London Central Employment Tribunal — What to Expect at Your Hearing

London Central Employment Tribunal is at the London Tribunals Centre, 7 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AZ. It moved there from Victory House on Kingsway at the end of February 2026, so older letters and websites may still show the old address. It is open 9am to 5pm, with no counter service.

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Where is London Central Employment Tribunal?

At the London Tribunals Centre, 7 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AZ. It moved there from Victory House on Kingsway at the end of February 2026.

Is London Central Employment Tribunal still at Victory House?

No. GOV.UK now lists Victory House as no longer in service. London Central hearings are at the London Tribunals Centre on Newgate Street.

How long is the wait for a hearing at London Central?

As at the end of March 2026, London Central could still hear 1-day hearings in the first half of 2026 and was listing 2-day hearings into the second half of 2027. Your own hearing date will be on your notice.

Can I request a video hearing instead of attending in person?

You can ask. Write to the tribunal as early as possible and explain why. The tribunal decides the format, and your hearing notice will say which applies.

Is there parking at the London Tribunals Centre?

No. GOV.UK says there is no parking available.

Is the building accessible?

GOV.UK says all floors and hearing rooms are step-free, lifts serve all floors, and hearing loops are available in all hearing rooms.

How do I contact London Central Employment Tribunal?

Email londoncentralet@justice.gov.uk or call 0300 323 0196. There is no counter service at the building.

London Central Employment Tribunal — What to Expect at Your Hearing

Last updated: September 2026

Where it is and how to contact it

• Address: London Tribunals Centre, 7 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AZ.
• Opening hours: 9am to 5pm. There is no counter service at the building.
• Contact: londoncentralet@justice.gov.uk, 0300 323 0196.
• Parking: there is no parking at the building.
• Shared building: the social security and child support tribunal also sits here.

London Central is one of the ten employment tribunal regions in England and Wales. The judiciary says the regional office that deals with a case is usually the one nearest to where the claimant worked. Your claim acknowledgement and hearing notice will confirm where your case is heard.

Other London venues: London South Employment Tribunal (Croydon) and East London Employment Tribunal. All our venue guides are in the tribunal finder.

Check the official listing

These details come from GOV.UK Find a Court or Tribunal, checked in September 2026. Always check it, and your hearing notice, before you travel.

London Tribunals Centre on GOV.UK →

What to expect on the day

Arrival and security

There are three security arches at the public entrance. Arrive 30 minutes before the time on your hearing letter, and tell security staff if you have a medical implant such as a pacemaker. Your hearing notice will tell you where to go.

London Central has multiple hearing rooms spread across several floors. Rooms are professional but not grand — a judge, lay members (usually two), a legal officer, and seating for the parties and witnesses. If you're nervous about the formality, remember: employment tribunals are less formal than courts. The judge and members are there to listen to evidence, not to intimidate.

A full hearing at London Central typically runs from 9:30am to 5pm (with a lunch break around 1pm). You may not use all that time — some cases conclude by mid-afternoon. Preliminary hearings are usually shorter, 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on complexity.

Transport and parking

There is no parking at the building. Use the directions link on the GOV.UK listing, or the details on your hearing letter, to plan your journey.

GOV.UK says all floors and hearing rooms are step-free, with lifts to all floors. Hearing loops are in every hearing room. There are toilets and accessible toilets on all floors, a changing space and baby changing on the ground floor, a waiting room for children and young people on the 1st floor, and a prayer and quiet room on the 2nd floor. Turn your phone off before you go into the hearing room.

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While you wait: current waiting times

The Employment Tribunals President publishes waiting-time figures in the minutes of the National User Group. As at the end of March 2026:

• London Central could still hear 1-day hearings in the first half of 2026.
• 2-day hearings were being listed into the second half of 2027.

These are official figures, but they change. Your own hearing date will be on your notice. During the wait, you and the other side exchange documents and witness statements, and many cases settle.

You'll need employment contract, payslips, emails, text messages, witness statements, and any grievance or disciplinary correspondence. Organize chronologically in a bundle that you and the tribunal can follow. The tribunal will have a copy, and you must bring copies for the judge, lay members, and respondent's representative.

Legal representation

You don't need a solicitor or barrister to bring a tribunal claim, and many claimants represent themselves. If you can afford representation, an employment law specialist is worth it — they know the procedural rules and how to cross-examine witnesses. Legal aid is rarely available for employment tribunal claims unless you're in a special category. Some trade unions offer representation to members.

If you have witnesses, they can attend the hearing and be cross-examined. Alternatively, you can submit written witness statements, which count as evidence (though the other side can test them). Your own evidence is usually given on oath or affirmation.

In some claims (e.g., discrimination or complex breach of contract), expert evidence may be relevant. This usually requires permission from the tribunal, and experts must comply with strict procedural rules.

What happens at the hearing

The judge will usually open with a summary of the case. You and your respondent will each present your case, call witnesses, and cross-examine the other side's witnesses. The judge and lay members will ask questions. At the end, there's a closed hearing where the tribunal deliberates and decides. Judgment is usually reserved — written reasons come weeks later.

Frequently Asked Questions

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