victorian prison tours

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Escape Artists Tour

Ghosts what ghosts tour.

• Hangman’s Night Tour
• Old Melbourne Gaol
• Old Magistrates’ Court
• City Watch House
• School Programs

Open 7 Days, 10am to 5pm

Daring Escapes & Untold Stories

Melbourne's Most Spellbinding Venue

Book your next event inside one of the most unique locations..

The Female Ward Tour

Walk in the footsteps of past female prisoners and discover what life was like for women incarcerated in Old Melbourne G..

Daring Escapes & Untold Stories. Discover Old Melbourne Gaol's infamous Escape Artists in this new tour...

Life in the City Watch House

Bring the whole family along and discover what it’s like to ‘have the book thrown at you’ in this interactive expe..

Self Guided Audio Tour

Delve into the highlights and history of Old Melbourne Gaol and enrich your understanding of this significant site. Our..

Women & Children of the Gaol

The second floor now features a suite of cells devoted to the histories of the women & children of the gaol...

Hangman’s Night Tour

Let the Hangman show you around...

Ghosts? What Ghosts!

Brace yourself for the Gaol's most haunted stories...

Tours: Experience More

Brace yourself for decades worth of bone-strumming tales of unexplained sights, sounds and encounters after dark at the Old Melbourne Gaol. Not for the faint of heart.

Let the Hangman guide you through every corner of the Gaol and its disturbing history, with no stone left unturned.

Daring Escapes & Untold Stories. Discover Old Melbourne Gaol's infamous Escape Artists in this new tour.

Take your place in history

Uncover the chilling stories of Victoria's oldest surviving prison.

Plan your visit, open 7 days 10am to 5pm closed christmas day and good friday, old melbourne gaol 377 russell street between victoria & la trobe st melbourne victoria 3000, $35 adult $30 concession $22 child (5 – 15 years) $85 family (2a + 2c) national trust members receive free general admission.

Melbourne’s most haunting and spell binding venue.

Tag your photos #oldmelbournegaol and #nationaltrustvic #ntv.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following website contains images of deceased persons.

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We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people as the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Old Melbourne Gaol is located. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.

Copyright 2024. National Trust of Australia – Victoria. All Rights Reserved. All images copyright National Trust unless otherwise stated. Website by The Mighty Wonton

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Experience the infamous HISTORY OF Pentridge Prison

From the time spent inside by some of Australia’s most notorious criminals to the anecdotes and lived experiences of thousands of people over several generations; the National Trust hosts explorative tours that will immerse you in a shared history of unsettling truths.

This is an invitation for curious minds to learn about a past that is confronting to discover, yet crucial to not forget. 

B division tour, h division tour, family tour.

B Division Pentridge Through time

H-division unlocked, prisonbreak explorers family tour, night tours a discomforting experience, getting here.

Go to Warders for all Tours & Ticketing. This is where you’ll meet your guide

The night tours

Explore another side of Pentridge—where unspoken secrets come to life. Stories gathered over the years from guards and inmates, acknowledge the confronting history while raising deeper questions.

The Warders Building

Head to the Warders building to meet your tour guide. This is where you also purchase or collect your tour ticket.

Browse the Pentridge-related book selection or head to Warders Upstairs and spend time exploring the exhibition and collection space.

Tours & Ticketing

Follow  us, stay  up to date.

Pentridge Prison H Division Tours - April 2024 - June 2024

Explore the sombre complexity behind this heritage-listed prison’s past.

Select date and time

• Friday April 26 1:30 PM
• Friday April 26 2:30 PM
• Saturday April 27 10:30 AM
• Saturday April 27 11:30 AM
• Saturday April 27 12:30 PM
• More options

Refund Policy

About this event, h division - unlocked.

Known as Hell Division to its inmates, this tour covers the dark heart of Pentridge. A Division, also known as H Division, makes for a confronting experience. It is designed for those wanting to engage with some of the most brutal aspects of Pentridge history. Step into the cells and yards of H Division and feel history take hold.

Warning: This tour includes depictions of challenging subject matter and is not recommended for those under 16 years.

H Division Tours' run for approximately 90 minutes and include a guided and self-guided component.

Discounts' apply for combo tours of both B & H Divisions.

For Combo Tour ticketing, please CLICK HERE .

For b division tour ticketing, please click here ..

Pre-bookings are highly recommended.

IMPORTANT VISITOR INFORMATION:

• All tours start at the tour office, located in the Former Warders Residence. Meet here to find your National Trust tour guide. Warders can be found in the grassed courtyard area at the Clock Tower entrance at 1 Champ St, Coburg.
• Parking can be found under the shopping centre via Whatmore Drive. As you come out of this car park, make your way to the ground floor via the elevators. Make your way towards the south sliding doors next to Cobrick cafe; and walk towards the Clock Tower, which should be on your right-hand-side, and you will find the tour office in the grassed courtyard area.
• The parking area features multiple designated parking spaces for individuals with mobility disabilities. All tours have been equipped with ramps and other access points to ensure access for wheelchair users.
• Please arrive 15mins before allocated tour start time.
• Both B Division & H Division tours have outside elements to them. In the instance of changeable weather, we recommend bringing a jacket and possibly an umbrella.
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The History Hit Miscellany of Facts, Figures and Fascinating Finds

• Northern Ireland

Crumlin Road Gaol

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Crumlin Road Gaol in North Belfast is the last remaining Victorian prison in Northern Ireland. Now an award-winning tourist attraction, you’ll hear stories of executions, famous inmates, riots, hunger-strikes, escapes and the gruesome secrets permeating 150 years of prison life in Northern Ireland.

Lily Johnson

12 apr 2021.

About Crumlin Road Gaol

Crumlin road gaol history.

First opened in 1845 and based in part on London’s HM Prison Pentonville, Crumlin Road was designed by English architect Sir Charles Lanyon to replace the small county gaol on Antrim Street in Carrickfergus. As was common at the time, the prison’s design ‘encouraged’ the Separate System whereby prisoners were kept apart and in 1846 the first 106 inmates – men, women and children – literally marched 11 miles in chains from Carrickfergus Prison.

Conditions were brutal and oppressive and impoverished children as young as 6 or 7 were held for petty crimes such as stealing food. In 1858 after being sentenced to 3 months, 13-year old Patrick Magee hanged himself in his cell.

Lanyon’s original designs didn’t include a gallows, as until 1901 executions were held in public before crowds of up to 20,000 outside of the prison. After that, an execution chamber was added with the final hanging taking place in 1961 (not just at Crumlin Road but in Northern Ireland) of murderer Robert McGladdery.

As with many 19th century prisons, escapes from ‘the Crum’ were common despite earning the moniker of ‘Europe’s Alcatraz ’, and during the century and a half of the prison’s operation, it saw some of Northern Ireland’s most famous inmates housed here.

