Peterhead Prison Museum

Peterhead Prison Museum is a former maximum-security facility built from granite in Scotland with exhibits spread across cell blocks, courtyards, and administrative buildings. The site covers around six acres and displays all sections of the original prison.

The facility opened in 1888 and served as Scotland's main prison for over 125 years until closing in 2013. Inmates worked in nearby granite quarries and contributed to the development of the harbor.

The museum displays how daily life unfolded within these walls, showing the routines of both officers and prisoners. Audio recordings feature guards sharing personal accounts of their work and what it meant to serve in such a place.

Access is provided through guided tours or audio guides that let you explore the site at your own pace. Visitors should be prepared for uneven floors and stairs in the older buildings.

In 1987 a four-day uprising occurred in D wing when inmates took control and held an officer hostage. Special forces were deployed to handle the crisis, making it one of the most dramatic incidents in Scottish prison history.

Location: Aberdeenshire

Address: South Rd, Peterhead AB42 2ZX

Phone: 01779581060

Website: https://peterheadprisonmuseum.com

GPS coordinates: 57.49124,-1.79272

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:44