Magistrates' Courts in England and Wales

All 102 venues

About magistrates’ courts

Magistrates’ courts are the first stop for almost every criminal case in England and Wales, and they decide the large majority of them. If you or someone you know has been charged with a minor offence, such as a motoring offence, minor theft or a public order matter, the case will most likely be heard in a magistrates’ court.

Not everyone who works in a magistrates’ court is a lawyer. Cases are decided by one of two types of decision-maker:

• Lay magistrates, who are trained volunteers from the local community and usually sit in a group of three.
• District judges, who are legally qualified professionals and usually sit alone.

They are supported by a legal adviser, who helps with the law and procedure but does not decide the case. There is no jury.

Magistrates’ courts at a glance

What magistrates’ courts do

Besides trying less serious criminal cases, magistrates’ courts:

• Hold the first hearing in more serious cases, and send those cases to the Crown Court.
• Decide bail and set conditions.
• Deal with sentencing for offences within their powers.
• Hold youth court hearings for under-18s, which are closed to the public.
• Deal with some family and licensing matters in certain buildings.

Court buildings vary

Magistrates’ court buildings differ a lot, from modern justice centres to older town-centre courts. Some buildings have closed over time, so always check the address on your paperwork against the court’s page. Some courts have limited public facilities, and parking is often scarce, so plan your journey.

Hearing lists

Magistrates’ courts publish lists of the cases they expect to hear. See the Magistrates Public List, the Magistrates Standard List and the Single Justice Procedure list explained. Our court pages show the latest published list, when it was last updated and when we last checked, in UK time. We never show defendants’ first names, and the official service remains the authority.

What to expect on the day

Magistrates’ courts often list many cases at the same time, so there can be a lot of waiting. Check in with the usher, speak to your solicitor or the duty solicitor and stay nearby. Read the full guide to what to expect at a magistrates’ court and, if you are the defendant, going to court as a defendant.

Watching a hearing

Most adult hearings are open to the public. If you would like to watch, arrive in the morning, go through security and sit in the public gallery. The public gallery guide explains the rules. Magistrates’ courts are a good place to start, because you can see several short hearings in one visit.

Help and support

If you do not have a solicitor, ask court staff about the duty solicitor, who gives free advice on the day. Interpreters and step-free access can be arranged if you tell the court in advance. Witnesses can get free support from the Citizens Advice Witness Service. Our guide to attending court as a witness explains how.

Finding the right court

Use the venues above, grouped by region, or search by name, town or postcode with the court finder. If you have a case reference, you can search every list. Our regions pages list courts near you, and the Crown Courts directory covers the next level up.