london supreme court tour

Tour of the UK Supreme Court

Official tour of the highest court in the land, housed in a beautiful Grade II Listed building.

Select date and time

• Friday May 10 2:00 PM
• Friday May 24 2:00 PM
• Friday May 31 10:00 AM

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

Refund Policy

About this event.

Come and visit the highest court in the land. Your tour will be led by an experienced member of staff who will show you our beautiful courtrooms. Discover a splendid collection of original stained glass and art works.

As well as viewing the ornate exterior, you will be given an insight into the workings of the Supreme Court, the background to its creation and some of the famous cases that have been heard here.

Tours are approximately an hour long, led by an experienced guide, with time for questions throughout.

*PLEASE NOTE: if you are hard of hearing and do not use a hearing aid, please inform [email protected] in advance of your tour*

Frequently asked questions

The Supreme Court is situated on Parliament Square directly opposite the Houses of Parliament, close to the statue of Abraham Lincoln. Our nearest underground station is Westminster and we are also accessible by TFL buses, taxi and riverboat services.

Yes - all visitors will need to pass through airport-style security. Please ensure you arrive in good time to ensure you have enough time to pass through security before your tour. For more information: https://www.supremecourt.uk/visiting/security-information.html

Unfortunately the UKSC will not authorise refund requests in the event you cannot make the tour. We will only consider a departure from this policy in rare, exceptional circumstances which are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Yes, our staff will do their best to accommodate shifting your ticket/s to another date in the event you cannot make the original tour. This will be subject to the demands of Court business and consequently we cannot guarantee a specific alternate date. Please contact [email protected].

No. It is Court policy that children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult when attending an official tour delivered by court staff.

Our tours cover a range of information about the Court - from architecture and art to the separation of powers and the judicial appointments process. There is a broad scope of information presented by our staff which will develop your knowledge about the UK Supreme Court and JCPC.

Unfortunately there are no hearings held on Fridays but you are welcome to return another day to sit in the public gallery. To discover which cases are happening when, please see our website: supremecourt.uk/visiting/court-sittings.html

Yes - if you are hard of hearing and do not use a hearing aid, please inform [email protected] in advance of your tour.

Yes - we have accessible facilities including wheelchair lifts and disabled toilets. If you have any concerns prior to your visit, please contact: [email protected]

Our public tours last approximately 1 hour. Please ensure you arrive promptly as the tour will leave the main lobby at 2pm. You are welcome to leave at any time during the tour, should you wish.

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Outdoor tours

• Visiting the JCPC
• Decided cases
• Court procedures
• About the JCPC
• Latest news
• Current cases
• Court sittings
• How to find us
• Guided tours
• Exhibitions
• Art at The Court
• Architecture
• 360° virtual tour

Hold your special event at The Supreme Court

This Summer, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (UKSC) is offering outdoor architectural tours of our beautiful, Grade II listed building on Parliament Square.

Tours are led by an experienced guide who will give you insight into the rich heritage of the site. Tours last 15 minutes and include an opportunity to ask questions.

When are outdoor public tours available?

Outdoor tours are offered at 10am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August, and on the following dates in September:

• Thursday 8th September
• Friday 9th September
• Wednesday 14th September
• Friday 15th September
• Wednesday 21st September

How much does it cost?

Outdoor tours are free of charge.

Do I need to book in advance?

Spaces are available on the day on a first–come, first–served basis. There is no way to book in advance.

How many people can come on a tour?

A maximum of 20 people per tour

I have more questions

If you have any questions, contact Enquiries or telephone 0207 960 1900/1500.

You can keep in touch with us by following us on Instagram and Twitter or visiting our YouTube channel to learn more about our role and work.

To create a suitable home for the new Supreme Court, renovation works at the former Middlesex Guildhall were wide-ranging with a focus on enhancing the historic fabric of the building and transforming the imposing, adversarial atmosphere of what had been a Crown Court into an environment suited to Supreme Court business, that of learned discussion of points of law rather than trial by jury.

