HM Prison Barlinnie

HM Prison Barlinnie is a correctional facility in Glasgow's eastern area serving as Scotland's main prison, with five large accommodation halls distributed across an extensive compound. The facility houses inmates of varying security classifications within its substantial grounds.

The prison opened in 1882, consolidating eight smaller facilities across Glasgow and western Scotland and replacing them with this single complex. This consolidation represented a major shift in how Scotland organized its correctional system.

The Barlinnie Special Unit, operating from 1973 to 1994, introduced new rehabilitation methods for violent offenders through inmate participation in facility management.

Visitors require advance booking and must provide two forms of identification, including one with a photo, to enter during designated visiting hours. It is best to contact the facility beforehand to confirm current access requirements.

Between 1946 and 1960, ten judicial executions occurred within a purpose-built structure on the grounds, followed by burial of the executed in unmarked graves within the prison property. This period with capital punishment ended as the death penalty was phased out across Britain.

Location: Glasgow City

Inception: 1882

Official opening: 1882

Website: http://sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Prisons/Barlinnie/HMP-Barlinnie.aspx

GPS coordinates: 55.86940,-4.18194

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:41