Shrewsbury Prison

Awarded the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, 9 years running! Shrewsbury Prison is officially in the top 10% of things to do worldwide.

The current prison buildings date back to the Victorian era, built in 1868, although a prison has stood on this site since 1793. The prison was decommissioned by the Ministry of Justice in 2013 and is now open to the public as a unique tourist attraction offering a variety of tours, activities and events, including our popular Guided Tours.

Led by officers, our Guided Tours showcase what life was like, day and night, for prisoners, officers and visitors. During the 90 minute tour, you’ll hear stories from the Victorian period through to the 21st century and explore key areas including: two prison wings (one reputed to be particularly haunted), the exercise yards, segregation cells, healthcare and the chilling execution room, including the condemned man's cell and the executioner's room.

But that’s just the beginning! Behind Shrewsbury Prison’s towering walls, you’ll find a variety of thrilling and immersive experiences, including:

• Self-Guided Tour
• Ghost Tour
• Escape Rooms - The Cell & The Hole
• Prison Break - the world’s largest escape game
• Night Behind Bars
• Ghost Hunting Behind Bars

Each experience promises to be as thrilling as it is educational, giving you the rare chance to explore behind the bars of one of Britain’s most fascinating and haunted prisons.

Shrewsbury Prison is also a versatile venue, offering corporate days out, Education Behind Bars, and has been used for a range of external events, productions and filming projects.

If all that exploring works up an appetite, the onsite restaurant serves a range of meals, snacks and drinks. Prison food has never tasted so good!