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HERITAGE TOURS AT SHREWSBURY PRISON

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.

Self-Guided Tour

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

Shrewsbury Prison is the 6th Dark Tourism Destination in the World – come and discover and hear the tales of what lurks behind the high prison walls in the dead of night.

Opening Hours

Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm

Shrewsbury Prison The Dana Shrewsbury Shropshire SY1 2HP

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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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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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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.

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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.

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Shrewsbury Prison Tour

• Tour Details
• jailhousetours.com
• 01743 343100
• England, West & South West

Originally built in 1793 Shrewsbury Prison has stories from public executions and ghostly sightings to prison life and restorative justice & rehabilitation. Since 2015 Jailhouse Tours have operated the prison as a heritage led tourism attraction.

Guided and self-guided tours enable visitors to take in the history of this fascinating building as well as learning about prison life. Other tours and activities include interactive history days, Georgian tunnel tours, ghost tours, night tours, paranormal investigations, overnight sleepovers and escape rooms, educational tours and corporate events.

Whether you’re interested in the history of the building, criminal justice system, prison life or just want to know if a prison wing is ‘really like it looks on the tv’ then Shrewsbury Prison is a ‘must visit’ – walk in the footsteps of history.

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Shrewsbury Prison Guided Tour

• Entry ticket to Shrewsbury Prison
• Entry/Admission - Shrewsbury Prison
• Shrewsbury Prison, The Dana, Shrewsbury SY1 2HP, UK
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travellers can participate
• We are dog friendly
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travellers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

