Prison Hotels UK: Former Jails Turned Into Luxury Stays
Last reviewed: August 2026
There is something irresistible about checking into a building that people once spent years trying to check out of. Across the UK, a handful of Victorian and Georgian jails have been converted into boutique hotels that trade on their history rather than hiding it. This guide covers the main options, what a stay is actually like, and what to know before booking.
The UK’s best-known prison hotels
| Hotel | Location | History | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Malmaison Oxford | Oxford Castle, Oxford | Prison site since the medieval castle era; rebuilt as a Victorian jail in 1785; closed as HM Prison Oxford in 1996 | Around 95 rooms, many made from knocked-through cells with original doors and barred windows |
| Bodmin Jail Hotel | Bodmin, Cornwall | Built 1779, partly by Napoleonic prisoners of war; site of 55 executions up to 1909 | Luxury rooms built within the old cell blocks; attached visitor attraction telling the jail’s story |
| Courthouse Hotel Shoreditch | London EC1 | Grade II listed Old Street Magistrates’ Court and police station | Cells converted into bar booths; spa, cinema, bowling alley and rooftop terrace |
Beyond these three, several old courthouses, police stations and lock-ups around the UK have been converted into smaller guesthouses and holiday lets — it is always worth searching “old jail” or “courthouse” alongside your destination. Prices and packages change often, so check the hotels’ own sites for current rates.
What staying in a prison hotel is actually like
Most guests are surprised by two things. First, how much of the original fabric survives: cell doors with peepholes, observation galleries, narrow landings and iron staircases are usually left proudly on show. Second, how comfortable the rooms are — conversions typically knock two or three cells into one bedroom, because an original Victorian cell is genuinely tiny. That contrast is the whole appeal: thick walls and barred windows outside, Egyptian cotton inside.
A word from someone who stayed in the real thing
It is worth remembering that the novelty works precisely because the reality was — and is — nothing like it. Prison Guide’s founder Daniel Hockey served a real sentence, from HMP Wandsworth to open conditions at HMP Ford, and wrote about it in The Secret Prisoner (2021). An actual cell has no room service, no lie-ins and no checkout time — if a stay in a prison hotel sparks curiosity about what modern prison life is really like, our guides to prison life and prison visits tell the unvarnished version.
Planning your stay
Book direct where you can — the prison-heritage rooms sell out first, especially at weekends and around Halloween. If the history is the draw, pair your stay with the attached attractions: Oxford Castle runs guided tours of the surviving prison wings, and Bodmin Jail’s museum covers crime and punishment in Georgian and Victorian Cornwall. For wider background on how Britain’s prison estate evolved, Historic England and the Prison Reform Trust both publish accessible material, and our own A–Z of UK prisons covers every establishment still in use.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay in a real working prison in the UK?
No. All prison hotels are decommissioned buildings. The closest legitimate experience of a working prison is visiting someone — see our prison visits guide.
Which is the most authentic?
Malmaison Oxford keeps the most recognisable cell-block layout, with galleried landings intact. Bodmin Jail leans harder into the historical storytelling.
Are prison hotels expensive?
They span the market: converted-cell doubles often start around the price of a mid-range city hotel, with premium heritage suites costing considerably more. Rates move with demand, so compare dates.
Are they suitable for people who find prison themes distressing?
Worth considering honestly. If someone in your family is currently inside, a themed hotel may land differently — there is no shame in choosing somewhere else.