Former Taoiseach Éamon de Valera was held in solitary confinement for a month in 1924 for illegally entering Northern Ireland (and again for the same crime five years later); Loyalist politician and Protestant religious leader Ian Paisley was sentenced to 3 months for unlawful assembly in 1966; Republican Sinn Féin politician and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland Martin McGuinness spent time in Crumlin Road in the 1970s; Loyalist Michael Stone was incarcerated here and Bobby Sands was imprisoned there in the late 1970s.

Crumlin Road Gaol today

The Crum closed on 31st March 1996 and today, guided tours take you through the underground tunnel from the courthouse across the road to the prison, the Hanging Cell, the Historic Holding Cells, Governor’s Office, Graveyard, C-Wing and the Hospital and you’ll hear stories of political intrigue, famous inmates, escapes and executions.

There are also spooky stories of ‘strange’ activity and the Paranormal Tour is not for the faint of heart! Crumlin Road Gaol is a fascinating journey through 150 years of one of Northern Ireland’s most infamous prisons .

Getting to Crumlin Road Gaol

Crumlin Road Gaol is located in Belfast in Northern Ireland, and can be accessed from the A12 by taking the exit for Clifton Street / Mater Hospital, and continuing onto Crumlin Road. The Translink’s Metro Service 57 and 12B both stop directly outside the Gaol Monday-Saturday, while the 12A stops a short walk away at Carlisle Circus on Sundays. The nearest train station is at Yorkgate, a 20-minute walk away.

Featured In

Famous Prisons

Discover the most famous prisons in the world, from Alcatraz to the Devil's Island, where you can follow in the footsteps of the world’s most high profile prisoners in these notorious penitentiaries.

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16 Best Prison Museums To Visit in the UK

Last Updated on June 7, 2023 by Louise

In the UK, there are numerous prison museums. These historical tourist attractions explore the darker side of the UK’s history.

Most were converted from former prisons to museums quite recently. Many offer guided tours.

Discover how criminals were punished for their crimes in the past. Hear tales of inmates who were unjustly imprisoned. Learn about the daily life of prisoners. Find out what they ate, how they exercised and the conditions in which they lived. Listen to stories of how criminals were executed and see where it happened.

As well as guided tours, many prison museums offer other events such as paranormal investigations and airsoft games.

Read on to discover the top prison museums in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Island.

Table of Contents

Shrewsbury Prison

The first prison building on the site in Shrewsbury was opened to prisoners in 1793. There were 204 cells (179 for men and 25 for women). Many public executions took place here.

The first execution at the new gaol took place on Saturday, the 15th of August 1795, when John Smith, aged 25, was hanged for stealing 10 cotton handkerchiefs in the shop of John Miner. The last public hanging was of 30 year old Edward Cooper who was executed for murder in 1863. From 1902 and to 1961, there were 8 executions that took place inside the prison.

The prison still standing housed 330 men and 22 women across two wings. The last prisoners vacated the prison in 2013

Today you can embark on a guided tour with a former prison officer. Hear tales of the crimes committed by the inmates and daily life inside the prison.

See the processing areas where prisoners arrived, step into the exercise yard and experience the execution room.

Book Your Visit online at Shrewsbury Prison .

Bodmin Jail, Cornwall

Bodmin Jail was built in 1779. The history of the prison is gruesome, overseeing over 55 public hangings, 8 of them women for crimes which included murder, rape and stealing.

It was the first prison to hold prisoners in individual cells. The last male prisoner left the prison in 1916 and it was officially closed in 1927.

Bodmin Jail has undergone a major refurbishment with part of it being turned into a hotel. If you’ve visited in the past, it may be time to go back.

Gloucester Prison

Gloucester Prison opened in 1791.

It has a fascinating if gruesome history, over 123 people were executed there.

In the modern era, HMP Gloucester was classified as a Category B adult male local prison and young offenders institution. It was intended to hold mainly those on remand or newly sentenced and waiting to be sent to another prison.

It was closed in 2013 due to overcrowding.

A guided tour is highly recommended. Learn about the daily life of the prisoners and be informed about the technical aspects of hanging. Gruesome stuff. There are 3 daily tour times. The 5.30pm tour isn’t recommended for kids under 14, so make sure you choose the right one.

Today there are many other regular events that you can go to there. They include a paranormal investigation with haunted happenings event and airsoft games!

Oxford Castle and Prison

Oxford Castle and Prison is over 1000 years old. It was built after the Norman invasion in 1066 by Norman baron Robert O’Doyly.

Over time the Castle transformed from castle to a prison. It closed its doors to prisoners in 1996 and is now a tourist attraction.

To get the best out of a visit to Oxford castle and prison, book a guided tour. A costumed guide shows you around the prison.

See the prisoner cells, hear tales of the prisoners and discover how a prison worked for children in bygone times.

Enjoy the thrill of the 100 stair climb up a winding staircase to the top of the tower, where the views are excellent.

Shepton Mallet Prison, Somerset

Shepton Mallet Prison was built in 1625 and closed in 2013. In the early years, prison conditions were grim. Men, women and children were housed together. They weren’t separated by seriousness of their crime. Gaolers weren’t paid. They earned money doing things like selling alcohol to inmates. Promiscuous and drunken behaviour were common. Outbreaks of diseases and fever occurred regularly.

The Victorian era led to different types of punishment such as hard labour and separating and silencing prisoners. Seven executions took place here between 1889 and 1926. The bodies were buried in the prison grounds where they remain today.

In World War 2 the prison became a British Military Prison and was then taken over by the US army. Hundreds of US servicemen were imprisoned here. 18 US soldiers were killed either by firing squad or hanging during this time.

After the war, the prison one again held civilians. At one time the Krays were held here. It finally closed its doors on 18th March 2013.

Clink Prison Museum

The Clink Prison dates back to 1144 making it one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. It held prisoners for over 500 years. In 1780 it was burned down in a riot and was never rebuilt.

The museum today is built on the original site. Just one wall remains from the original prison.

The museum is on the gory side and is a great way to bring history to life.

See the torture devices and read the information boards with more in-depth details. View archaeological artefacts, experience the sights, sounds and smells of the prison and hear stories of torment and misfortune of the inmates.

It is a quick attraction to visit. Allow at least an hour, but you might get around even quicker.

Dartmoor Prison Museum

Dartmoor Prison has been a prison for over 200 years.

It has a fascinating history. It’s first prisoners in 1809 were prisoners of war from the Napoleonic War.

In Victorian times, it housed criminals of some of the worst crimes.

One of the most famous prisoners at Dartmoor was Frank Mitchell (the ‘Mad Axeman’). He escaped but was never recaptured. It last transpired he was murdered by the Krays.

Today Dartmoor is still a prison. It holds low category prisoners who live in single cells. The aim is to reform the prisoners and they are encouraged to go on training courses to help them on release.

The museum itself is small but packed with well curated exhibits and information. To get the most out of your visit reading the information is required. There are some fascinating things to see including prisoner contraband and weapons.

Lancaster Castle

Lancaster Castle dates back to Roman times and has served many functions. It was originally a medieval fortress but over the years the castle has also welcomed numerous Royal visitors and served as a hub of justice with courtrooms, dungeons and a prison.

