Peterhead Prison Museum: An Insight into Scotland's Only Convict Prison History
4.9
454 Ratings
Peterhead
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: 1 day learn more
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 Air Service were used to end a domestic siege on mainland UK when an officer was held hostage for 4 day’s in 1987.
    All your senses will be teased as you walk the galleries and halls where you are surrounded by the visual, our award winning audio tour will bring you into moments in time as you listen to former officers tell their stories and your olfactory senses will be in overdrive at key locations on the route.
    Walk in the footsteps of former officers and inmates of “Scotland’s Toughest Jail” often referred to as “Scotland’s Alcatraz”.
    This is a once in a life time experience and one that will live with you for many year’s to come
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 dramatic standoff that lasted four days in 1987.

The tour guides you through a 125 year chaotic history of Scotland’s solitary high-security penitentiary.

The tour will stimulate each of your senses - visual, auditory, and olfactory - leaving you with a sense of anticipation that an inmate might just emerge around the next corner.

The tour is currently a multi-award winning tourist site, rated as a 5* attraction by Visit Scotland.

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
(454 Ratings)
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Gordonb666
Apr 2, 2024
Great day out - Fantastic day out, well worth the money. Stayed in Aberdeen so wasn't too far to travel. My boy aged 9 loved it. Kudos to the staff, couldn't do enough, all were chatty etc
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Wanderingcheff
Apr 1, 2024
Peterhead history tour - Set out quite well, Peterhead history and well preserved and presented. Me and my partner were very impressed. Clean and tidy. Staff very informative and excellent hosts.
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Greenscrubs
Mar 31, 2024
Incredible piece of history - Absolutely incredible piece of history. Definitely worth the visit! My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the prison during our visit to Peterhead.
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Y317gwiant
Mar 24, 2024
Quick stop - What a place . The staff were super friendly and explaining everything. Well worth a visit . Highly Recommend and the price was only £12 with me giving a gift aid .
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Onair67232378459
Mar 21, 2024
WOW - WOW what a place loads of history here sights sound even the smells 😂 really enjoyed our visit here gives you a real insight into prison life very interesting and informative great value for money
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Hayley
Mar 10, 2024
Fantastic experience - This place was amazing, really interesting, you get earphones on arrival to listen to stories all around the prison, I would highly recommended having a visit
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Kayw913
Mar 9, 2024
Wonderful Prison Museum Tour and Cafe Visit - This tour is really worthwhile, very informative and the staff are so friendly and couldn't do more to help. The only downside is it is very cold inside the different prison areas, so recommend wearing gloves, a hat and a warm jacket. We went to the Governor's cafe afterwards where the food was lovely and served by a very cheery lady!
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Carolegl7786ny
Feb 28, 2024
5 Star attraction in Aberdeenshire - Visited the Peterhead Prison Museum yesterday with friends and we were all so impressed with the whole setup. Very interesting and well laid out. A great experience for all ages. Had lunch at the cafe which was lovely. Thanks to all the staff in every section of the museum for all the information given in a friendly manner. They all made us feel very welcome. Thoroughly recommend a visit.
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692lawrencec
Feb 25, 2024
Great experience - Great experience , really factual . Children 10/12 enjoyed having the headsets and bring in control of their own information.
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Craigmorrison22
Feb 13, 2024
10 out of 10! Would thoroughly recommend a visit to this prison museum. - Wow…excellent!! Would thoroughly recommend a visit to this prison museum. With the audio tour, you go around the well marked site at your own pace…it’s both informative and really interesting with great exhibits. Really friendly and helpful staff! There’s the added bonus of the RNLI Museum as well. After reading other reviews our expectations were high and… it certainly does not disappoint- A 10 out of 10 rating from all our family!
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up to 10 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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