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• williamjO9324JH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Half a day in Prison This was a very interesting visit and a view into prison life. There was plenty to read and it was easy reading. Occaisonal subtle humour as well. Some very good history about the gaol and former inmates. Read more Written 23 April 2024
• philipac2014 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Good and bad parts to the experience The prison experience itself was so interesting. We really enjoyed roaming around the prison and soaking up the history of the place. Lots to see, read and hear. We all said how we had a great time and could have spent a lot longer exploring. Sadly, the escape room element was a let down. We were led into the room, no back story or any information to make it fun and interactive. Once the door was shut, we soon discovered that the end goal we needed to reach was broken, so we escaped within 2 minutes. The member of staff told us “oh well, you need a code, so call when you find it.” Clues were worn and not easy to read and it just felt a bit lifeless with no energy. It could have been a truly fun time but sadly didn’t hit the mark. Just a little kindness on the phone from staff would have been appreciated too. It’s difficult to get through on the phone lines to talk to someone. We were running late due to road closures. When I called, I spoke to a young lady who wasn’t helpful at all. I did feel I was being a burden asking questions only to be told if you’re not here, you’ll have to book for another day. Though when we did arrive, every other group had turned up late too. Anyone coming on a weekend, allow extra time to navigate the closed roads and to find parking. Read more Written 22 April 2024
• 241martynj 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Pretty good, but you get moved along for 'Guided tours' which ruins the whole experience It was good, however several things ruined it for us..... Firstly, it isn't obvious which way you go to get into the prison as we ended up around the side and back of the building as did a few other couples because no one put the barrier across to prevent this from happening. We then got rescued as we had no idea where we were, but the girl came across as a little rude? Secondly, and worst of all, there is a guy there that is dressed as a security guard doing the guided tours. He kept moving us on as the 'guided tour' was coming. Well, excuse me, we had paid just like everyone else. This happened a couple of times and we felt rushed all the way through. The guided tours seem to take priority over the self guided tours. The saving grace was the cakes in the restaurant at the end. They were absolutely delicious! Sadly won't recommend to anyone due to us being moved along several times. We were that disappointed that we were going to ask for our money back, but didn't bother in the end Read more Written 21 April 2024
• suscame 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Going “inside” for the first time We weren’t sure what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Only negative was we had trouble finding the door to get in. Other people outside told us they had struggled to find the entrance door too. We did not do a guided tour, as we wanted to just take the time we needed to digest the information and aura of the place. Enjoyed exploring all the nooks and crannies. It gave us a good idea of what the prison must have been like. We felt a bit like we were on the film set of the old TV show Porridge. I couldn’t go to the top floor due to my vertigo (my partner did) but saw everything else. The cafe did a nice coffee and cake, and there were plenty of toilets about. So glad we did this. We saw some people in the town that were disappointed that the castle was shut on Thursdays. After we spoke to them they decided to go to the prison instead. Only thing that could have enhanced the visit more would have been a few more detailed room sets. However it was excellent value for money, and we would recommend a visit to anyone hesitating over the decision. Read more Written 19 April 2024
• Passenger813323 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Self Guided Tour The staff were very welcoming and we were supplied with a map and where to start. It is simple map however some signs of where you go next on walls would help. It may be down to my map reading skills but had trouble to get out.Having said that it is a prison. Information in each section excellent Enjoyed the visit even with a large school visit present at the same time. . Maybe it would of been better with a guided. Read more Written 18 April 2024
• Y6832WBcatherines 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Absolutely fantastic day out with the kids. I took my five young children and they absolutely loved it! The only down fall we had was the cafe…..we waited nearly 30 minutes (me standing at the till) and wasn’t even acknowledged 🙁 so we got up and left….quite stressful with five young children all hungry and inpatient. Apart from this the actual prison tour was amazing, the kids loved it and I would definitely do again! Read more Written 11 April 2024
• U4477PRcarolh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles We had a lovely self guided visit to the prison. We chose the self guided tour because I doubt we'd have managed to keep up with a guided tour. Reason being we're both getting on a bit and hubby uses a stick and I use a walking trolley aid. We found the stair lift but couldn't manage to get it to work. Not really a problem because my walking aid would have still had to be taken up the stairs somehow. I'm not one to be beaten though so I decided that I could manage to drag my trolley up the stairs with the help of hubby lifting from below. We were offered lots of help from the lovely visitors and for that I can't thank all of them enough. We got up to the first landing in the end......which is where I wanted to go because the information up there was first class. I found the execution room to be very sad and thought provoking....and then we moved onto the narrow walkway of C-wing. This wing is said to be haunted, with one cell in particular where you are invited to enter. The "grey lady" has been reported to have been seen heading towards the execution room on very many occasions by very many people. Hubby went into this cell first and then told me to walk to the back of the cell. It did feel quite cold at the back but I put it down to the thick stone outer walls and didn't think anymore of it........but I did bless the "grey lady" and told her that I hope she's resting in peace no matter who she is or what she did. Hubby said he came out with a headache. . The only way down to the ground floor from C-wing was either down the steep set of iron grid steps or to re-trace our steps back to where we came up. I assessed the stairs and decided that I could bump my trolley down by one step at a time while holding onto the hand rail. I soon found out that the iron staircase was difficult to move my trolley wheels on and I was beginning to panic a bit because I was getting stuck and couldn't go back up.....nor down! Suddenly a young lady appeared from nowhere and came bounding up the staircase and grabbed my trolley and guided me down in a calm and collective manner. She saved my bacon and as quickly as she arrived she disappeared......and she was dressed in a grey sweatsuit! Make of it what you will but on that day she was most definitely my lady in grey and helped me when I most needed it. Ok, I saw her later with her family and I thanked her again but it was so odd how suddenly she appeared when I most needed help. If that young lady gets to read my review she'll know who she is and I thank her once more. All in all.......I can recommend a visit to this prison but be aware if you use either walking aids or chairs etc....plan ahead and check out which areas are mobility friendly. I also have to mention the car parking. We tried to park in the car park opposite the prison and not only is it very expensive but we couldn't see any disabled parking . We ended up parking on the road which was allowed because of the blue badge scheme. Read more Written 10 April 2024
• Hayley1950 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great family day out A great experience. Jade on reception was so helpful and friendly she made our 9 yr old granddaughter feel very special The staff in the restaurant were very friendly too. We did the self guide tour which was good but signage could have been better Read more Written 10 April 2024
• A4419QZsarahl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Our guide was really lovely and so knowledgable Our guide was really lovely and so knowledgable, the escape room game was quite hard we needed a few clues, child friendly, Read more Written 9 April 2024
• JAO58 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Father and daughter day out Just nice to have a day out with my grown up, married with two cracking daughters of her own, so for something different like prison. Never been in prison and after our visit certainly wouldn't want to. Worth going if you want to show ones who play up lol Read more Written 8 April 2024
• laurastorer86 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Shame the attitude of the young girl let the place down Great to see the prison again since it has closed. (Self guided as we are ex-staff) Shame to see it is in such a state of disrepair though and worse than that was the young lady's attitude at book-in desk. She really had sass and put a downer on our visit. There is so much more they could do woth this place Read more Written 8 April 2024
• Oldgoldwolf 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Educational but sobering What a sobering experience this was seeing how prisoners were kept locked up as recently as 10 years ago. We did a self guided tour then the cell break. We weren’t very good we didn’t escape. A very illuminating visit though. Read more Written 8 April 2024
• StephenW150 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Night Behind Bars Our Tour Guide Dan was excellent and kept the group engaged and hanging on his every word. The overnight stay in the cell was a great and unique experience. Highly recommended Read more Written 6 April 2024
• 610mareike 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An Unforgettable Escape: Shrewsbury Prison's Adventure My visit to the live escape event at Shrewsbury Prison was a wonderful experience. We traveled all the way from Germany with high expectations, and they were completely met. I was especially impressed by how attentive and understanding the staff were towards us as non-native English speakers. They made sure we understood everything, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The game itself was well thought out, offering just the right mix of challenge and fun. I would definitely recommend this event, especially if you're looking for a unique activity that's worth traveling at any age. Read more Written 6 April 2024
• Benty24 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth a visit Great visit Kids loved it Easter Egg hunt was a bonus! Very interesting for adults too. Gives an interesting perspective on life in prison through the ages. Read more Written 6 April 2024

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Shrewsbury Prison Guided Tour

• Entry ticket to Shrewsbury Prison
• Entry/Admission - Shrewsbury Prison
• Shrewsbury Prison, The Dana, Shrewsbury SY1 2HP, UK
• Wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Service animals allowed
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• We are dog friendly
• This tour/activity will have a maximum of 32 travelers
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Shrewsbury Prison

