Peterhead Prison is a former Victorian convict prison turned visitor attraction on South Road, Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and other practical visitor tips.
If you want to secure your entry time, tickets can be booked online
This guide was checked against the official Peterhead Prison website in June 2026. One major point worth flagging: the prison closed to visitors on 19 April 2026 for major reconfiguration work and changed ownership, before reopening on a phased basis from 23 May 2026; hours and the visitor route are still settling into their longer-term pattern.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–3.30pm until 1 September 2026; weekends and school holidays only from 2 September 2026 |
| Ticket prices | Prison Entry from £10; Guided Tour from £17 (includes Prison Entry) |
| Address | Peterhead Prison, Admiralty Gateway, South Road, Peterhead, AB42 2ZX |
| Nearest transport/parking | Free on-site parking; Stagecoach bus stop directly outside the gates |
| Typical time needed | 2 hours |
Peterhead Prison opening hours
Through the summer of 2026, up to and including 1 September, Prison Entry runs daily from 10am to 3.30pm.
From 2 September 2026, opening reverts to weekends and school holiday periods only, on the same daily times. The on-site café operates seven days a week regardless of the museum’s own opening days. Because the site has only recently reopened after a period of closure and a change of ownership, it is worth booking online and checking the website close to your visit date in case hours shift again.
Peterhead Prison ticket prices
A self-guided Prison Entry ticket starts at £10 and includes free roaming of wings, landings, and cells over roughly 2 hours.
| Ticket | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prison Entry (self-guided) | From £10 | 2 hours, no fixed route |
| Guided Tour | From £17 | Includes Prison Entry; Saturdays only, 10:30am and 12:30pm, 1.5 hours |
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026.
Peterhead Prison is covered by Cove Attractions’ Inmate Pass and Officer Pass, annual passes giving unlimited 12-month entry to Peterhead Prison, Shrewsbury Prison in Shropshire, and Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset; the Officer Pass adds a 10% discount on experiences, the on-site restaurant, and the gift shop. You can book online in advance to guarantee a slot.
How to get to Peterhead Prison
The prison is at Admiralty Gateway, South Road, Peterhead, AB42 2ZX, on the Aberdeenshire coast.
The nearest railway station is Aberdeen, around 35 miles south, next to the main Stagecoach bus depot. From there, Stagecoach buses run to Peterhead; the closest stop, “Peterhead, HM Prison,” sits directly outside the main gates. Coaches drop passengers outside the front of the prison and can park within the prison walls, though there are no designated coach bays.
Parking at Peterhead Prison
On-site parking near the café is free of charge, including for Blue Badge holders, who do not need to display a badge since there is no charge regardless.
The car park is only open from 10am to 3pm, so visitors must vacate by then even if their visit to the museum itself runs slightly later. Cove Attractions is not responsible for vehicles left within the prison walls.
How long to spend at Peterhead Prison
A typical Prison Entry visit takes around 2 hours.
Visitors taking the Saturday Guided Tour should allow 1.5 hours for the tour itself, plus extra time to explore independently afterwards, since the ticket also includes Prison Entry.
Accessibility at Peterhead Prison
The main reception, located inside the café, is reached via a flight of stairs.
Once inside, the route through the prison itself is accessible for wheelchair users. Accessible toilets are available in the Lifeboat Museum on site. Visitors with specific access needs are encouraged to contact the team in advance of their visit.
Inside Peterhead Prison: what to see
Peterhead Convict Prison opened on 14 August 1888 as Scotland’s only prison for convicts sentenced to penal servitude, or hard labour.
Inmates were taken daily by train, on what is described as Britain’s first state-owned passenger railway, to a granite quarry 2.5 miles south, where they broke stone by hand; contrary to popular belief, the convicts did not build Peterhead’s harbour itself, only the stone used in its construction. The prison closed for the last time in December 2013.
The site became known as “Scotland’s Alcatraz” and was the scene of a notorious four-day rooftop riot in 1987, in which an officer was held hostage before the Special Air Service (SAS) ended the siege in the early hours of the fifth morning.
A new mobile app-based audio guide has recently been introduced, and the on-site Lifeboat Museum, covering Peterhead’s maritime rescue history, remains open throughout the museum’s own closures and reduced hours.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Book ahead online, since the site’s hours and route are still settling after its recent reopening. |
| Crowds | Saturdays bring slightly larger numbers because of the Guided Tour slots. |
| Layout | Wear flat, comfortable shoes, since the visitor route covers multiple wings and landings. |
| Entry process | Enter via the café, which now also acts as the main reception and ticket point. |
| On-site logistics | Move your car by 3pm, since the free car park closes even if the museum stays open later. |
Frequently asked questions about Peterhead Prison
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Peterhead Prison suitable for children? | Yes, Prison Entry is designed for families and all ages, with flexible, self-guided exploration. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Peterhead Prison? | Booking ahead is recommended, particularly given the site’s recently changed opening days. |
| Is Peterhead Prison open on Sundays? | Yes, currently daily through summer 2026; from 2 September, only on weekends and school holidays. |
| Is Peterhead Prison wheelchair accessible? | The prison route itself is accessible, though the café reception is reached via stairs. |
| Has Peterhead Prison recently been closed? | Yes, it closed on 19 April 2026 for reconfiguration and new ownership, reopening in phases from 23 May 2026. |
Things to do near Peterhead Prison
- Peterhead Harbour – the UK’s busiest fishing port by landings, a short walk from the prison.
- Aden Country Park – woodland and farm museum near Mintlaw, around 20 minutes’ drive away.
- Bullers of Buchan – a dramatic collapsed sea cave and clifftop walk, around 10 minutes north.
- Slains Castle, Cruden Bay – a ruined cliffside castle said to have inspired Dracula, around 20 minutes away.
- The Tolbooth, Aberdeen – a 17th-century former jail turned museum, around 40 minutes’ drive away.
What to visit tomorrow
- The Tolbooth, Aberdeen – around 40 minutes away; a 17th-century jail with original cells and a display on Aberdeen’s law and order history.
- Stonehaven Tolbooth Museum – around 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes away; a 16th-century former courthouse and prison on Stonehaven harbour, with free entry.
More Scotland travel
Other Scotland travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to expect when visiting St Machar’s Cathedral in Aberdeen.
- Why the Kelpies in Falkirk are worth the detour.
- Planning a visit to Stirling Castle in Scotland.
- The best places to see seals in Scotland.
- Guides to Perthshire’s top attractions: Blair Castle, Deanston Distillery, Dunkeld Cathedral, the Pitlochry Salmon Ladder and Queen’s View at Loch Tummel.