The castle has been a prison in one capacity or another from the 12th century until 21st Century. HMP Lancaster, a Category C prison was operational right up until March 2011.

Visitors can explore the castle’s extensive grounds and visit the former prison cells. It’s worth taking a guided tour to make the most of your visit. Guided tours of the Castle include visits to its 18th century cells, Pentonville-style male penitentiary, dedicated debtors’ prison area and female penitentiary

The castle and prison has a grim but fascinating history. One notable aspect is Lancaster Castle’s association with the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612. The trials involved the persecution and execution of several individuals accused of witchcraft in the nearby Pendle Hill area. The accused were held in Lancaster Castle before and during their trials, and ten of them were ultimately found guilty and sentenced to death.

It was also the first prison to segregate inmates by age and gender.

At the time of writing (May 2023) part of the castle is closed to visitors due to updating a fire alarm system. However, Limited tours, lasting 30 minutes, take place throughout the day but only cover the external courtyards and one of the prison buildings.

Find out more at Lancaster Castle .

Inveraray Jail, Argyle, Scotland

A visit to Inveray Jail is a great family day out. The building houses both a courtroom and a jail

Travel back into the 1800s. Hear stories of men, women and children who were tried and served sentences there.  Some of the children were as young as 7. Learn about how grim conditions were and find out the punishments they faced.

The history is fascinating. The details such as the prisoner names, numbers, ages and dates of the stories really bring the inmates to life.

Costumed jail officers walk around and you can ask them questions about what life was like

The National Justice Museum, Nottingham

The National Justice Museum shows the history of crime and punishment from medieval times up to the modern day  At one time, it was a one stop shop for criminals. It acted as a Victorian police station, gaol, courtroom and execution site. There are many real prison cells to see that span a long period of history.

Public executions were held on the front steps of the building. Richard Parker was the last person to be executed on the front steps. His crime was murdering his parents after a drunken row.

Today you can book online and visit the museum’s original courtrooms, prison cells and dungeon.

Exhibits include prisoner and prisoner office uniforms throughut the 20th century. Also see objects such as the balustrade from Strangeways prison during the 1990 riot.

Ruthin Gaol, Wales

Ruthin Gaol was closed in 1916. There has been a gaol on the site since the end of the 1700s. It was small but grew from having just 4 cells to being able to hold 37 inmates in 1837. By the end of the 1800s a new four story building was in place that held over 100 prisoners.

One execution took place here. William Hughes was hanged for murdering his wife in 1903.

A famous escapee was John Jones, known as Coch Bach y Bala. He escaped twice. Once by climbing out of a window using a rope made of bedsheets! He was recaptured both times.

Today you can visit Ruthin Gaol. Discover what life was like for prisoners. Learn about their daily routines, what they ate, how they worked and the punishments they suffered (sometimes for stealing an apple!) Visit the condemned cell. Experience the ‘smells’. Hear the tales of its most colourful prisoners.

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, Northern Ireland

The first 106 inmates of Crumlin Road Gaol , were forced to walk from Carrickfergus Prison in chains in 1846. These inmates, were men, women and children. Children from poor families were often imprisoned for offences such as stealing food. Sadly, thirteen-year-old Patrick Magee, who had been sentenced to three months, hanged himself in his cell in 1858.

Public executions were carried out here until 1901. The last hangings took place in 1961.

Some well known prisoners included Éamon de Valera, Martin McGuinness, Michael Stone and Bobby Sands. Two prisoners were killed in 1991 when a IRA bomb went off in one of the wings.

The gaol closed its doors as a prison in 1996.

Dorchester Prison

Dorchester Prison was built in 1795.

The last public hanging that took place outside Dorchester prison was of Elizabeth Martha Brown a grocer aged 45 and mother of 2. She was convicted of the murder of her husband John Brown. She was said to have attacked him with an axe after he took a whip to her. The execution was said to have been witnessed by the writer, Thomas Hardy, who was 16 at the time. He later wrote 70 years later that he was ashamed to have been there.

Later Dorchester prison incarcerated only men. The prison was closed in 2013.

Today, you can go on a guided tour lead by a former prisoner officer, Eddie.

Peterhead Prison Museum, Scotland

Peterhead Prison operated between 1888 and 2013. It was designed to hold 208 prisoners who were sentenced to hard labour. In reality numbers averaged more than 350 with a peak of 455 in 1911.

Known as Scotland’s toughest jail, Peterhead Prison had a history of poor conditions for prisoners.

In 1987, there was a hostage situation where an officer was held on the roof for 4 days. The SAS were called in to end the siege.

The Tower of London

Although not it’s primary use, The Tower of London served as a prison throughout most of it’s fascinating history with some very famous inmates.

Its use as a prison began in the 1100s, during the reign of King Henry I and continued until as recently as the mid 20th century.

During the medieval period, the Tower of London was primarily used to imprison high-profile individuals, such as nobles, members of the royal family, and religious figures. Many of these prisoners were held for political reasons, such as treason or plotting against the monarchy. The Tower was also used to hold prisoners of war.

One of the most famous prisoners of the Tower was Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. She was accused of adultery, treason, and incest and was held at the Tower before her execution in 1536. Other notable prisoners included Sir Thomas More, Queen Elizabeth I before she became queen, and Guy Fawkes, who was involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Prisoners were held in various parts of the Tower, including the Bloody Tower, the Wakefield Tower, and the Beauchamp Tower. Some were held in relatively comfortable conditions, while others were subjected to harsh treatment, torture, and execution.

The Tower of London was still being used as a prison in the early part of the 20th century. Inmates during this time included Nazi criminals Rudolph Heiss and Josef Jacobs (the last person to be executed at the Tower). In 1952, the Kray twins were also imprisoned at the Tower for a few days. 

The Victorian Prison in Lincoln Castle

If you visit Lincoln Castle, there is Victorian prison inside. The prison has a fascinating history.

Men, women and children as young as eight were held here from 1848 to 1878 for crimes ranging from stealing a waistcoat and Bible, to highway robbery and murder. There were 7 hangings of murderers here. Their bodies were buried in the Lucy Tower where they remain til this day.

Many of the prisoners were segregated from other prisoners to help them reflect on their actions and reform their behaviour.

A visit here is very interactive. Dress up as a prisoner or member of staff. Explore the cells. Imagine the solitude of the single cell, the chaos of the crowded cell, and the desperation of the dark cell.

Find out more at Lincoln Castle

Littledean Jail

Littledean Jail is a former prison located in the village of Littledean, Gloucestershire. Built in 1791, its was originally a debtors’ prison. Later, it became a house of correction and a police station.

Conditions within the prison were often harsh and overcrowded, with little regard for the welfare of the inmates.

In 1968, Littledean Jail was closed as a prison and subsequently fell into disrepair. However, in the 1980s, the jail was converted into a museum and tourist attraction, with exhibitions featuring the history of crime and punishment in England. Today it’s more of a crime museum than a prison.