Similar experiences

• williamjO9324JH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Half a day in Prison This was a very interesting visit and a view into prison life. There was plenty to read and it was easy reading. Occaisonal subtle humour as well. Some very good history about the gaol and former inmates. Read more Written April 23, 2024
• philipac2014 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Good and bad parts to the experience The prison experience itself was so interesting. We really enjoyed roaming around the prison and soaking up the history of the place. Lots to see, read and hear. We all said how we had a great time and could have spent a lot longer exploring. Sadly, the escape room element was a let down. We were led into the room, no back story or any information to make it fun and interactive. Once the door was shut, we soon discovered that the end goal we needed to reach was broken, so we escaped within 2 minutes. The member of staff told us “oh well, you need a code, so call when you find it.” Clues were worn and not easy to read and it just felt a bit lifeless with no energy. It could have been a truly fun time but sadly didn’t hit the mark. Just a little kindness on the phone from staff would have been appreciated too. It’s difficult to get through on the phone lines to talk to someone. We were running late due to road closures. When I called, I spoke to a young lady who wasn’t helpful at all. I did feel I was being a burden asking questions only to be told if you’re not here, you’ll have to book for another day. Though when we did arrive, every other group had turned up late too. Anyone coming on a weekend, allow extra time to navigate the closed roads and to find parking. Read more Written April 22, 2024
• 241martynj 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Pretty good, but you get moved along for 'Guided tours' which ruins the whole experience It was good, however several things ruined it for us..... Firstly, it isn't obvious which way you go to get into the prison as we ended up around the side and back of the building as did a few other couples because no one put the barrier across to prevent this from happening. We then got rescued as we had no idea where we were, but the girl came across as a little rude? Secondly, and worst of all, there is a guy there that is dressed as a security guard doing the guided tours. He kept moving us on as the 'guided tour' was coming. Well, excuse me, we had paid just like everyone else. This happened a couple of times and we felt rushed all the way through. The guided tours seem to take priority over the self guided tours. The saving grace was the cakes in the restaurant at the end. They were absolutely delicious! Sadly won't recommend to anyone due to us being moved along several times. We were that disappointed that we were going to ask for our money back, but didn't bother in the end Read more Written April 21, 2024
• suscame 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Going “inside” for the first time We weren’t sure what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Only negative was we had trouble finding the door to get in. Other people outside told us they had struggled to find the entrance door too. We did not do a guided tour, as we wanted to just take the time we needed to digest the information and aura of the place. Enjoyed exploring all the nooks and crannies. It gave us a good idea of what the prison must have been like. We felt a bit like we were on the film set of the old TV show Porridge. I couldn’t go to the top floor due to my vertigo (my partner did) but saw everything else. The cafe did a nice coffee and cake, and there were plenty of toilets about. So glad we did this. We saw some people in the town that were disappointed that the castle was shut on Thursdays. After we spoke to them they decided to go to the prison instead. Only thing that could have enhanced the visit more would have been a few more detailed room sets. However it was excellent value for money, and we would recommend a visit to anyone hesitating over the decision. Read more Written April 19, 2024
• Passenger813323 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Self Guided Tour The staff were very welcoming and we were supplied with a map and where to start. It is simple map however some signs of where you go next on walls would help. It may be down to my map reading skills but had trouble to get out.Having said that it is a prison. Information in each section excellent Enjoyed the visit even with a large school visit present at the same time. . Maybe it would of been better with a guided. Read more Written April 18, 2024
• Y6832WBcatherines 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Absolutely fantastic day out with the kids. I took my five young children and they absolutely loved it! The only down fall we had was the cafe…..we waited nearly 30 minutes (me standing at the till) and wasn’t even acknowledged 🙁 so we got up and left….quite stressful with five young children all hungry and inpatient. Apart from this the actual prison tour was amazing, the kids loved it and I would definitely do again! Read more Written April 11, 2024
• U4477PRcarolh 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles We had a lovely self guided visit to the prison. We chose the self guided tour because I doubt we'd have managed to keep up with a guided tour. Reason being we're both getting on a bit and hubby uses a stick and I use a walking trolley aid. We found the stair lift but couldn't manage to get it to work. Not really a problem because my walking aid would have still had to be taken up the stairs somehow. I'm not one to be beaten though so I decided that I could manage to drag my trolley up the stairs with the help of hubby lifting from below. We were offered lots of help from the lovely visitors and for that I can't thank all of them enough. We got up to the first landing in the end......which is where I wanted to go because the information up there was first class. I found the execution room to be very sad and thought provoking....and then we moved onto the narrow walkway of C-wing. This wing is said to be haunted, with one cell in particular where you are invited to enter. The "grey lady" has been reported to have been seen heading towards the execution room on very many occasions by very many people. Hubby went into this cell first and then told me to walk to the back of the cell. It did feel quite cold at the back but I put it down to the thick stone outer walls and didn't think anymore of it........but I did bless the "grey lady" and told her that I hope she's resting in peace no matter who she is or what she did. Hubby said he came out with a headache. . The only way down to the ground floor from C-wing was either down the steep set of iron grid steps or to re-trace our steps back to where we came up. I assessed the stairs and decided that I could bump my trolley down by one step at a time while holding onto the hand rail. I soon found out that the iron staircase was difficult to move my trolley wheels on and I was beginning to panic a bit because I was getting stuck and couldn't go back up.....nor down! Suddenly a young lady appeared from nowhere and came bounding up the staircase and grabbed my trolley and guided me down in a calm and collective manner. She saved my bacon and as quickly as she arrived she disappeared......and she was dressed in a grey sweatsuit! Make of it what you will but on that day she was most definitely my lady in grey and helped me when I most needed it. Ok, I saw her later with her family and I thanked her again but it was so odd how suddenly she appeared when I most needed help. If that young lady gets to read my review she'll know who she is and I thank her once more. All in all.......I can recommend a visit to this prison but be aware if you use either walking aids or chairs etc....plan ahead and check out which areas are mobility friendly. I also have to mention the car parking. We tried to park in the car park opposite the prison and not only is it very expensive but we couldn't see any disabled parking . We ended up parking on the road which was allowed because of the blue badge scheme. Read more Written April 10, 2024
• Hayley1950 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A great family day out A great experience. Jade on reception was so helpful and friendly she made our 9 yr old granddaughter feel very special The staff in the restaurant were very friendly too. We did the self guide tour which was good but signage could have been better Read more Written April 10, 2024
• A4419QZsarahl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Our guide was really lovely and so knowledgable Our guide was really lovely and so knowledgable, the escape room game was quite hard we needed a few clues, child friendly, Read more Written April 9, 2024
• JAO58 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Father and daughter day out Just nice to have a day out with my grown up, married with two cracking daughters of her own, so for something different like prison. Never been in prison and after our visit certainly wouldn't want to. Worth going if you want to show ones who play up lol Read more Written April 8, 2024
• laurastorer86 0 contributions 3.0 of 5 bubbles Shame the attitude of the young girl let the place down Great to see the prison again since it has closed. (Self guided as we are ex-staff) Shame to see it is in such a state of disrepair though and worse than that was the young lady's attitude at book-in desk. She really had sass and put a downer on our visit. There is so much more they could do woth this place Read more Written April 8, 2024
• Oldgoldwolf 0 contributions 4.0 of 5 bubbles Educational but sobering What a sobering experience this was seeing how prisoners were kept locked up as recently as 10 years ago. We did a self guided tour then the cell break. We weren’t very good we didn’t escape. A very illuminating visit though. Read more Written April 8, 2024
• StephenW150 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Night Behind Bars Our Tour Guide Dan was excellent and kept the group engaged and hanging on his every word. The overnight stay in the cell was a great and unique experience. Highly recommended Read more Written April 6, 2024
• 610mareike 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles An Unforgettable Escape: Shrewsbury Prison's Adventure My visit to the live escape event at Shrewsbury Prison was a wonderful experience. We traveled all the way from Germany with high expectations, and they were completely met. I was especially impressed by how attentive and understanding the staff were towards us as non-native English speakers. They made sure we understood everything, which made the experience even more enjoyable. The game itself was well thought out, offering just the right mix of challenge and fun. I would definitely recommend this event, especially if you're looking for a unique activity that's worth traveling at any age. Read more Written April 6, 2024
• Benty24 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Well worth a visit Great visit Kids loved it Easter Egg hunt was a bonus! Very interesting for adults too. Gives an interesting perspective on life in prison through the ages. Read more Written April 6, 2024

