How to Book a Visit to HMP Wormwood Scrubs
Last reviewed: July 2026
Step 1: the visitor list
The prisoner must add your name, date of birth and address to their visitor list before any booking will work. This applies to every adult and child visiting. As a busy Victorian local prison serving the west London courts, the Scrubs has a high population turnover – if the person has just arrived from court, the list may take a little while to be set up, so be patient in the first week. Our Wormwood Scrubs overview page covers the prison itself.
Step 2: book online or by phone
Online at GOV.UK prison visits you enter the prisoner’s name, date of birth and prison number, the details of all visitors, and up to three preferred dates and times; booking staff confirm one by email. Do not travel until you have the confirmation. By phone, call 0300 060 6511 (Mon–Fri 10:00–15:00). For problems, the visits team can be emailed – current addresses are on the GOV.UK Wormwood Scrubs page.
Key details at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prison type | Category B local prison for men, holding remand and sentenced prisoners |
| Online booking | gov.uk/prison-visits |
| Phone booking | 0300 060 6511, Mon–Fri 10:00–15:00 |
| Lateness rule | More than about 30 minutes late = no entry |
| Group rule | At least one visitor aged 18+ at every visit |
| Address | HMP Wormwood Scrubs, Du Cane Road, London W12 0AE |
Remand prisoners have more generous visit entitlements than convicted prisoners, and special family sessions run on certain days – check the GOV.UK page for the current pattern rather than relying on older listings.
Getting there and on the day
The prison is on Du Cane Road, W12: East Acton (Central line) is about ten minutes’ walk, and White City is close by; several buses stop on Du Cane Road. Parking nearby is very limited, so use public transport if you can. On arrival, check in at the visitors’ centre, store your phone and valuables in a locker, and expect airport-style searching – including for children. Take change for refreshments in the visits hall. Dress sensibly: hoodies, offensive slogans and anything resembling uniform can cause problems at security.
• Travelling without a confirmation email – a request is not a booking.
• Cutting it fine – the Scrubs enforces its lateness rule; aim to arrive 45 minutes early.
• Bringing children without an adult – every visit needs someone 18 or over.
• Trying to hand in property at a visit – hand-ins have a separate process; ask the prison first.
• Using an old visiting-times list from the web – sessions change; trust your confirmation email.
Keeping in touch between visits
Between visits, prisoners at the Scrubs can phone approved numbers using PIN credit – top it up through the GOV.UK send money service – and letters remain dependable: write the full name and prison number on the envelope. The Email a Prisoner service delivers printed messages to most prisons within a day. Because the Scrubs is a local prison, many men move on to training prisons within weeks or months; when that happens your visit booking process may change completely, so check the new prison’s page on GOV.UK and our A–Z of UK prisons as soon as you hear about a transfer.
FAQ
What ID do I need?
Accepted photo ID such as a passport or driving licence for adults; check the current accepted list on GOV.UK before you travel.
Can I get help with travel costs?
Eligible close relatives on qualifying benefits can claim via the Assisted Prison Visits Unit.
Are video calls available?
Secure video calls are offered at most English prisons via the Prison Video app; ask the prisoner to confirm current availability at the Scrubs.
How many visits can a prisoner have?
Convicted prisoners get at least two visits every four weeks (more with enhanced privileges); remand prisoners can usually be visited far more often.
A first visit to a big London local can feel intimidating – our founder Daniel Hockey served his own sentence in a London local (HMP Wandsworth, later open conditions at HMP Ford) and wrote The Secret Prisoner about the experience. See our prison how-to guides for what to expect step by step.