The museum is known for its collection of curiosities, including taxidermy animals, shrunken heads, and other oddities. Some of the exhibits focus on dark and unsettling topics such as Fred and Rose West, Witchfinders, Satanism, the SS and the Holocaust, Myra Hindley and the KKK. As you can see the exhibits are controversial, with some visitors expressing concern over the ethics of some of the displays. More light-hearted displays include the Quadrophenia exhibition, Princess Diana letters and the heroics of the SAS.

It’s certainly not a museum for everybody (definitely not for myself). However if you’re interested in crime and dark history, it could be worth a visit. Check out the website and read reviews of this one before you visit to see if it’s for you.

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WELCOME TO CLINK PRISON MUSEUM  

The Clink Prison dates back to 1144 making it one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. Positioned in the heart of modern-day Southwark and built on the original site, The Clink Prison Museum presents the scandalous truth of Old Bankside through a hands-on educational experience. There are opportunities to view archaeological artefacts, experience the sights, sounds and smells of the prison, handle torture devices, and to view and hear all about the tales of torment and many misfortunes of the inmates of the infamous Clink Prison.

Spanning for over 600 years, it witnessed a remarkable amount of social and political change in England, and thus housed a multitude of sinners throughout its existence, including debtors, heretics, drunkards, harlots, and later religious adversaries. Positioned in the heart of modern day Southwark, the prison was situated in an area that has long been associated with more raucous, vivacious and unruly behaviour; it was the louder, ruder and wickeder neighbour to The City, and a place where Londoners sought entertainment.

EXPLORE THE PRISON THAT GAVE ITS NAME TO ALL OTHERS!

We are great with kids.

We accept all major credit cards

The Clink Prison Museum | 1 Clink St, London, SE1 9DG United Kingdom [email protected] | 020 7403 0900 terms & conditions | privacy policy | partners Copyright © The Clink Museum Ltd. | All Rights Reserved! The Clink Museum Ltd. registered in England & Wales, registration number 06865379

Please note, unfortunately this museum is NOT wheelchair accessible. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

• Open Today: 9:30am - 4:00pm
• How to get here

Please note that visitors are advised to utilise the parking facilities at Sainsbury's, as parking is limited on-site. Thanks to the cooperation of the supermarket, visitors can park there for up to two and a half hours.

The Bodmin Jail experience

The past comes back to life.

The £8.5million immersive visitor attraction sees the introduction of the ‘Dark Walk’ experience and a completely new level of interest interwoven throughout these impressive buildings, included within standard jail entry tickets & the heritage guided tours.  Built in 1779 for King George III, Bodmin Jail has played an important role in Cornwall’s history and this bold redevelopment gives visitors the chance to delve into an intriguing hidden history. A massive investment in Cornwall’s tourism and visitor economy, this was the biggest attraction opening in 2020 with its state-of-the-art technology allowing for a more immersive experience.

The Dark Walk

Step into history and unlock the secrets of cornwall’s past.

The ‘Dark Walk’, the first of its kind in Cornwall, uses theatrical effects and the latest technology to transport visitors back to Cornwall’s murky past, enabling a first-hand experience of the penal life of a working 18th and 19th-century prison on the fringes of the windswept Bodmin Moor. Retold for 21st-century audiences, the haunting cinematic visual experience will tell stories of smuggling, mining and the everyday hardships facing Cornwall’s poorest, including tales from infamous prisoners.

The Naval Wing

Grimy cells, harsh punishments and gruelling conditions.

Visitors face a cold walk along into the jail's original Naval Wing, getting a first-hand look at what the dreary days and nights behind bars were really like.  Grimy cells, prison punishments and stories of child criminals take centre stage as visitors wander through these formidable buildings.  

The Administration Block

Delve deeper into the mechanics of running a hard victorian prison.

The journey continues through to the Administration Block and the Governor's Office, where visitors can delve into the fascinating background of the people who served, worked and lived at Bodmin Jail, with hidden stories and myths of Cornwall, Bodmin and the historic jail building from an operational perspective.  

The Last Moments

Discover the only working execution pit in the uk.

There's a chill of the condemned as the path follows the last footsteps of the 55 prisoners as they were led to the hanging pit.  The last moments seeing the only original, fully working Victorian Hanging Pit in the UK is a time for real reflection.

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NEW TO PRISON: ENTER THE CAPTIVATING REALM OF STORYTELLING

NIGHT BEHIND BARS - THE ULTIMATE SLEEPOVER

GUIDED TOURS - A FASCINATING NO-HOLDS-BARRED TOUR

As featured in

Guided Tours

A guide with an encyclopaedic knowledge of the prison's history, shines a light on what life was like for prisoners through a no-holds-barred tour.

The Cell Escape Room

The Cell Escape is a fully immersive, state-of-the-art escape room experience, where you get to do the time without committing the crime! Experience the pulse racing, mind-manipulating, adrenaline-charged rush of ‘The Cell Escape Room’.

Self-Guided Tour

Explore the whole prison at your leisure, take photos and CELLfies as you soak up the atmosphere of this amazing prison.

Paranormal Investigations

Led by paranormal professionals and using state-of-the-art equipment in your search, you'll spend the night ghost hunting within the haunted prison.

NEWS & ARTICLES

Easter holiday activities at shepton mallet prison.

Prepare for an unforgettable Easter adventure at Shepton Mallet Prison from March 29th to April 14th! Embark on a journey through time as we unlock the fascinating secrets of the past in a celebration of Easter like no other. Egg-citing Easter Fun: Kids aged under 16 are in for a treat with our thrilling Easter […]

Unique Venue Hire in Somerset | Shepton Mallet Prison

Your Premier Choice for Unique Venue Hire in Somerset Nestled in Somerset, Shepton Mallet Prison offers a venue like no other. With a history spanning 400 years, it’s now a hub for unforgettable events. From social gatherings to grand celebrations, its four-acre space provides endless possibilities. Guided tours, escape rooms, and Ghost Tours ensure every […]

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Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm

Shepton Mallet Prison, Frithfield Lane, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5FQ

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Kilmainham Gaol Museum

Book tickets, welcome to kilmainham gaol museum.

For over 100 years Kilmainham Gaol held thousands of men, women and children for crimes that ranged from minor offences to being involved in some of the most momentous events in Irish history

A visit to Kilmainham Gaol will take you on a journey through Irish history. You will discover the stories of people held here as ordinary criminals alongside those who fought for Irish independence. From the 1798 rebellion, to the 1916 Easter Rising, the Anglo-Irish War (1919-21), to the devastation of the Irish Civil War (1922-23) all these important events have a chapter in the story of Kilmainham Gaol.

Visiting Kilmainham Gaol

Access to the Gaol is by guided tour only, and you must pre-book your ticket .  A number of tickets are released 28 days in advance and can be booked from midnight (Irish time). If your preferred time or date is not available, check our website from 9.15am on the day you wish to visit for additional tickets and cancelations that may become available for the day. Tickets are only available from https://www.kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/ and https://heritageireland.ie/visit/places-to-visit/kilmainham-gaol/

Tickets purchased from third parties or other websites are not valid.

