Courts: the ideal family day out

Five of the country's most historic court buildings will be taking part in Heritage Open Days to show off the nation's architectural and cultural treasures.

Chester Crown Court, Exeter Combined Court Centre, Lincoln Combined Court Centre, Newcastle Law Courts and York Crown Court will be dispensing with judicial mystique and offering the public guided tours and displays

instead.

The open days, which are being staged next weekend, are part of a Civic Trust initiative entitled Opening New Doors in the Community. The scheme is England's response to a Council of Europe enterprise.