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Top Prisons Open to Visitors in the UK

You’re going to jail! It’s not something everyone wants to hear, however, you don’t have to be a criminal to visit a UK prison! There are many historic and operating jails that allow you to visit as a guest. Visiting a prison isn’t as scary as it sounds, they are a great way to learn about the history of wherever you are visiting. And in most cases, a towns’ prison is often the epicenter of some of the best stories. Read on for the top prisons open to visitors in the UK:

6. Bodmin Jail, Cornwall http://www.bodminjail.org/

Originally built for King George III in 1779, this visitor experience is set over six floors! This fascinating building, steeped in both social and architectural history, offers visitors an amazing insight into Cornish penal life over the centuries.

5. York Castle prison http://www.yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk/exhibition/13/

Part of York Castle Museum, the prison exhibition is housed in 18 th century prison buildings. Visitors will get a flavour of what life was really like in the original cells and see some of the most infamous inmates brought to life.

4. Oxford Castle & Prison

Take a guided tour and discover the 1,000-year history of Oxford Castle & Prison. Initially, a Motte and Bailey Castle that transformed over time into a prison. This building is vital to the development of the city of Oxford… And not to mention, housing the university’s drunken students!

Book your tour today

3. Crumlin Road Jail, Belfast http://www.crumlinroadgaol.com/

The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845 and like HMP Oxford Castle, only closed its doors as a working prison in 1996. Explore over 150 years of history with a Guided Tour of Belfast’s Infamous Prison.

2. The Clink, London http://www.clink.co.uk/

The Clink Prison Museum is built upon the original site of The Clink Prison, which dating back to 1144 was one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. Visitors will learn all about the scandalous truth through a hands-on educational experience, with the opportunity to view architectural artefacts, handle torture devices, and hear all about the tales of torment and many misfortunes of the inmates of the infamous prison.

1. Galleries of Justice, Nottingham http://www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk/ England’s history of Crime and Punishment is a shocking one. As are the sinister and grim stories of Nottingham’s own outlaws which are brought to life in the building where they were judged imprisoned and executed. To capture and explain this gruesome history, visitors to the museum of Crime and Punishment will explore exhibitions, and experience audio and performance-led tours set in Nottingham’s old courthouse and gaol.

If you would like to find out more about one of the top prisons open to visitors in the UK (us!) then you can follow our social media channels: Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .

Photo credits:

Bodmin Jail – credit to Jon Blathwayt , used under the Creative Commons attribution license

The Clink – credit to Lisa Tozzi , used under the Creative Commons attribution license (as above)

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Oxford Castle & Prison 44-46 Oxford Castle, Oxford OX1 1AY

Heritage Projects (Oxford Castle) Ltd Registered in England No: 5763243 Registered Office: St. Edmund's House, Margaret Street, YORK, YO10 4UX

Privacy Overview

• Days Out and Tours
• Guided Prison Tour for Two

• Flexible Booking
• Instant Delivery
• Free Exchanges

Spend some time behind bars for the world’s most interactive prison tour. For a fascinating insight into more than 400 years of history, you’ll follow an ex-prison officer (who once managed the very wings you’ll be walking) behind the scenes of at one of three historic prisons.

You’ll follow in the footsteps of those on the wrong side of the law. Starting your sentence, you’ll be processed through reception before heading out to the wings and into the general population. Visit never-before-seen areas of the prison, where you’ll learn about the inmates, daily life, visits and prison work as well as the grisly side of history complete with stomach-turning tales of execution.

If you’re feeling brave, there’s even the chance for a ‘Closed Cell’ experience, which involves entering cells and having the door locked behind you, hopefully the closest you’ll ever get to be a prisoner for real!

What's Included

• Go behind the scenes of a historic prison
• Led by an ex-prison officer
• Learn about the daily life and grisly history
• Opportunity to be locked in a cell
• Experience gift pack including personalised voucher and message card

What happens on the day?

On arrival, you’ll meet your ex-prison officer guide for your pre-booked tour of the prison.

Go behind the scenes and follow the journey of a general population inmate, from processing through to the cells.

Participant guidelines

• Minimum age: 16
• There is no wheelchair access on the tours
• Tours involve approximately one mile of walking and includes approximately 200 stairs
• The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary

Availability

Tours run Monday to Friday at 14.00 and Saturday and Sunday at 11.00 and 14.00 throughout the year. Exclusions may apply.

We recommend you book at least four weeks in advance to ensure that dates are available. All bookings are subject to availability.

Please allow 2 hours for the full experience

What about insurance?

The centres contracted with us hold public liability insurance. We also hold contingency liability cover. You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of recklessness or wilful negligence.

Please ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of the experience.

How it works

All you have to do is pay for the experience you wish to purchase and we’ll send a voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient, then you just need to check the info and book your experience.

Customer Reviews

out of 5 stars

Based on 117 reviews

Find out what others have to say about this experience

Excellent day Graham our tour guide was lovely and very knowledgeabl e

Brilliant tour

Our guide Jeffery was fabulous- informative, funny and told us everything we wanted to know - mainly the gory stuff! We will recommend this tour to everyone. It wasn't rushed and we had a nice amount of time to look at everything.

Great day out

A very informative experience. So sorry to hear this might be closing due to low funding.

Great guide!

Our guided tour was packed full of information that was delivered in a clear and easy to understand manner. Any questions were answered thoroughly, the prison itself is in good condition so allows you to get a real feel for what it may have been like to be behind bars! Guides name was Graham(Ex prison guard with plenty of knowledge and experience!)

Interesting and surprisingly fun!

Great guide Graham made the tour of a bleak place very informative . He gave lots of information in an engaging way. Great afternoon out

Brilliant day out!

Very informative. Graham our guide was brilliant and had great knowledge. Very interesting but very cold! Get wrapped up warm

Bought the tour for my husband as he loves this sort of thing and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the two tour guides had so many fascinating stories and facts to tell you as you went round this huge prison, some hits spooky though!!!, Would highly recommend if your into this sort of thing.

Shrewsbury prison is a great day out

Our trip to prison

Interesting afternoon with a knowledgeable and friendly guide

Shrewsbury Prison Break!

Brilliant tour of HMP Shrewsbury! Tour guide Graham was really interesting and anecdotal having worked there for many years. Highly recommended!

Throughly Enjoyed the experience

We had a thoughly enjoyable 2 hour experience, you must go. Graham (our tour guide) is very knowledgable as a retired prison warden he truly made our experience come to life. We would truly recommend this tour.

Guided prison tour for two at Shepton Mallet

Great tour of the prison by guide Jason who was extremely well informed, very interesting with many little nuggets of information.

Brilliant few hours

We did the guided tour and Maurice was great. Found it difficult to find the entrance as it wasn’t that well signposted from the side we parked on! Another couple were also trying to find the entrance at the time we were! Prison is almost entirely open to look around which was fantastic!

Shepton Mallet prison

We had a very interesting tour of the prison made even better by Jason who was very knowledgeable. A good experience.

Informative and very entertaining, would recommend as a great day out

Had a wonderful day, did guided tour learned a lot

Louise&Jack

Brilliant from start to finish. Excellent friendly staff, especially our tour guide graham. Very very informative, whilst keeping it interesting and a great humour! Would return again, was worth the trip and the money. My partner thoroughly enjoyed his “random” Xmas Gift. Many thanks once again

Well worth a visit

A very informative and enjoyable experience. Liz our guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Would recommend this experience to others.

Big thumbs up 👍🏻

Absolutely fascinating tour. Our guide Jeremy was very informative and engaging, learnt lots about the history of the prison and some brilliant stories about inmates that had been there! Would definitely recommend.

