HM Prison Pentonville, Victorian men's prison in Barnsbury, UK.
HM Prison Pentonville is a prison in Barnsbury, London, built with a central hall and four radial wings extending outward. This design was meant to separate inmates and give staff greater oversight of daily activities.
The prison opened in 1842 and served as a blueprint for roughly 50 similar prisons built across Britain in the following years. It became London's main execution site in 1902 and remained so until capital punishment ended in 1961.
The prison replaced Newgate Prison as London's primary execution site in 1902, with 120 executions taking place until capital punishment ended in 1961.
The facility sits near Caledonian Road underground station and welcomes visitors to guided tours. You will need to book ahead and go through strict security checks including identity verification.
The facility runs the Liberty Kitchen program, which teaches inmates professional cooking skills for future employment. This program shows how the prison focuses on rehabilitation and job training for people in its care.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
