HM Prison Holloway

HM Prison Holloway was a women's correctional facility in north London containing 436 cells across multiple wings with medical and support services. The complex housed specialized units for healthcare and rehabilitation programs designed to assist inmates.

The facility opened in 1852 as a mixed-gender prison and transformed into Britain's first women-only institution in 1903. It remained central to female incarceration for over a century before closure in 2016.

The prison held suffragettes during their campaign for women's voting rights, including prominent activists like Emmeline Pankhurst who were detained here.

The site is no longer accessible as the prison closed in 2016 and the grounds are not open to the public. Visitors interested in its history can explore nearby museums or archives that document the facility's role in British corrections and social movements.

Ruth Ellis, the last woman executed in the United Kingdom, was put to death at this prison in 1955. Her case marked the end of capital punishment for women in the country.

Location: London Borough of Islington

Inception: 1852

Official opening: 1852

GPS coordinates: 51.55417,-0.12500

Latest update: December 18, 2025 11:41