On our tour we’ll see how Gibson introduced  light wells that allow light into the building enhancing the fine stained glass windows, wood panelling and ornate ceilings. We’ll also see items from the Guildhall Art Collection including  historic portraits and contemporary works including a striking Welsh slate clock with numerals gilded with English gold leaf.

‘Laws were made to prevent the strong from always having their way’ – Ovid

Following our tour we have tea/coffee/cake in the cafe on the Lower Ground floor, with time to view the permanent exhibition  that provides an insight into the work and history of the UK’s highest court. 

Image credits:  Interior Court No. 1 – photo by David ILIFF/Exterior Supreme Court – photo by Tom Morris/Library – photo by Andrew Le Sueur

Need to know

Meeting point: Outside The Supreme Court, Parliament Square, London, SW1P 3BD Nearest tube stations: Westminster (Please note: covid rules and security check on entry will be applied)

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A fascinating visit - The UK Supreme Court

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A fascinating visit

We visited as part of the Open House weekend and really appreciated the efforts made to make a visit possible when so many buildings and organizations had not felt able to take part in the programme this year. It’s a beautiful building and you gain a fascinating insight into how the highest court in the land works. Good cafe too!

Across Parliament Square from the Palace of Westminster, in what was once the Middlesex Guildhall, sits the Supreme Court of the UK. Visitors are welcome to visit the historic and beautiful court building. In the basement is a small museum, a very nice cafe and clean toilets. You can also watch the live court proceedings from there. You have to pass though an airport style security check to get in but, liquids are fine (I had a bottle of water with me).

Saw this impressive building and the saw the sign to visit for free. Took advantage and what a great building. Went in court 2 which is very modern, but the jewels are courts 1 and 3. They are both original and have so much history attached. Great free attraction

I just visited the Supreme Court. I got to sit in the chairs that the judges sit in. It was incredible. I also talked with the executive chair of the court and he explained everything to me. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Go see this amazing place where decisions are made that affect the lives of every UK citizen. I would never be allowed to be this close in the US Supreme Court.

Wish I could have seen the interior, but I arrived at the same time as a huge school party and didn’t have the time to wait until they had been admitted. But the exterior is a wonderful example of early 20th century gothic architecture. The exquisitely carved stone statues and friezes on the front elevation are gorgeous. I shall be back another time to see the interior.

Gorgeous on the outside and inside Was lucky to be passing by on their open day Inside there is a cute library and stylish staircase which is a must for taking pictures. They had talks too

Supreme Court

The West End

The Supreme Court, the highest court in the UK, was the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords until 2009. It is now housed in the neo-Gothic Middlesex Guildhall (1913) on Parliament Sq. There's a permanent exhibition looking at the work and history of the court as well as the building's history on the lower ground floor. There's a self-guided tour booklet (£1) or guided tours (adult/child £7/free) at 11am, 2pm and 3pm on Friday.

During the Supreme Court's summer recess (August to early September), there are also tours at 11am and 2pm on most weekdays. Members of the public are welcome to observe cases when the court is sitting (11am to 4pm Monday, 10.30am to 4pm Tuesday to Thursday). For who or what's on trial, ask for a list at reception, or go to the 'Current Cases' section of the Supreme Court website.

Parliament Sq. SW1

Get In Touch

020-7960 1900

https://www.supremecourt.uk

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LEGAL TOURS

The heart of legal london-inns of court and the royal courts of justice.

This half day tour is a perfect introduction to the English legal system. Explore the tranquility of the Inns of Court, one of London’s most beautiful spots and home of the legal profession since the 15th century. How are the Inns so closely connected to the colonisation of and ultimate independence on the United States of America? Discover how Magna Carta 1215 is the foundation of the Rule of Law, Liberty and Human Rights. What are the legal implications of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union? Our commentary focuses on both the history of the area and the legal system and profession as it is today. We can include a visit to the Royal Courts of Justice.