Jenny & Jade

Excellent experience

The guided tour was amazing our guide Paul was so interesting told us some great facts about the prison and prisoners a great couple of hours would 100% recommend one tip take warm clothing inside the prison is very cold enjoy 😊

Shrewsbury prison, decommissioned and turned into a tourist attraction. Excellent tour by Paul the ex screw. Very knowledgeable and told some good tales of past inmates.

Excellent tour and tour guide

I was bought this tour as a gift - it's the sort of thing I like so I was really looking forward to it. We had a great tour guide going by the name of Paul. He told great stories and had great knowledge. He was very captivating. The prison feeling was there. It was nice to be able to roam around after the official to take photos and have another look around. Highly recommended.

Really interesting and very immersive.

We had Monica show us around and it was only a small group of 9 people. She knew a lot about the prison and answered all the questions the group had with a great level of detail.

We were looked adter by Liz, and she was great. We all had a great time; I must admit I was only going to tag along, but glad I did, I would highly recommend it.

William Stevenson

Very good from start to finish Excellent knowledgeable guide

Guided Prison tour

Our guide was amazing very knowledgeable and friendly, really enjoyed the tour will be returning!

We came with an open mind not really knowing what to expect. But the tour guide was funny and informative and answered many questions from the guests. It lasts just short of two hours, but wrap up warm as it's next level cold in the prison.

Shrewsbury Prison

A really interesting trip round Shrewsbury Prison. We were taken round by a most knowledgeable guide, who was an ex-prison officer. He had a lifetime of experience and stories to tell which made the visit enjoyable.

Great Experience

Excellent tour of the prison, led by Liz, who was able to talk about all aspects of the running of the prison. Very interesting and informative. All the staff we met were really great!

Fab Prison tour!

Fab guided prison tour from start to finish. The recollection and stories from the ex-prison guard was fantastic! Highly recommended

Great day out and valie for money. Very interesting prison which has a lot of history. The guide was very energetic and very knowledgeable being an ex-guard himself. Highly recommended.

Excellent experience!

Really good tour..Graham, our guide, is an ex prison guard who worked at the prison when it was functioning so he really knew his stuff and was very captivating as a guide, gave a real insight into the everyday life of a prisoner. A fascinating few hours and highly recommended!

Chris & Sam Rabone

Informative and enjoyable

Had an excellent day at the prison and learned lots...tour guide was great and worth every penny

Shepton Mallet prison tour

Excellent, informative and engaging tour guide (Maurice) made this birthday present truly memorable, the downpour outside notwithstanding!

Passionate tour guide

Really enjoyed the experience it was very interesting and the guide delivered the tour with such passion and you could tell he was proud of his job. Loved the stories and the fact we could walk around freely after the tour to view different parts of the prison. Would recommend! Well done Maurice

An Experience

The 'Prison Tour' exceeded my expectations .

The Shrewsbury prison guided tour for two was an excellent day out! Well worth it! The tour was fun, informal and informative. Would definitely recommend

Very Interesting

Shepton Mallet prison much better than what I expected. The guide which was a woman was very knowledgeable and engaging. Stories were told with enthusiasm and factual.

Great interesting few hours out

Monica was great as our prison tour guide. Realy interesting stories behind the place. Great to see the Krays cell aswel. Its a shame it maybe converted into flats potentially one day.

Such an interesting experience, our guide didn't fail to keep us interested, as an ex prison officer, he was full of facts and knowledge of The Dana. Shocking to know that the prison only ceased operation 7 years ago, and of the conditions prisoners faced on a daily basis. Would definitely recommend this experience to others.

Me and my partner went to the prison tour, this was honestly one of the best days out we have ever had. Such a brilliant experience and an amazing eye opener to see, would recommend this tour anytime.

Very informative

Great value as the tour was 2hrs and our tour guide was very informative I think his name was Mick? (Sorry I’m rubbish at remembering names). It was very cold as said in a lot of reviews but I expected that being a disused Victorian prison! Definitely recommend

Brilliant day!

Was a great experience, would highly recommended. Your guides are do informative and fun, we loved it

Fascinating insight into the inside

A well paced tour by a likeable and thoroughly informed guide.

Fascinating experience

Felicity the your guide was incredibly knowledgeable and so interesting to listen to. The prison itself is just the right side of eiree It was absolutely freezing inside but still a brilliant experience for those interested. We could have easily spent a further few hours looking at all the information and different buildings, but we had a restaurant booking. We will definitely be back to explore more.

A well delivered tour byan ex screw, Keith, who delivered the tour very well. Excellent

I can thoroughly recommend a guided tour of Shepton Mallet prison. Our guide, Monica, was very welcoming and knowledgeable. There is so much to see I want to go back again!

Guided prison tour

Great 2 hour tour. Prison officer had lots of anecdotes and tales of prison life

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2 locations across the UK

• West Midlands ( 1 locations) Arrow Right Icon
• South West ( 1 locations) Arrow Right Icon

Locations shown shouldn't be used for route planning

West Midlands

• Shrewsbury, Shropshire
• Shepton Mallet, Somerset
• Gifts for Curious Minds
• Personality Type
• Gifts For History Lovers

Crumlin Road Gaol Experience, Events, Weddings & Venue Hire

Visitor Attraction Northern Ireland

CRUMLIN ROAD GAOL TOURS

SELF-GUIDED GAOL EXPERIENCE

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 interactive self-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, learning 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.

