Venue hire
Guided tours
The Supreme Court is open to the public from 9.30am-4.30pm Monday to Friday and any member of the public can enter the building during these hours without booking in advance. Please note that external tour groups (where a tour operator is charging to guide a group around the building) are charged at £3 per head, in order to regulate the number of such parties and to help reduce the Court’s demands on public resources.
However, we also offer pre-booked guided tours led by a member of Court staff.
How long do guided tours last and what will I see?
Tours last about an hour. You will be shown around our beautiful courtrooms as well as the magnificent Justices' Library, which is not normally open to the public. After the tour you are welcome to visit our exhibition area where you can spend time at leisure browsing the information on display. You might even want to relax with a cup of tea or light meal in our café. Your tour will be led by an experienced member of staff who will give your group an introduction to the Court's role in the UK justice system, explain about the history and artwork of the building, give interesting examples of cases heard by the Court and answer any questions which your group may have. Where possible the tour will include all three of the courtrooms but, in the event that one of them needs to be used for an urgent court matter or event, the tour route might be amended slightly, whilst still covering all the same subject matter.
Tours are occasionally subject to variation or cancellation due to Supreme Court business.
When are tours available?
Tours are available at the following times:
| Dates | Times |
|---|---|
| Most Fridays throughout the year (except Public Holidays) | 11:00 14:00 15:00 |
How many people can I book for?
We can accommodate up to 25 people per tour group, but due to high demand pre booking is essential. We usually also reserve an extra 5 places per tour for those people who might want to book a tour as individuals or for smaller groups or families. Due to staff resources, we cannot guarantee that a tour will run if fewer than five individuals are booked on it.
How much does it cost?
The prices of our guided tours are £7 for adults and £5 for concessions. As these tours are always very popular, we would also encourage you to book early to avoid missing out on any dates you find particularly convenient.
| Rates | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard rate | £7 per person |
| Concessions (60+, UK students over 16, Disabled, LTDA members) | £5 per person |
| Young people aged 12- 16 years and Disabled carers | Free |
How do I pay?
Payment should be made when you arrive for your tour, preferably by cash or card. We do not take payment over the telephone or online. If you are the group organiser booking more than 10 places, we would ask that you co-ordinate the payments from your group and make a single payment on arrival.
Please note that we do not accept American Express cards.
How do I book?
If you would like to book a guided tour, please complete the booking form below and send to Enquiries or alternatively call us on 0207 960 1900/1500.
Please note that there are no facilities to deposit coats, bags etc. at the Court, and that all visitors are subject to a security search upon arrival.
Tours are suitable for adults and children over twelve years old. Children under 16 years must be accompanied by an adult.
For schools, colleges and universities, please see the Visits for schools, colleges and universities page of this website.