LEGAL WESTMINSTER AND THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION-HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AND THE SUPREME COURT

On a walk through the charming back streets of Westminster we explore the development of the British Constitution and its evolution from autocracy to liberal democracy and the rule of law. We conclude with a visit to the Supreme Court for those who wish to see the highest court of the land in action. This tour focuses on the evolution of our Constitution in to today’s Parliamentary democracy as well as how Parliament works today. The political landscape is ever changing and commentary will cover the latest political issues.

OPEN JUSTICE – YOUR DAY IN COURT.

Observing the courts in action is an excellent way of gaining an understanding of the legal system. Every criminal case from murder, rape, robbery and terrorist offences to criminal damage and drink driving starts in the Magistrates Court. More serious matters move to the Crown Court for trial by jury. Conviction and sentence can then be appealed to the Criminal Court of Appeal and ultimately the Supreme Court. Civil cases such as contractual disputes, negligence and judicial review of government ministerial decisions are heard in civil courts sitting at the Royal Courts of Justice.

We provide escorted visits the courts of your choice. A lawyer will be on hand to provide an introductory talk, explain proceedings and answer questions. We can visit one court in a half day or two or three courts over a full day.

MAGNA CARTA 1215 – A VISIT TO RUNNYMEDE

“To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice”, words that resonate down the centuries enshrining the principle of the rule of law.

Visit the beautiful meadow of Runnymede where Magna Carta was negotiated and sealed, a landscape preserved by the National Trust where we will see the American Bar Association’s memorial to the “greatest constitutional document of all time”, the memorial to John F Kennedy and the “The Jurors”, an artwork unveiled on the 800th anniversary in 2015. Commentary will focus on the impact of Magna Carta on constitutional developments in this country and throughout the world and the enduring legacy of the document in to the 21st century. The tour can be extended to a full day to include a visit to the beautiful city of Salisbury to see the best preserved original copy of Magna Carta. Alternatively the tour can be combined with a visit to Windsor Castle, a short distance away.

A DAY IN LEGAL LONDON-INNS OF COURT, ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE AND SUPREME COURT.

We combine the Heart of Legal London and Legal Westminster and the British Constitution tours in to a full day tour to provide a full overview of the legal system historically and as it functions today. We explore the tranquility of the Inns of Court, take a short walk alongside the Houses of Parliament covering the legislative process and also visit both the Royal Courts of Justice and the Supreme Court. “Dining” in your Inn of Court is part of the training to be a barrister, a specialist court advocate and we can include a chance to take lunch in the historic dining hall of either Middle Temple or Inner Temple.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DAY IN LONDON-INNS OF COURT, ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE AND THE OLD BAILEY.

Whipping, mutilation, branding and beheading…and that was for the lucky ones! After centuries of draconian punishment the 19th century finally ushered in an era of penal reform and the gradual movement from retribution to rehabilitative sentencing and the eventual abolition of the death penalty in the late 20th century. On a full day exploration on foot we wander the Inns of Court, the Royal Courts of Justice and the vicinity of the Old Bailey with a general legal commentary, but concentrating on the theme of crime and punishment from trial by ordeal to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and Sentencing Guidelines, the current framework for the sentencing of offenders. The tour is designed to be both fun and informative covering both the history of criminal justice and the system as it works in the 21st century. We include a visit to the public galleries of the Old Bailey to watch trial by jury with an expert on hand to explain proceedings and answer questions.

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The SUPREME COURT

• 360° virtual tour
• Visiting The Court
• Decided cases
• Court procedures
• About The Supreme Court
• Latest news
• Current cases
• Court sittings
• How to find us
• Guided tours
• Exhibitions
• Art at The Court
• Architecture

Hold your special event at The Supreme Court

360 ° virtual tour

Explore the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom on this 360° virtual tour. Alternatively, find out more about visiting the Court .

Explore our three Court Rooms, the Law Library and our main event spaces - the Lawyers' Suite and Lobby Area.

Use the menu in the top left hand corner to navigate between the spaces and the different views available. The tools at the bottom allow you to zoom in and out and move faster or slower.

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