The Clink, Prison museum in Southwark, England
The Clink is a prison museum in the Southwark district of London that displays artifacts, torture instruments, and reconstructed scenes from medieval prison life. The rooms occupy the basement of an old building and convey the feeling of an authentic historical dungeon through narrow passages and dark corners.
The institution began in 1144 as a prison for the Bishop of Winchester and housed criminals, debtors, and religious dissenters over many centuries. It was destroyed during the Gordon Riots in 1780 and reopened as a museum only in the 1990s.
The name of this prison became the origin of an English expression for any place of confinement, still heard in everyday speech today. Visitors see recreations of the cells and learn how prisoners from all walks of life endured harsh conditions here.
The museum sits within walking distance of London Bridge station and opens daily, but offers no accessible entry due to the medieval structure. The rooms are compact and become crowded with visitor groups, so a morning visit tends to be quieter.
Archaeologists uncovered numerous personal items from former inmates at this site, including medieval coins and keys from different periods. Some of these finds are now displayed in the museum cases and offer insight into daily life behind the walls.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
