Shepton Mallet Prison Self-Guided Tour: Explore Over 400 Years of History and Heritage
4.8
255 Ratings
Shepton Mallet
Discover the captivating history of Shepton Mallet Prison on a self-guided tour. Immerse yourself in over 400 years of prison life and experience a world-class tourism adventure.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Shepton Mallet Prison - If you’re looking for a day out with a difference, you’re in the right place. Explore the whole prison at your leisure, take photos and CELLfies as you soak up the atmosphere of this amazing 400-year-old prison. An ideal day out for families with young children who would like to investigate at their own pace.
You will be given a visitor guide and map, as you explore around the prison use the sound boxes to learn the facts and history of the prison. The information boards add a fascinating background detail to your visit with staff always available to point you in the right direction and answer any questions you may have.
What's Included
- All fees and taxes included
Additional Information
Shepton Mallet Prison delivers a quintessential tourism encounter that enlightens individuals by providing an educational and engaging trip into its incarcerating confines. Our objective is to uphold, safeguard, and highlight the historical and cultural significance of Shepton Mallet Prison, thereby illuminating the prison lifestyle from the Jacobean period to contemporary times. Visitors enjoy a distinct incarceration experience melded with superior customer service. Originally established in 1625 and in operation until 2013, Shepton Mallet Prison is Britain’s most long-standing prison. Housing over four centuries of history within its towering walls, it is an essential visit for heritage enthusiasts.
- We are dog friendly
Location
Shepton Mallet Prison
Frithfield Lane
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(255 Ratings)
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Hops1865
Mar 25, 2024
Great Tour - Great tour of almost 2 hours wonderfully explained by Jason, then had time afterwards to do our own exploring, would definitely recommend a visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Somerset_belles
Mar 22, 2024
Brilliant! - We really enjoyed Shepton Mallet prison, it was brilliant, and I'd return again. Unfortunately I can't remember the tour guides name, but he was very good.
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Z2958amzoes
Mar 19, 2024
Such an interesting place and thought provoking, a good deterrent to if you are considering crime! - A very different but great day out. I really like the fact it hasn't been altered hardly at all and you get to see it as it was so you can really get a feel for what it may have been like.
It is also very interesting to see the prison through the years from its early days in the 1600's to modern day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Raveydavey1982
Mar 17, 2024
Excellent trip. Highly recommend. - Visited on a Sunday with two young kids, my wife and mum. Nicely quiet so felt like we had the place to ourselves. Plenty of parking and a very warm welcome from the reception staff.
What an interesting place. Really had a feeling of what it would have been like to be an inmate. Quite eerie. All of the prison seemed to be open to walk around with the various cell blocks and exercise yard etc.
Would highly recommend. Only sad we didn’t opt for the guided tour as that would have been excellent.
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Gezzerd2869ky
Mar 15, 2024
Life Behind Bars - What an amazing place to visit warm welcome received at reception and very informative as for our walk around you could sense the eerie feel of being banged up in prison and as walked around the prison there was loads of information to read about the historical past up till its closure would recommend a visit as great place we will visit again in the future
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Kiks_uk
Mar 6, 2024
Explore the maze of buildings and corridors to learn about the prison and its inmates over the years - I went with my 6 year old and my parents over half term and we had an amazing time! I didn’t realise how big the prison was - it was a maze of buildings and corridors to explore with interesting stories and info scattered around to find. We were there around 2 hours but skipped a few areas when the little one got bored so there was more we could have done. An unusual day out and well worth the money!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
F6972oxkeng
Feb 26, 2024
interesting experience - Very interesting experience this was the third visit for me and have now got an annual pass so will be going back The place has a real sense of history and gives a great insight to how the place was run and what it must have been like to be a prisoner there and is well worth a visit Its not overdone and is pretty much how it was when decommissioned and full of atmosphere Looking forward to next time
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28sharnp
Mar 29, 2024
An experience you will never forget - Well worth a visit and an experience you never forget. A turbulent history in one building.
Map given could be updated and numbers added to the revelant buildings.
Council should give this listed building high tourist attraction by putting brown signs around Shepton Mallet and before town. Also put in guide books.
All locals as well as holiday visitors should put this on their bucket list.
We will go again with more family
Well done to all who keep this going.
Dogs allowed during the day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angiemill
Feb 27, 2024
It got better - It started off slightly disappointingly but as the route moved on, so did the interest and enjoyment. We would have liked there to have been more information on the walls to explain the various areas.
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Icegem48
Feb 22, 2024
What a cool place! - Lots to read so you can get a real good idea of its history. You can go in all the cells which is really interesting. Good few hrs out
Review provided by Tripadvisor