“Self-Guided Crumlin Road Gaol Experience” is a unique self-guided tour, which includes video, audio, and holograms throughout the site.

As part of your visit, you will have the opportunity to explore different areas of the Gaol including:

• The Tunnel.
• Historic Holding Cells.
• Gaol Circle.
• Condemned Cell.
• Hangman’s Cell.
• Sanger / Matrons House.
• Wessex Helicopter

You will gain a unique and memorable insight into the daily lives and routines of both prisoners and staff.

View Experience Map

Opening / Closing Times 

First Admission: 10:00am

Last Admission: 4:00pm

AUDIO GUIDES AVAILABLE IN: FRENCH, GERMAN, MANDARIN & SPANISH

English also available, however is not essential for the self-guided tour.

Please note when using the audio guides, card details will be required on arrival.

SIGN LANGUAGE VIDEO GUIDES AVAILABLE IN: BSL

Sign Language guides are free of charge for anyone who needs them.

Please note when using the sign language guides, card details will be required on arrival.

INFORMATION AND 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).

*60-90 minute duration based on visitors exploring all areas of the Gaol, reading the information boards and watching the videos around the site.

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 

Private Tours

Home / Private Tours

Experience Shepton Mallet Prison through one of our private tours, led by an ex-prison officer. Immerse yourself in the history of the prison, as you explore a 400-year-old prison on no holds barred tour that showcases life inside.

Our private tours are designed especially for all friends and family groups wanting private tours, activities or events at Shepton Mallet Prison. Make a day of it through additional activities and things to do - suitable for all ages and tastes!

Visit Includes

• iconmonstr-mobile-thin Photographs
• Group 9 Drinks

If you are a family or friend’s group of 15 or more then you can book an exclusive tour of Shepton Mallet Prison.

Your two-hour, no holds barred tour showcases life inside. Tour guides with encyclopedic knowledge will take your group through the traditional prison wings, furnished cells, healthcare, segregation, prisoners’ kitchen, visits, hangman’s bedroom and finish in the execution room.

Who were the infamous inmates? How many escaped? When was the last hanging? How do drugs get into prisons? These are all are just a handful of questions your group may want to ask your tour guide.

Most Popular

Ghost Tours

Shepton Mallet Prison is the most haunted jail in the world…come and investigate to see what lurks behind the high prison walls in the dead of night on our ghost tours!

Night Behind Bars

With a 12-hour overnight stay in a real prison, you'll experience life behind bars at night. Time to explore and hunt for ghosts!

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.

Opening Hours

Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm

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

© Copyright 2024 | Shepton Mallet Prison is part of Cove Group Ltd.

Designed & Built by Reech

gloucester prison guided tours

As part of our events at Gloucester we open the prison to guided tours on a regular basis. Our tours are lead by former and serving members of HMPS.

We add dates on a monthly basis. 

Dates can be found on the tickets page

There are 2 times slots limited to 30 guests.

1.00pm  

Tickets are £18 per person and can be purchased HERE

A Disability Discrimination Act 1995 assessment has been carried out and disabled access is limited but we will always ensure our guests get to see as much as we can deliver. Please contact us prior to your visit to discuss.

Children under 5 go free and no need to book tickets for them. Well behaved dogs are welcome.

Former HMP Gloucester, Barrack Square,  Gloucester, GL12JN

What Three Words Link

FREE PARKING ON SITE VIA MAIN MODERN WOODEN GATE IMMEDIATELY OFF BARRACK SQUARE WHICH WILL OPEN 10 MINS BEFORE YOUR BOOKED TIME. THE HISTORIC GATE IS NOT USED FOR TOUR ENTRY.

There is FREE secure parking on site, arrive 10 mins before your time slot. 

If you are a group or club, we are able to offer private tours, please contact us to discuss this.

We are unable to offer casual unguided visits and are not open for visits on non tour days. 

With its rich history and interesting use, Gloucester Prison is a must visit! In use since the Normans, the site was the location for a huge castle possibly bigger than the Tower of London! This was used as the original county prison until it was demolished and the new Gloucester County Goal and Penitentiary was opened in 1791.

In the 1820s, the prison was rebuilt again, with the perimeter walls being extended, a new debtors’ prison being added and a new gatehouse being built in the north-east wall.

Executions took place on the roof of the new gatehouse from 1826 until 1868 when public executions became illegal. In the mid 18th century more was added to the prison in the form of  3 landing cell blocks (A Wing and B Wing) which were built around the original (1791) gatehouse. The prison was renamed The Gloucester County Prison.  In total 123 people were executed by hanging at the prison-the last in 1939.

During the second half of the twentieth century, more building work was undertaken. In the 1970s, C-Wing,  another cell block was added to the prisoner accommodation. Further major reconstruction of the site took place, with old buildings being cleared to make way for a reception and administration block in the mid 1980's 

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. The prison was closed in 2013 due to over-crowding, its old design and expensive upkeep.

• North America
• 7 Prison Museums You Can...

Prison Museums You Can Visit Across The US

With over 100,000 prisons and jails around the globe, historic jail cells and prison museums have become a huge draw for tourists, and the US is no different – the states has over a dozen historic prisons to discover. From Alcatraz Island’s remote location off the shores of San Francisco to Eastern State Penitentiary’s famous haunted cells, learn about the histories and tales that characterize the past of these seven U.S. prisons.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips , compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips .

Alcatraz, California

Alcatraz is reputed to have housed some of the most dangerous prisoners of the 20th century, including mobster Al Capone and gangster Alvin Karpowicz ; referred to as ‘the prison system’s prison,’ Alcatraz received the most difficult inmates. Built on an island off the coast of San Francisco, ‘The Rock,’ as it was nicknamed, made for a challenging escape, although over a dozen attempts were made – none of which were successful. Alcatraz was originally built in the 1850s as a U.S. military fortress and housed military prisoners until 1933, when it was renovated as a maximum-security prison. Alcatraz could hold 260–275 prisoners during its time of operation, less than one percent of the entire federal inmate population, but officially closed its doors in 1963 due to its high operating costs.

Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) was part of a controversial movement in the early 1800s that advocated the use of solitary confinement and hard labor to alter the behavior of inmates. Designed in a ‘radial-style’ floor plan, ESP was one of the most costly buildings of its time, with vaulted ceilings, skylights, and 253 cells, each with its own toilet, running water, and heat. The layout and practices at ESP were so popular that they were replicated in over 300 other prisons worldwide; by the early 1930s, however, the prison abandoned the solitary confinement system, replacing it with other severe forms of punishment. Operating from 1829–1971, the prison held some of the nation’s most infamous criminals, including Al Capone (before his time at Alcatraz) and Willie Sutton ; today, it’s considered one of the most haunted buildings in the world.

Sing Sing Prison, New York

Home to the first electric chair (‘Old Sparky’), the famous Babe Ruth baseball game , and some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, like Albert Fish and David Berkowitz , Sing Sing is one of America’s most famous prisons. Built by 100 prisoners from another local prison, Sing Sing was one of the most impressive prisons of its kind upon its completion in 1828. Originally modeled after Captain Elam Lynds’ ‘silent system’ – the use of ‘hard work, community activity and silent reflection’ to alter inmate behavior – the prison eventually moved to a more modern approach that used sports to teach discipline, introduced by Warden Lewis Lawes . While the prison still holds more than 1,500 inmates today, plans for turning the prison’s 1939 power plant into a 22,000-square-foot museum are in the making. Visit the museum in the meantime, located in The Ossining Historical Society Museum .

Ohio State Reformatory, Ohio

The Ohio State Reformatory , also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, was constructed between 1886 and 1910 to act as an ‘intermediate penitentiary’, or the half-way point between the Boys Industrial School and the Ohio Penitentiary. In the mid-1800s, the land was originally used as Civil War training grounds; in 1884, plans for the new prison were approved by the state. Designed by Levi T. Scofield, the reformatory featured Victorian and Romanesque architectural styles, believed to encourage inmates to get in touch with their spiritual side. In 1990, the Boyd Consent Decree deemed the prison overcrowded and unsanitary – over 200 inmates had died during its operation – forcing it to close its doors. Today, the prison operates as a museum, and has been included in many famous films like The Shawshank Redemption ( 1994).

West Virginia State Penitentiary, West Virginia

After separating from Virginia at the height of the Civil War, West Virginia lacked many public institutions, including a prison. After repeated denials, the West Virginia Legislature finally purchased the land for the West Virginia State Penitentiary in 1886. Completed using prison labor in 1887, the prison’s design featured stone walls and Gothic architectural elements like turrets and battlements, modeled after a prison in Illinois , and included a hospital and chapel, adding a school and library later on. There were other services, like a carpentry shop and bakery, that provided jobs for inmates, making the prison self-sufficient. Despite its good conditions at the turn of the century, the prison went into a state of decline: there were over 36 homicides, a prison break in 1979, and a riot in 1986. The prison was ordered to shut down by the Supreme Court in 1986; it officially closed its doors in 1995. It was listed as one of the US Department of Justice’s Top Ten Most Violent Correctional Facilities and played host to 94 executions from 1899–1959: 85 by hanging and nine by electric chair. It is also considered one of America’s most haunted prisons.

Old Idaho Penitentiary, Idaho

Old Idaho Penitentiary , once known as the Territorial Prison, was constructed in 1872 as a single-cell house; over the years, the prison expanded to include several buildings, as well as a 17-foot-high wall surrounding the complex. Over 101 years, until it closed in 1973, the Old Idaho Penitentiary received over 13,000 inmates, 215 of them women, and housed infamous convicts like Harry Orchard and Lyda ‘Lady Bluebeard’ Southard . The prison, however, was known for having unsuitable living conditions, and many inmates responded to these conditions with riots in 1971 and 1973. After its closing in 1973, the prison was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Yuma Territorial Prison, Arizona

Yuma Territorial Prison , now a historic state park , opened its doors in 1876, and its first inmates were seven men who were responsible for constructing the prison. During its 33 years of operation, the prison housed 3,069 prisoners, 29 of them women, and despite its infamous reputation, it is said to have had humane conditions – prisoners made hand-crafted items that were sold at Sunday public markets and they received regular medical attention; the prison also had one of the first public libraries in the territory, where prisoners learned how to read and write. No executions took place here, but over 26 inmates escaped and over 100 died (most from tuberculosis). By the turn of the century, the prison was overcrowded, so a new facility was built in Florence, Arizona , and the prison officially ceased operations in 1909.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

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We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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