The current building, which is the third Central Criminal Court, opened in 1902 and is located in the City of London, on the site of the former Newgate Prison. The Old Bailey earned its nickname from the street on which it stands, which in turn took its name from the ballad opera 'The Beggar's Opera' (1728).
The Old Bailey is the central criminal court for London, Middlesex and the surrounding counties, although some cases can also be transferred from other parts of England and Wales. The court has jurisdiction over a wide range of criminal cases, including murder, rape, robbery and fraud, as well as less serious offences such as petty theft and public disorder.
The Old Bailey has a long and rich history, and has been the scene of some of the most famous trials in British history. These include the trials of Oscar Wilde for gross indecency in 1895; of the suffragette Emily Davison for throwing herself in front of the King's horse at the Epsom Derby in 1913; and of the Great Train Robbers in 1963.
Today, the Old Bailey remains one of the most important criminal courts in the UK. It is a symbol of British justice and a reminder of the country's long and rich legal history.