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Visitors can view trials from the public galleries. Children under 14 are not allowed in.

Large bags, cameras, phones, radios and cassette recorders cannot be brought into the court and unfortunately there are no facilities to leave them outside.

The proper name for these courtrooms is the Central Criminal Court, but they are more commonly known as the Old Bailey, as is the street in which they stand, after the medieval defences that were once on the site.

The Old Bailey was built in the early 1900's on the site of the old Newgate Prison. A diary was found in the prison dating back to 1881. A verse inside read, 'Good-bye, Lucy dear, I am parted from you for seven long years. Alf Jones. 'Below that a cynic added another verse.

'If Lucy is like most gals, she'll give a few sighs and moans, but soon will find among your pals, another Alfred Jones.'

The building has been extended to accommodate more courtrooms, but the older courts are still in daily use. Court number one is the most interesting, with its original furniture and dock leading to the detaining cells below. This court is generally used for the most serious of cases. In the past many notorious murderers have been tried in that court, including Dr Crippen, the Victorian wife-killer who was the first man to be caught by use of a radio signal, when he tried to flee London for his home in America.

Each court contains a public gallery open to anyone (aged 14 or over), interested in watching justice in action, and it is well worth a visit. Following a terrorist bomb in the 1980's strict rules on baggage have been implemented. People carrying large bags may be refused entry. Photography is also strictly forbidden and cameras cannot even be taken inside. This rule also applies to phones, radios and cassette recorders, and unfortunately there are no facilities for leaving such items outside the court.

Opposite the Old Bailey is the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Look out for the drinking fountain set in the church wall. It was the first metropolitan public drinking fountain and was originally erected on Holborn Hill in 1859. It was moved to its present position in 1867 when the Holborn Viaduct was built.