Plan Your Visit

Plan your visit to the UK Supreme Court

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The building is situated on Parliament Square, Westminster, directly opposite the Houses of Parliament.

How to get here

Our address is: The Supreme Court, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3BD

The closest underground station to the UK Supreme Court is Westminster.

The station is served by three underground lines:

District line – green
Circle line – yellow
Jubilee line – silver

There are two mainline railway stations located close to the Supreme Court and JCPC.

London Victoria (just over 1km)
London Charing Cross (just over 1km)

The Court is also accessible via bus. The closest bus stop is Stop P, which is located on Parliament Square outside of Westminster and served by the 11, 148 and the 211 bus routes. There other nearby bus stops which are served by the 12, 24, 26, 88, 159 and 452 routes.

Security Information

You must pass through security every time you enter the UKSC building. We advise that all visitors allow extra time to go through security. You may have to queue at busy times, typically between 9:30 and 10:30 and between 13:45 and 14:15.

Your bags and pockets will be checked as they would be at an airport.

Details of what to expect can be found below:

Court security infographic
Court security infographic

If you are wearing a head covering for religious or cultural reasons, such as a turban, hijab, skullcap, etc you will not be asked to remove it. Instead, it will be checked with a handheld scanner.

Security staff will ask you to remove any head covering that they reasonably believe is not a commonly identified religious head covering.

Items you are not allowed to take in

You cannot bring guns, firearms, knives, or other weapons into the building. Any individual trying to bring a weapon into the UKSC will be reported to the police. You also cannot bring in items that could be considered a weapon such as:

  • Blades – such as scissors, penknives, and razors
    • Other sharp items such as knitting needles and darts
      • Glass – including bottles
        • Metal cutlery
          • Syringes (unless you have a prescription)
            • Toy guns and other things that look like guns
              • Tool – such as screwdrivers, hammers, and nails
                • Ropes and chains
                  • Alcohol
                    • Liquids that are not drinks or prescription medicine
                      • Crash helmets

                        Any items confiscated by Security will be kept for up to 30 days. When the item is confiscated from you the security officer will provide you with a numbered ticket.

                        Any weapons that are removed from you will not be returned and will be handed over to the police.

                        Building and Registry Opening Times

                        The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom building

                        The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom is open to the public, parties and media.

                        The building opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm) and is closed on weekends and bank holidays

                        All hearings are available to watch live and on-demand via our websites.

                        UKSC judgments  that are handed down in the Court will continue to be live streamed via the UKSC website. Judgments will be announced one week in advance, as usual.

                        Closures

                        Monday 6 MayEarly May bank holiday
                        Monday 27 MaySpring bank holiday
                        Monday 26 AugustSummer bank holiday
                        Wednesday 25 DecemberChristmas Day
                        Thursday 26 DecemberBoxing Day

                        Lost property policy

                        The Supreme Court accepts no responsibility for private property whilst on the premises, including accepting any liability should lost property be returned for any reason to someone who is not its owner - eg if someone makes a false representation to the Court of ownership of property.

                        Property that is left on the premises will be kept for a period of three months, after which it will be disposed of.

                        In order for property to be reclaimed, a detailed description of the item(s) and/or proof of ID (identity), and date that the item was left will be required.

                        While every effort will be made to identify the possible owner of lost property (which is likely to involve searching of the item) and then make contact with them, the Court will not return the property to that person unless they provide the details set out in the previous paragraph.

                        The Supreme Court will not mail/courier or insure during transit any reclaimed found property back to the presumed owner unless they send the appropriate fees to cover packing and postage, and any insurance during transit stipulated by the claimant.

                        All items sent at owner's risk.

                        Note that the Court will NOT automatically arrange insurance during transit. The Court will only arrange insurance during transit if it is specifically requested in writing at the time of reclaiming found property - and then the Court will only arrange the insurance that is made available as "standard" by the carrier chosen by the Court (so the Court will not be liable for the suitability of the insurance), and for the value stated in writing by the person claiming the property.

                        Contact details

                        Enquiries regarding lost property may be made to the security control room:

                        Telephone: 020 7960 1999 - line open 24/7


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