Shrewsbury Prison Tour: Interactive History Experience

Experience the world’s most interactive prison at Shrewsbury Prison. Immerse yourself in the history of prison life from the Georgian era to the modern day on a unique self-guided tour.

Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Shrewsbury 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 Selfies as you soak up the atmosphere of this amazing Victorian prison. An ideal day out for families with young children who would like to investigate at their own pace.
    You will be given a…
What's Included
  • All Fees and Taxes
Additional Information

Shrewsbury Prison stands as the globe’s most engaging correctional facility that informs and excites people by giving them a remarkable encounter of what it feels like to be behind bars.
Our main goal is to secure, conserve and highlight the rich history and legacy of the Shrewsbury Prison, by illuminating the public on life in prison from the Georgian…

Location
Shrewsbury Prison
The Dana
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.6
(433 Ratings)
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_ljr2002
Dec 10, 2025
Highly recommended - Highly recommend great value day out, pleased to see a historical building being used rather than being left empty and derelict. Loved that you can walk around independently at your own pace taking photos of everything, loads of information boards explaining the history. Staff all very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, Sharon was just great who we met at the admission entrance. Enjoyed hearing more about the history and stories behind the prison from her. Had tea and homemade cake in the cafe again couldn’t fault anything - really enjoyed a different day out - thanks again to Sharon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mikehq119dc
Dec 4, 2025
Doing time! - This experience is a must do when visiting Shrewsbury. We spent just over 2 hours exploring the prison and felt the whole thing was great value.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris
Oct 31, 2025
Prison - Very interesting not Ur usual theme park .my son found it.very eye opening . .cafe was nice ..plenty to see will definitely return at some point
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christineck4686lx
Dec 27, 2025
Interesting experience - Very nice greeting and interesting info from the Christmas elf! Fair price. Very interesting and informative trip overall.
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Cliff_taylor2
Dec 15, 2025
Worthwhile couple of hours here - A really good experience, getting to see and feel what it is like if you are naughty. To see how things changed over the year, Georgian to Victorian to 2013 when it closed and said goodbye to its last prisoner. The history around the death penalty was interesting with seeing the gallows room and learning about the earlier public executions. Was worthwhile visiting this recommended attraction.
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Linda
Nov 19, 2025
Well worth a stay 🤔 - Well worth a visit A place you would not want to stay in Definitely stop people commenting crimes If they were sent there now Nice to see its kept to its original standards Parking 5.00 Found it rather eire Had a snack in restaurant average price
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Nataliegt3357bq
Dec 22, 2025
Bit run down - Alright, learnt a lot, lots to see but quite run down (peeling wallpaper etc). I know this damage was probably from when it was an actual prison but felt a bit neglected. Prefer other prison attractions in the UK.
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Kevinraf3131
Nov 21, 2025
£15 to wander around a prison with no guide is Excessive - Personally speaking. I found the £15 entrance fee to wander around a prison with no guide for an hour excessive. To my knowledge, there are no concessions either. Apparently, visiting with a tour guide is priced at £20. £5 to visit alone and £12.50 - £15 for a visit with a tour guide is a much fairer price.
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Vikinglongboat
Nov 1, 2025
Novelty experience. - There is a small pay and display car park opposite the prison gates / entrance which is very pricey and only accepts app payments / card payments. The railway station car park next to the prison is for rail users only. We wanted to spend a few more hours in Shrewsbury after visiting the prison so parked in the Abbey Foregate car park and walked up the hill, through town and to the castle / prison. It was only 60p an hour for parking at Abbey Foregate with ample spaces, but it is quite a walk. The prison self guided option allows you to wander around at your own leisure with a map. The map is needed as signage throughout the site is quite poor and confusing. We found the prison to be interesting and a different type of visitor attraction; however, apart from the 'haunted cell', execution room and novelty of visiting a prison - it was all a bit 'samey'. Once you have seen one cell then you have seen them all. Toilets were limited and the gift shop could have been better and had a better ambience. Staff we met were friendly and helpful. Overall I recommend this place for a different 'novelty' type of visit but we found it slightly underwhelming and a bit boring if truth be told.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chrismb7291qa
Oct 25, 2025
Interesting prison but let down by poor presentation - Having grown up in Shrewsbury and remember hearing the prisoners in the prison I was excited about going around. The prison is impressive and crazy to think people were held here until 2013. It's impressive and scary walking around the Victorian cells. However the 'story' is not desperately well told, for a self guided tour then you are given a map and let loose, it is not clear where you should go. The prison also runs guided tours, unfortunately given the space etc. you often end up caught in one of these or unable to read the information signs. Worth a visit but could be presented better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $20
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).