The Top 4 Prison Hotels

Ello, ‘ello, ‘ello. Fancy a short break with a difference? If so then check out our top four picks for prison stays you won’t want to escape from!

Malmaison Oxford, Oxford Castle, 3 New Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 1AY

Features: 4 Star AA Rated Hotel ~ Rosette Awarded Restaurant ~ Dogs Welcome

Located in Oxford City Centre, this boutique hotel is one of the most imaginative conversions in Britain. This luxurious hotel was once the ‘A’ Wing for the County Gaol in Oxford Castle, built in 1850s during the Victorian Gothic period and serving as HM Prison Oxford from 1888 until 1996. Today, the hotel combines luxury accommodation and stunning food with the darker past of the original building.

Open the heavy studded door to your cell and enter your boutique bedroom boasting luxurious beds and power showers. This is one jail that you won’t want to escape from.

Bodmin Jail Hotel, Scarlett’s Well Road, Bodmin, PL31 2PL

Features: Pet Friendly ~ Onsite Bar & Restaurant ~ Free Wifi ~ Family Rooms Available

Built in 1779 by prisoners of the Napoleonic Wars for King George III, Bodmin Jail is the site of 55 prisoner executions dating until 1909. Today, the gaol has been renovated from a dilapidated former jail into a boutique hotel.

Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, close to wild moor of Bodmin, Bodmin Jail Hotel is perfect for exploring Cornwall and all it has to offer.

Courthouse Hotel, 335-337 Old Street, Shoreditch, London EC1V 9LL

Features: Indoor Pool ~ Sauna ~ Steam Room ~ Fitness Centre ~ Onsite Bar & Restaurant

Dine in the building where Mick Jagger was once accused of being in possession of cannabis, or have a drink where Keith Richards received a £205 fine for possession of some illegal substances; The Courthouse Hotel in Shoreditch is steeped in history and has a connection to many famous names.

Having received a £40 million renovation, this luxury boutique hotel is located in a Grade-II listed Magistrates Court and Police Station and boasts a spa, bowling alley, cinema, swimming pool and a sky terrace overlooking London. It also boasts luxurious bedrooms and exceptional food.

How can you turn down a tipple in the cell where the notorious Kray twins appeared at their first criminal hearing in 1965?!

Clink78, 78 King’s Cross Road, London WC1X 9QG

Features: Hostel ~ Onsite Bar ~ 24hr Reception ~ Free Wifi ~ Laundry Service Available

Unlike the previous two entries in our Top Prison Stays list, Clink78 is not a boutique hotel but a vibrant and energetic hostel. Just 10 minutes walk from Kings Cross Tube Station, this former Victorian Courthouse offers shared and female-only dormitory-style accommodation along with private rooms.

Watch TV in an original courtroom or sleep in an authentic prison cell, this really is a unique experience. And remember to visit the ClashBAR in the basement, named after the famous anarchist punk band who once stood trial within the building.

The Bridewell, Cheapside, Liverpool L2 2DY

Features: Fitness Centre ~ Free Wifi ~ Luggage Store ~ Maid Service

This former prison on Cheapside (now a business district) combines the modern micro-hotel concept with a Grade II listed building steeped in history, whilst at the same time mixing the new and the old in a very unique format.

Used as Liverpool‘s main lock-up for more than 130 years, the former cells have been transformed into slick self-catering accommodation – en-suite with a maid service and breakfast available for an addition charge and served off-site.

Note – The old cell rooms are a tad smaller than the standard rooms.