You should allow approximately 90 minutes for your visit. Your tour will last for 1 hour, and you will also have access to our museum. 

The Gaol is a historic building, with some accessibility challenges, so wheelchair users or visitors who require special assistance should get in touch on [email protected] in advance of booking your ticket and we can make appropriate arrangements for your visit.

If you would like to book a school visit, all the information you need is on our education page .

Group bookings of ten or more are subject to availability. You can email [email protected] to enquire further.

From Prison to National Monument

Kilmainham Gaol opened in 1796 as the new County Gaol for Dublin. While most of the prisoners were common criminals, it also held political prisoners involved in Ireland’s struggle for independence. Included amongst those held here were Robert Emmet, Anne Devlin, the Fenians, Charles Stewart Parnell, Countess Markievicz and the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, 14 of whom were executed by firing squad in the Stonebreaker’s yard. The Gaol was closed in 1924 but was preserved as a national monument in the 1960s and restored by the Kilmainham Gaol Restoration Committee. It was handed over to the State in 1986 and today is run by the Office of Public Works.

Temporary Exhibitions

With so many stories to tell at Kilmainham Gaol we regularly host temporary exhibitions.

Our current exhibition is  “‘hearts ne’er waver’: The Women Prisoners of the Irish Civil War” . It runs in parallel with “Voices” , an exhibition by artist Margo McNulty inspired by the Civil War women prisoners.

Free admission to the exhibition.

Plan a Visit

Opening hours, location, transport and more.

Book Tickets

Book tickets online now, to guarantee your place in our popular tours.

View highlights of the permanent collection.

Information for teachers and students.

Full captions and copyright information for all images can be found in the Galleries. If you would like to use any of the images you see on this website, please contact us.

Any links to external content on this website are there for reference purposes, and do not imply endorsement.

Crumlin Road Gaol Experience, Events, Weddings & Venue Hire

Visitor Attraction Northern Ireland

CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL TOURS

Guided Gaol Experience

The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845, and closed its doors as a working prison after 150 years in service in 1996. The Gaol has re-opened as a visitor attraction after extensive renovations and today you can take a guided tour of the prison.

About the Tour Discover over 150 years of history and follow in the footsteps of over 25,000 prisoners as you make the journey through Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian Era prison. The guided tour will allow you to explore the building’s colourful past and gain a unique and memorable insight into the daily lives and routines of both prisoners and prison officers over the Gaol’s existence. Your tour guide will inform you about the Gaol’s history including when women and children were imprisoned, the executions that were carried out, its more recent history and learn about why the decision was taken to close the prison.

The will cover all aspects of the Gaol from the Tunnel linking the courthouse on the other side of the Crumlin Road to the Hanging Cell, the Historic Holding Cells, Centre Circle, C-Wing and Graveyard. Guided Tours will give you access to all areas included on the self-guided Crumlin Road Gaol Experience, you will also have exclusive access to additional areas not included on the self-guided tour. Tours are conducted by one of our expert guides.

Information & Terms

• Suitable warm clothing and flat shoes must be worn.
• The main entrance to the Gaol is via the Gate House on the Crumlin Road.
• Coaches & Cars may enter the site via the Summer Street entrance and follow the appropriate traffic management signs.
• Admission tickets can be purchased on the day but we advise pre-booking to avoid disappointment.
• We recommend that you arrive at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to the tour time, to enable tickets to be checked or to be purchased (non-groups) .
• Please note there are no senior, student or child tickets available for the guided tours.

For groups of 15 people or more, please email our group booking team at  [email protected]  or contact their office on 02890741500

Please note all tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable 

Reading Gaol Tours

This listing is from a previous year, search current listings »

Hear about the dark history of Victorian prison life on guided tours of Reading Gaol.

The dark history of Victorian prison life will be revealed to visitors on guided tours of Reading Gaol, curated by the National Trust, in association with Artangel. These exclusive tours will tell the history of the gaol and follow how prisoners were processed then housed.

Reading Prison was only de-commissioned in 2013 and now visitors will have the opportunity to see the austere corridors, wings, and cells, exploring the prisoner entrance, the hospital, the old chapel and Oscar Wilde’s own cell. Tours will be filled with stories of the prisoners, the history of the gaol’s executions and snippets of Oscar Wilde’s own works.

Wilde spent two soul-destroying years incarcerated in Reading Prison from 1895-97. While there he wrote De Profundis, a long and harrowing love letter on spirituality and faith which charts his journey into the depths of degradation as he renounces his debauched lifestyle and celebrates the power of art. On his release, he immortalised the prison in his last work The Ballad Of Reading Gaol.

Text supplied by third party.

Performance times

We have no details of upcoming performances, if you do please let us know .

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13 PRISON MUSEUMS YOU CAN VISIT IN THE UK

Want to explore the darker side of social history? These 13 old prisons in the UK have opened their doors to visitors and put their grisly pasts on display. You can learn about the most notorious of criminals, the wrongfully imprisoned, the executed and the terrible conditions many of them lived and died in. Several of these prisons offer events such as ghost tours or even sleepovers in the cells. Read on to find out more.

Dartmoor Prison, Princetown, Devon

Photograph © Brian Henley

One of England's most famous prisons, Dartmoor has been a prison for over 200 years, situated on the windswept and foggy moors.

It was built to hold prisoners of the Napoleonic War, who started arriving in 1809. By 1813 they were joined by American prisoners, and the prison soon became overcrowded, leading to outbreaks of contagious diseases and thousands of deaths. In the Victorian Era it held convicts who were considered the worst criminals in the land, although it now houses only Category C prisoners - those who are preparing for release.

The prison museum is not your typical modern museum with stark lighting, gleaming surfaces and sterile out-of-context exhibits. It is a quirky, slightly ramshackle place which makes it all the more appealing. Exhibits include objects made by the prisoners out of bone, prisoner and guard uniforms, cells, items with secret compartments for keeping contraband hidden, handmade weapons such as knuckle dusters, shivs and shanks made from toothbrushes.

It is fascinating in a rather dark way and the fact that there is a sign informing visitors that the museum is sometimes staffed by prisoners, adds an extra frisson of interest to the whole experience.

Dartmoor Prison Museum website >>

Shepton Mallet Prison, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Shepton Mallet was built in 1610 when it was decided that the eastern part of Somerset should have their own House of Correction.

Men, women and children were all housed together for a variety of crimes, whether debtors, vagrants or just mentally unwell. Conditions were bad, with regular outbreaks of fever, jaundice, venereal diseases and many more unpleasant illnesses, with the bodies buried in unconsecrated ground just outside the prison.

Many executions were carried out in the prison whether by firing squad or hanging. Executioners included the famous Albert Pierrepoint, who executed about 600 people during his career. For World War II, the prison was used by the British and the American military, as well as safe storage for the National Archives from London, including the Magna Carta and the Domesday Book. The Kray Twins were held here in the 1950s after absconding from their national service.

