 1.55 PM to 3.40 PM (Mon-Fri)

Visiting hours are subject to change

Getting to Old Bailey

Taxis:

Find minicab firms near Old Bailey

Buses:

4, 8, 11, 15, 17, 23, 25, 26, 46, 56, 76, 172, 242, 521

London bus fares

Trains:

Barbican CRC H&C MET, Blackfriars CRC DSC, Farringdon CRC H&C MET, St. Paul’s CNT

The nearest train station to Old Bailey is St Pauls

London underground fares

Watch a real-life court case at the Old Bailey  From 2nd January 2017 Old Bailey The City

See all political events in London

The Old Bailey, officially known as London’s Central Criminal Court, is more commonly known by its moniker ‘Old Bailey’ – a name taken from the nearby street. It is believed to have derived from Baillie – a french word from the time of the Norman Conquest, meaning fortified church.

It was built by Edward Mountford in 1907 on the site of the notorious Newgate Prison, pulled down five years before. Newgate was where the criminals were condemned to death, and dragged up to Tyburn to meet their maker.

Some of the more famous cases in recent history include Peter Sutcliffe being sent down for life (the so-called ‘Yorkshire Ripper’), Jeffery Archer being banged up for perjury, and the Guildford Four’s convictions being quashed on appeal. World War II traitor Lord Haw-Haw was condemned to death here for his Nazi broadcasts to the nation, and Dr. Crippen went down for poisoning his wife. It was also where the Kray Twins finally caught up with justice.

The galleries are usually open to the public, and you have 18 courts to choose from. But try and arrive early for courts 1, 2 or 3 – as they tend to have the best cases.

Events at Old Bailey

Watch a real-life court case at the Old Bailey   From 2nd January 2017 Old Bailey The City