HMP Holloway: History, Closure and the Holloway Park Redevelopment
Last reviewed: June 2026
If you have arrived here trying to locate a relative or send a letter, the most important thing to know is that Holloway no longer operates as a prison. Below we explain its history, why it closed, where its prisoners went, and what stands on the site now — along with how to find someone who may previously have been held there.
A short history of Holloway
Holloway opened in 1852 as a mixed local prison and became women-only in 1903. For more than a century it was one of the most recognisable names in the British penal system. It held suffragettes — including Emmeline Pankhurst — who endured hunger strikes and force-feeding there in the early 20th century. It was also the site of the last executions of women in Britain: Edith Thompson (1923) and Ruth Ellis (1955), the last woman hanged in the United Kingdom, were both executed within its walls.
The Victorian buildings were demolished and rebuilt between 1971 and 1985 in an attempt to create a more therapeutic, hospital-style environment. In practice the redesign was widely criticised, and by the 2010s the prison was reporting serious problems with overcrowding, mental-health provision and ageing infrastructure.
Why did HMP Holloway close?
The closure was announced by Chancellor George Osborne in the November 2015 Spending Review as part of a wider plan to sell off old inner-city prisons and reinvest in modern estates. Campaigners welcomed the end of a building many considered unfit, but criticised the speed of the closure and the dispersal of London women to prisons far from their families. Holloway shut its doors in July 2016.
Where did the prisoners go?
| Prison | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| HMP Bronzefield | Closed, women’s (private) | Ashford, Surrey |
| HMP Downview | Closed, women’s | Sutton, Surrey |
| HMP Send | Closed/semi-open, women’s | Woking, Surrey |
Most former Holloway prisoners were transferred to Bronzefield and Downview. If you are trying to reach someone who was at Holloway, you will now need their current prison location and prisoner number. Our guide on how to contact someone in prison explains how to use the official prisoner-location service and set up visits and calls.
- “Can I still visit someone at Holloway?” No. The prison is closed; there are no prisoners and no visits.
- “Holloway is a men’s prison.” It was a women’s prison for most of its modern history, and held men only in its earliest decades.
- “The buildings are still standing.” Demolition of the prison structures began after the sale; the site is now a construction and regeneration project.
What is on the site now? Holloway Park
After several years on the market, the Ministry of Justice sold the 10-acre site to the housing association Peabody in 2019 for about £81 million. Peabody’s redevelopment plans were approved by Islington Council in March 2022. The scheme — branded “Holloway Park” — includes around 985 new homes, with roughly 60% earmarked as affordable housing, a new public park of about 1.5 acres, and a purpose-built Women’s Building offering support services as a lasting legacy of the site’s history. Construction has been carried out in phases.
First-hand perspective
Understanding what a closed local prison actually felt like helps families make sense of the system. Prison Guide’s founder, Daniel Hockey, served a sentence himself (from HMP Wandsworth through to open conditions at HMP Ford) and writes about that experience in his book The Secret Prisoner (2021). You can read more about Daniel here.
Frequently asked questions
Is HMP Holloway still open in 2026?
No. Holloway closed in July 2016 and is being redeveloped into housing and public space.
Who were the most famous prisoners held at Holloway?
Holloway held suffragettes including Emmeline Pankhurst, and was where Ruth Ellis — the last woman executed in the UK — was hanged in 1955.
How do I find someone who used to be at Holloway?
Use the GOV.UK find a prisoner service, or see our guide to contacting someone in prison. You will need the person’s date of birth and, ideally, their prisoner number.
What will the Holloway site become?
A residential neighbourhood called Holloway Park, with affordable homes, a public park and a dedicated Women’s Building.
Sources: HM Prison Holloway (Wikipedia); Peabody — Holloway Park; Islington Council.