The museum closed in 2013 and is now a tourist attraction, hosting not just sight seeing tours, but also ghost tours after hours, an escape room, and even the opportunity to spend the night behind bars, with free rein to explore the place at night.

Read about my Night Behind Bars at Shepton Mallet prison >>

Bodmin Jail, Bodmin, Cornwall

Photograph © Bodmin Jail Attraction

Built in 1779 on the edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, the prison was ground breaking in prison reform at the time, with individual cells, separate areas for men and women and prisoners paid for their work.

The prison was completely re-developed by 1861 and included a chapel and a debtors' jail, until 1869 when imprisonment for debt was abolished. From 1887, part of the jail was used by the Royal Navy, who were there until 1922. Over the years there were 55 executions on site, 8 of them being women.

The last prisoner left in 1916, and the jail was decommissioned in 1927.

The jail has been open as a tourist attraction for some time, but was recently overhauled and now has a lot to offer the visitor, including an immersive 'Dark Walk Experience', Ghost Tours, After Dark Tours, Scary Cinema and even a hotel being built in the site for visitors. The jail has the only original Victorian hanging pit left in the country (pictured), the Naval prison cells, an in depth look at the stories behind the administration of the prison and overall it looks like a fantastic place to visit.

Bodmin Jail Website >>

Shrewsbury Prison, Shrewsbury, Shropshire

Photograph © Shrewsbury Prison

Built in 1793, Shrewsbury Prison was built to replace the prison in the castle, which was crumbling so badly that prisonners could escape by removing bricks from the walls. Known as 'the Dana' after Rev Edmund Dana, a local vicar and magistrate, the prison was a place of execution for many years, with public hangings which attracted large crowds.

The prison was decomissioned in 2013 and is now open to visitors, with a wide variety of tours and events on offer. Guided tours by ex-prison officers during the day or after dark, tours underground of the original prison, escape rooms, a 'prison break' event, nights spent in the cells, ghost hunting, live music, even axe throwing; it is all on offer here.

Shrewsbury Prison website >>

Clink Prison Museum, Southwark, London

There has been a prison on this site in Southwark, London from 1151. Owned by the Bishops of Winchester, the prison was part of the estate, and included heretics as well as local criminals.

No-one is quite sure how the Clink got its name - whether from the clinking of the chains the prisoners wore, or of the cell doors slamming shut, but it has now become a universal term for prisons.

This one became the most notorious of prisons, with massive amounts of corruption and prisoner degradation. By the 16th century, the prison largely held people who disagreed with the Bishops, and after that mainly held debtors. After a decrease in numbers, the prison burnt down in a riot in 1780 and was never rebuilt.

The museum is built on the original site, and contains just a single wall left from the original building. It covers over 600 years of history with a self-guided tour which looks at the assorted inmates, debauchery of the Southwark area and artefacts connected with the prison.

Read about a visit to the Clink Prison Museum >>

Littledean Jail, Gloucester

This one is best avoided by children and those of a sensitive disposition, as the warnings on their website will attest. Describing their museum as politically insensitive and bizarre, there is a huge rage of items on display. Exhibitions look at Witchfinders, Satanism, the SS and the Holocaust, the KKK, instruments of punishment and torture, police memorabilia and a whole host of other subjects. It is not all the dark side though, as their subject matters include the bravery of the SAS and people like Violette Szabo of the S.O.E .

Littledean Jail was built in 1791, and little has changed since it was first built. It has held all manner of prisoners, including children as young as 8, and is believed to be one of the most haunted prisons in the country. It was also used as a police station and a court for 20 years from 1854.

Read the website before you go to make sure you want to - reviews on Trip Advisor range from 'fantastic' to 'absolutely disgusting', so make sure you know what you are getting into.

Littledean Jail website >>

Gloucester Prison, Gloucester

Built in 1792 as a County Jail, this men's prison has been renovated and added to over the years, including the addition of a Young Offenders Wing in the 1970s.

It was the site of many an execution, with the last one taking place in 1936. By the early 2000s it had a reputation as being seriously overcrowded, as well as bad conditions for the inmates and subject to repeated flooding.

The prison closed in 2013 and its re-development is still under discussion. In the meantime however, it is open to the public for guided tours and a variety of events.

Visitors can take guided tours which are family friendly or which included more details on the executions, paranormal activity and violence. Various paranormal groups run ghost hunts in the prison, as do Salvation-Z - a live action Zombie survival experience, or combat games.

Read about a visit to Gloucester Prison >>

National Justice Museum, Nottingham

A Victorian Courtroom Photograph © National Justice Museum

The National Justice Museum is in a Grade II listed building, on a site which has been in use as a court since 1375 and a prison since 1449. The current building was a Victorian police station, gaol, courtroom and execution site, making it a one stop shop for the judicial process. Executions were held on the front steps of the building, with the last public execution held in 1864 of a Richard Parker, who shot both of his parents after a drunken row.

The building ceased use as prison in 1878, but continued as courts and the meeting place of the County Council until 1991. It opened as a museum in 1995 and objects on display include the cell door of p laywright Oscar Wilde, the bath from the Brides in the Bath murder case, gibbet irons, force feeding equipment used on Suffragettes and conscientious objectors and the dock from Bow Street Magistrates Court, which was used in notorious cases such as the trials of Oscar Wilde, Roger Casement and the Krays. T here are over 40 000 objects and archives, making it the UK’s largest collection relating to law, justice, crime and punishment.

National Justice Museum website >>

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast

Built in 1845, 'the Crum' in North Belfast was a County Gaol for men, women and children, who were often imprisoned for offences such as stealing food and necessities.

Executions were carried out in public at the gaol until 1901, when an execution chamber was built inside. 17 executions were carried out in the prison, including the final one in all of Ireland in 1961. The prison had some well known prisoners from the Troubles, and two prisoners were killed when a IRA bomb went off in one of the wings. The prison closed in 1996.

The prison is now not just a tourist attraction, but hosts concerts, live events and party nights. Tourists can do the Crumlin Road Gaol Experience, a self-guided tour around the building which includes the tunnel linking the courthouse on the other side of the Crumlin Road to the hanging cell, the historic holding cells and the graveyard.

Read about visiting Crumlin Road Gaol >>

York Castle Prison, York

Photograph © Visit York

Part of York Castle Museum, there has been a prison on the site for nearly 1000 years, with a castle built for William the Conqueror in 1068, which included a prison.

The site is still in use for criminal justice, with York Crown Court held in the 18th century court and people are still held in cells here, including those accused of the most serious crimes.

The prison buildings were built in the 18th century, and visitors can explore the original cells. Conditions were terrible at the prison, with 15 to a cell sleeping on bare floors and living off bread and water. Many of the Keepers of the prison were as corrupt as the inmates, and they made as much money as they could off the prisoners. The most notorious prisoner held here was the legendary highwayman Dick Turpin, who was found guilty of his crimes at York Court and sentenced to death at the gallows.

The museum is part of a visit to York Castle Museum, which looks at many aspects of life in historic York.

