Peterhead Prison Museum: An Insight into Scotland's Only Convict Prison History

Discover the captivating history of Peterhead Prison Museum, Scotland’s only convict prison. Explore its role in the railway industry, the dramatic SAS siege, and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this award-winning attraction.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Peterhead Prison Museum - Our 5* Multi-Award winning visitor attraction is set within the former HM Convict Prison, Peterhead.
    Unique in many ways including being the only “Convict” prison in Scotland [to come here meant you were sentenced to “penal servitude”]; It had the first “state owned” railway in Britain; and it was the only time the Special…
What's Included
  • Includes an audio set for guided tour
Additional Information

The tour covers the scenario within the one and only ‘Convict’ prison in Scotland.
The tour explains that it accommodated the first ‘state-owned’ railway in Britain, and you’ll have the opportunity to view the previous wagons and equipment utilized in the railway.
The tour expounds and displays to visitors the famous usage of the SAS to terminate a…

Location
Peterhead Prison Museum
South Road, Admiralty Gateway
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(549 Ratings)
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Vonnie6532
May 5, 2025
Highly recommend the guided tour option - We had a really enjoyable visit to the Prison Museum. David was a great tour guide who was very informative and friendly. He welcomed our questions. We had loads of time after the tour to go back and look around on our own. We are so glad we eventually made the trip. We had lunch in the cafe after our tour and it was lovely and good value.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Smokieno1
May 3, 2025
Guided tour recommend! - Visited on a Saturday and took the 12:30 guided tour of the Prison. There were about 12 or so people on the tour, and the guide was an ex-prison officer. You can just go through the museum yourself wearing headphones to hear a commentary, but I would highly recommend you take the guided tour because you will hear so much more about the prison and it’s inmates from someone who actually worked there along with some great anecdotes. Plus you can ask questions too that you wouldn’t be able to if you go self-guided… Our guide was very good. Guided tour lasted 1 & 1/2 hrs and there’s a cafe at the end, serving a great selection of meals,cakes,snacks and hot and cold drinks. Very reasonably priced too. There is also a lifeboat museum within the prison to visit too. Definitely worth visiting the museum and taking the guided tour option. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4878qgmalcolmh
May 3, 2025
Excellent tour with David - Excellent, informative tour with David, told us some great stories. Would recommend to anyone. Lovely little cafe onsite too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ianjl3557dp
Apr 27, 2025
Peterhead Prison Visit. - David was an excellent guide. As they ssy "straight from the horse's mouth". He was formerly a prison officer in the prison. His stories of the past were well worth listening to. A good 2 hours spent.
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V2168jybruceb
Apr 27, 2025
Great Day Out - A great experience had by my daughter & I. David was a great & experienced tour guide, thank you. We will recommend the guided tour to our family & friends. We both leant a lot & had a great time.
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U5358yikenneths
Apr 22, 2025
Looking for something to do with the family this is a great thing to visit - We took the guided tour visit, our guide was David who was brilliant if anything the tour was to short but we had loads of questions. When they say wrap up warm they mean it my word it was cold inside. Whole family enjoyed the tour I actually think it needs a higher profile because its soo good.
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Nicole
Apr 21, 2025
Great tour with knowledgable tour guide - This was an amazing tour! Our tour guide, David who is an ex prison officer, was very knowledgeable and took time to answer questions in detail. He was able to share old stories from his time working in the prison and we got plenty of time to look around the different areas. Thanks so much David, thoroughly enjoyed your tour!
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Businesstravellercla
Apr 21, 2025
Informative and fun guided tour - Had a fabulous and informative hour and a half guided tour with the comedic David who had us all In hysterics (our group was aged 21-56). Well worth the visit but do take a jacket - it was chilly!
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Looby66
Apr 20, 2025
Excellent Guided Tour at Peterhead Prison - Have visited the prison museum before and did the audio tour which was excellent, this time we did the guided tour which was even better! Our guide was David who had previously been a prison officer at Peterhead prison, he was an excellent guide, very knowledgable and brought the whole experience to life. Stories of his personal experiences were so interesting and he was very engaging with the group and answered any questions anyone had. Definitely a 5 star way to spend a few hours and I’ll be back again in the future! Don’t miss it if you get the chance!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dorothy
Apr 15, 2025
An Amazing Experience..!! - So well organised with masses of information about the history and day to day experiences for staff and inmates within this environment. Goodness knows where they got all the gruesome model prisoners but they are brilliant. Reception and cafe staff are very friendly and welcoming. This was our second visit. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $20
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).