York Castle Prison Museum website >>

Prison & Police Museum, Rippon

Photograph © Rippon Museums

There has been a prison on this site since 1684, when a Workhouse and House of Correction was established for putting the poor to work and punishing those who had broken the law. In 1816, it was incorporated into the new Liberty Prison, which is the current museum building. Prisoners were held in cells on the ground floor, with debtors on the floor above them. Inmates had to do hard labour and worked for 10 hours a day, walking the treadwheel amongst other tasks.

The prison later became the police station, until it became a museum in the 1980s, one of three in the area which also include a workhouse museum and the courthouse, giving a fantastic look at poverty and justice in the region. The prison museum includes a look at policing from the Anglo-Saxons onwards, as well as an exhibition in the prison cells about life in a Victorian prison.

Rippon Prison and Police Museum website >>

The Old Gaol Museum, Buckingham

Photograph © Buckingham Old Gaol

Built in 1748, this Gothic prison provided terrible conditions for the inmates, who lived in damp cells with no heating, lights or bathrooms, and who were fed on just bread and water.

The prison housed local convicts, although one in three were just poachers, often held for the smallest of crimes.

Over the years, the prison has been used as a Police Station, Fire Station, ammunition store and an air-raid shelter. Faced with demolition in the 1980s, the prison was bought by a charitable organisation, and it now houses the local museum as well as the Old Gaol.

The museum focuses on local history, spanning time from the Ice Age to World War I. It is also home to the Lenborough Hoard of 5,000 Anglo-Saxon silver coins as well as a permanent exhibition dedicated to Flora Thompson, author of Lark Rise to Candleford .

Buckingham Old Gaol Website >>

Dorchester Prison, Dorchester, Dorset

A Victorian prison built in 1885 on the site of a much older prison, Dorchester was closed in 2013 and is now awaiting its fate from developers.

In the meantime, you can take guided tours from Ed who is still a serving prison officer and who used to work there. He provides a fascinating insight into the life of this prison, showing you round this now crumbling site. There were several executions here, including that of Martha Brown who is said to still be haunting the prison, and whose execution was watched by Thomas Hardy, inspiring the hanging he wrote about in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. Visitors can also join paranormal nights and airsoft combat games within its walls.

Read more about visiting Dorchester Prison >>

Want to delve even deeper into prison history? Try the Prison History website which looks at UK prison history from 1500 - 1999.

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Victorian Prison

VICTORIAN PRISON

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Visiting the Victorian Prison at Lincoln Castle

Lincoln Castle’s Victorian Prison was designed for the 'separate system', an isolating regime that kept prisoners apart from the corrupting influence of their fellow prisoners.

The Victorians believed that this would encourage them to reflect and repent, and more importantly to reform.

Men, women and children as young as eight were held here from 1848 to 1878 for crimes ranging from stealing a waistcoat and Bible, to highway robbery and murder.

During this time seven murderers were hanged at the castle and their bodies buried in Lucy Tower where their graves can still be seen today.

Cross the threshold into the soaring atrium and enter the prison regime. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the separate system.

Dress up as a prisoner or member of staff, perhaps the Governor or the Matron? Explore the cells and imagine life behind bars: the solitude of the single cell, the chaos of the crowded cell, and the desperation of the dark cell.

"William Messenger placed in dark cell on bread and water for 3 days for destroying prison books and insolence."

John Nicholson, Prison Governor, 15 April 1854

Step into the world of the Governor, Chaplain, Surgeon and Matron and find out what their jobs involved.

Come face to face with prisoners and discover their fates: what became of young John Cook, who set fire to a haystack aged eight; convicted burglar Joseph Ralph after his ingenious escape attempts; and wretched Lucy Buxton, who murdered her illegitimate baby?

Visit the austere and atmospheric separate system chapel – the only original one remaining in the world. Stand in the Chaplain's shoes and survey your congregation from the pulpit: prisoners segregated in upright stalls, man separated from man.

With three floors of restored and recreated cells spread over separate male and female wings, interactive interpretation, and a Discovery Centre with hands-on activities for families, the Victorian Prison is a unique and fascinating experience.

More recently the prison has been used as a filming location for TV series such Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife.

EXPLORE MORE

Medieval Wall Walk

Explore towers and dungeons around the 360 degree wall walk

Magna Carta

See the iconic charter that changed the course of history

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As featured in

The Hole Escape Room

Join this fun filled, puzzle-based prison escape room as you try to outsmart the prison Governor and make your way to freedom. A Self-Guided Tour of the prison is included in the ticket price.

Guided Tour

A Prison Officer shines light on what life was like for prisoners. Bringing the prison to life through a no-holds-barred tour.

Prison Break

Prison Break: Put yourself to the test and see if you have what it takes to break out of a real prison in The World’s Largest Escape Game.

Paranormal Investigations Behind Bars

Connecting you with the paranormal happenings that go on within the prison.

The Cell Escape Room

Join this fun filled, puzzle-based game as you try to outsmart The Cell and make your way to freedom. A Self-Guided Tour of the prison is included in the ticket price.

NEWS & ARTICLES

Crimecon where true crime meets history.

Exciting news coming from Shrewsbury Prison as we announce a new partnership with CrimeCon UK, The world’s leading true crime event with their first event of the year held in Glasgow on 27th April. With a packed line-up of leading experts to discuss all things true crime, you’re not going to want to miss out! […]

Shrewsbury Prison's Easter Activities

Springtime is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the season of renewal and joy than with a thrilling adventure to Shrewsbury Prison? From 23rd March to 14th April, Shrewsbury Prison invites you to embark on a journey like no other with “The Great Eggscape,” an action-packed Easter promotion that promises fun for the […]

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Lubyanka: Inside the Story of Moscow’s Infamous Building and District

Published: June 15, 2021

There is always history surrounding us. In a city like Moscow, this can seem overwhelmingly apparent. Moscow has many imposing buildings from many eras – some are immediately recognizable and others only invite wonder as to what stories lay behind their beauty or grime.

Lubyanka is the name commonly used to refer to the building that has historically housed the security services of the USSR and modern Russia, from the Cheka to the KGB to the FSB. The name has also, for a much longer history, been applied to the adjacent square and surounding neighborhood.

The Lubyanka Building

by Alyssa Rider

The building now known as Lubyanka was originally several buildings.

The two largest were originally designed by Alexander Ivanov and were separated by a street. The largest of these two was built in 1898 and the smaller in 1902 by the All-Russia Insurance Company. Insurance and banking were rapidly growing and profitable industries at that time. Insurance companies would often invest their substantial cash holdings in real estate. Thus, most of the buildings were built as residential and the space was rented for profit.

Perhaps ironically, the original, much more ornate façade of the main building included two female figures representing Justice and Solace.

The buildings were seized following the 1917 revolution and became the headquarters for the secret police – the Cheka at the time, though it has served in the same role for the various iterations of the Soviet, and now Russian, state security services – from the OGPU and NKVD, the KGB, and now the FSB.

Lubyanka prison was established in 1920 inside a two story structure adjacent to the main buildings. It had originally been a hotel built, again, by the All-Russia Insurance Company. It was soon expanded to six floors. Jokes referred to it as the “tallest building in Moscow,” as one could purportedly see Siberia (and the Gulag system) from its basement, as that was the fate that awaited most that saw the inside of the prison’s walls.

In 1940, Aleksey Shchusev was commissioned to enlarge the complex to accommodate the increasing amount of staff required to handle the Great Purge. The staff had grown from 2,500 in 1928 to nearly 34,000 in 1940.

An extra floor was added, and the main building expanded horizontally, consuming and incorporating nearby buildings. This expansion was interrupted by the Nazi invasion, leaving the facade lopsided until it was completed under the orders of Yuri Andropov in the 1980s.

The building now contains FSB headquarters, a group of holding cells, the headquarters of the Border Guard Service, and two museums: one devoted to the KGB/FSB and one dedicated to the old prison (neither is actually open to the public).

The Museums Inside the Lubyanka Building

The museums offer regularly updated exhibits, both historical and modern. The Museum of the KGB, now known as the Historical Demonstration Hall of the FSB of Russia, is located inside the Lubyanka complex, and contains four rooms and over two thousand exhibits.

Exhibits cover the history of Russian and Soviet counterintelligence, and there are documents from the times of both Peter and Catherine the Great, as well as the Napoleonic War and WWI. There are separate stands with information on events relating to mass repressions, as well as a room dedicated to WWII. The museum also includes a significant amount of technical equipment that has been used for reconnaissance and counterintelligence purposes, as well as more recent documents relating to FSB operations.

The prison museum has never been open to the public and is maintained only for FSB personnel and high-ranking government officials. The “Demonstration Hall” was opened to the public in 1989. Accessing it was still difficult, as it is located inside the FSB complex and tours were offered almost exclusively through private tour companies and only after screening potential visitors. In recent years, the tours became rarer and today this museum, too, is officially closed to outside visitors.

Lubyanka: Fountain, Statue, or Abstract Nothing?

The names were not the only thing that changed. In 1835, a fountain was installed on the square. This fountain was called Nikolsky Fountain (its name borrowed from the same gates mentioned above), and was designed by the Italian sculptor Giovanni Vitali and supplied potable water to the neighborhood.

Nikolsky Fountain is one of the oldest in Moscow, and it still stands, but no longer on Lubyanka. It was moved in the 1930s to a new location in the courtyard of Alexandrinsky Palace in Neskuchny Garden, part of the Gorky Park complex in central Moscow.

In 1958, a 15-ton iron statue of Dzerzhinsky, known as “Iron Felix” was installed in its former place on Lubyanka. This statue, in turn, was toppled in a public demonstration after the fall of the Soviet Union. It was transferred by the Russian Academy of Arts to the Muzeon, also known as Fallen Monument Park, to be joined by many other Soviet statues removed or toppled at that time.

In 2017, a general renovation of Lubyanka and the surrounding traffic patterns was announced by the city. It was debated if the fountain or even Iron Felix should be brought back. In the end, however, the space was enlarged and landscaped with flat, circular geometric shapes. The space, used and undecorated, remains largely unused.

In 2021, another effort to bring back the statue was proposed by the modern Communist Party in Moscow. The mayor initially agreed to allow the issue to be voted on in a referendum, but soon reversed his decision and killed the initiative.

The Solovetsky Stone

The Solovetsky Stone is a monument located across the street from Lubyanka Square in a separated area known as Musuem Park. It was created in commemoration of the political prisoners who were repressed under the GULAG system.

The Solovetsky Stone is a large granite block brought from the Solovetsky Islands, where the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp operated in the 1920s and 1930s as part of the GULAG system. It was officially opened on October 30, 1990.

Founding such a memorial had become a matter of public discussion a few years earlier, in the late 1980s. The Memorial Society, now a globally-respected NGO, began a petition with the goal of creating a monument of political repression in 1987, and in 1988, a Public Council for the creation of such a monument was formed. A contest was also held in 1988, wherein people could submit their monument ideas and suggest locations, but a winner for this contest was never chosen.

The specific stone idea came from a memorial created in the village of Solovetsky in 1989 by former Solovetsky prisoners, many of whom stayed there after their release, and members of the Memorial Society. Members of the Society from Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, and Moscow liked the idea so much that they acquired boulders to place in their own cities.

The opening of the Moscow memorial on served as a triumph not only in its own right, but also marked the first official recognition of the Day of Victims of Political Repression since that day began to be recognized by dissidents in 1974. Every year on this day, people now gather near the Solovetsky Stone to mourn. Since 2007, a practice called the ‘Return of Names’ has taken place on the 29th from 10 AM to 10 PM – people from across the city gather in a long line to take turns reading the names of Muscovites who were executed. Similar actions take place in many other cities and even other countries, on this day or the next.

The Solovetsky Stone has also become an unofficial site for civil protest, serving not only as a memorial but as a symbol for modern-day political dissonance.

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When most think of Russian protest art today, they think immediately of Pussy Riot, the long-famous, all-female punk movement. These women have, since their “punk prayer” launched them to international notoriety, been heavily covered in the English-language press and heavily studied in English-language academia. However, Russian protest art is a diverse genre with a long […]

The Muzeon and Art Market

Across the street from Gorky Park, on the territory of the New Tretyakov Gallery and the Central House of Artists lies Sculpture Park, which is known as “Muzeon” to locals. It is most famous as a graveyard of Soviet era statues, but also contains much modern art and several themed, sculpted landscapes all in an […]

The State Museum of Political History of Russia

Centrally located in St. Petersburg, the State Museum of Political History of Russia examines Russia’s tumultuous political history. It does so in a way that is both modern and quite balanced. Exhibits in the main building are shown in an attractive, recently-renovated tsarist-era mansion with modern technology and artful multimedia presentations. Exhibits give a wide […]

GULAG History Museum

Excursion included in SRAS cultural program for Moscow for Fall, 2017. The GULAG Museum, established in 2001 by writer, historian, and former gulag prisoner A.V. Antonov-Ovseenko, is the only state museum devoted to Stalin’s repressions and the GULAG system. We took a guided tour of this small but informative museum as part of our SRAS […]

About the authors

Katheryn Weaver

Katheryn Weaver is a student of rhetoric and history at the University of Texas, Austin. Her primary areas of investigation include revolution and the rhetorical justification of violence against individuals, state, and society. She is currently studying Russian as a Second Language with SRAS's Home and Abroad Scholarship.

Program attended: Home and Abroad Scholar

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Alyssa Rider

Alyssa Rider, at the time she wrote from this site, was a rising senior at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, majoring in Russian Studies and International/Global Studies with a minor in History. She planned to study abroad in Dublin, Ireland, in the fall, to study Russian, as well as a few other things. While she first became interested in Russia because of the language, she also developed an interest in LGBTQ rights in Russia. She also hoped to work as a translator.

Program attended: Online Interships

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