Shrewsbury Prison, also known as The Dana, is one of the largest and most complete surviving Victorian prisons in Britain, now open as a visitor attraction on Howard Street, Shrewsbury. This guide covers opening hours, ticket prices, transport and parking, accessibility, and other practical visitor tips.
To secure your entry slot, tickets should be bought online.
This guide was checked against the official Shrewsbury Prison website and updated in June 2026. One point worth flagging: from 2 September 2026, Prison Entry moves to daily opening, 10am to 5pm, a longer pattern than the summer-only booking window some older guides may still describe.
Quick facts
| Opening hours | Daily 10am–5pm |
| Ticket prices | Prison Entry from £10; Guided Tour from £17 (includes Prison Entry) |
| Address | Shrewsbury Prison, The Dana, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HP |
| Nearest transport/parking | Shrewsbury train station directly opposite; on-site parking £5 |
| Typical time needed | 2 hours |
Shrewsbury Prison opening hours
Shrewsbury Prison is open daily from 10am to 5pm, year-round.
Beyond general Prison Entry, several timed experiences run on their own schedule: the Guided Tour runs Monday to Friday at 2:30pm, the Ghost Tour runs every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm and 8:30pm, and the Cell Escape Room runs on weekends and school holidays at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm.
Shrewsbury Prison ticket prices
A self-guided Prison Entry ticket starts at £10 and allows roughly 2 hours of free exploration through the wings, landings, and cells.
| Experience | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prison Entry (self-guided) | From £10 | 2 hours, no fixed route |
| Guided Tour | From £17 | Includes Prison Entry; Mon–Fri, 2:30pm, 1.5 hours |
| The Cell Escape Room | £27.50 | Includes Prison Entry; weekends and holidays, 1.25 hours |
| Ghost Tour | £25pp | Every Wednesday, 6:30pm and 8:30pm, 1.5 hours |
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in June 2026.
Shrewsbury Prison takes part in Cove Attractions’ Inmate Pass and Officer Pass, annual passes giving unlimited 12-month entry to Shrewsbury Prison, Peterhead Prison in Aberdeenshire, and Shepton Mallet Prison in Somerset; the Officer Pass adds a 10% discount on experiences, the restaurant, and the gift shop. A 20% discount code is also sometimes available for the Guided Tour. You can book online in advance to guarantee a slot.
How to get to Shrewsbury Prison
The prison is at The Dana, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2HP, on Howard Street, named after prison reformer John Howard.
Shrewsbury railway station sits directly opposite the prison. From the station, exit and head up the steps on the path to the left, then cross the railway tracks via the Dana bridge to reach the entrance. Coaches drop passengers outside the front of the prison and use a local coach car park nearby.
Parking at Shrewsbury Prison
On-site parking, through the main prison gates, costs £5, pre-bookable online or payable on the day, subject to availability.
Alternative options include a card-payment car park opposite the prison (SY1 2HP) and the train station’s pay-and-display car park, about 50 metres from the entrance on Howard Street (SY1 2LF).
How long to spend at Shrewsbury Prison
A standard Prison Entry visit takes around 2 hours.
Visitors adding the Guided Tour, Ghost Tour, or Cell Escape Room should allow extra time on top of this, since each runs as a separate timed experience alongside general Prison Entry.
Accessibility at Shrewsbury Prison
Shrewsbury Prison welcomes all visitors, though as a historic Victorian building, some areas present difficulties for people with limited mobility.
The vast majority of the site is accessible, but traditional stairs run between the landings in places. A functional stairlift and a disabled toilet are available on site; contact the team in advance with any specific access questions.
Inside Shrewsbury Prison: what to see
Known as The Dana, the prison was completed in 1793, designed by Shrewsbury architect John Hiram Haycock with Thomas Telford as Clerk of Works, following reforms suggested by prison reformer John Howard; a bust of Howard still sits above the gate lodge.
The prison was a place of public execution for much of its history; the last public hanging in Shrewsbury took place on 9 April 1868, just a month before public executions ended across England.
Between 1902 and 1961, eight further executions took place inside the walls, the last in February 1961; capital punishment was abolished in Britain in 1969. During 1972 redevelopment work, the remains of ten executed prisoners were uncovered on site.
Shrewsbury Prison remained operational until 2013, and visitors can now walk freely through its vast wings, landings, and real cells, exploring the same spaces in which prison life unfolded for over two centuries.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter Prison Entry experience before the 2:30pm Guided Tour. |
| Crowds | Weekends and school holidays are busiest, partly due to the Cell Escape Room sessions. |
| Layout | Wear flat, comfortable shoes, as the route includes traditional stairs between landings. |
| Entry process | Park through the main gates or use the train station car park 50 metres away. |
| On-site logistics | The on-site restaurant and gift shop both offer a discount to Officer Pass holders. |
Frequently asked questions about Shrewsbury Prison
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Shrewsbury Prison suitable for children? | Yes, Prison Entry and the Cell Escape Room are designed for families, though the Ghost Tour suits ages 12 and over. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Shrewsbury Prison? | Booking ahead is recommended, especially for the Guided Tour, Ghost Tour, and Cell Escape Room, which run at fixed times. |
| Is Shrewsbury Prison open on Sundays? | Yes, it is open daily, including Sundays, from 10am to 5pm. |
| Is there parking at Shrewsbury Prison? | Yes, an on-site car park costs £5, with further pay-and-display options nearby. |
| Is Shrewsbury Prison wheelchair accessible? | Most of the site is accessible, with a stairlift and disabled toilet, though some landings are reached by stairs only. |
Things to do near Shrewsbury Prison
- Shrewsbury Castle and Shropshire Regimental Museum – a medieval castle and military museum in the town centre.
- Shrewsbury Abbey – a historic abbey church a short walk from the prison.
- The Quarry – a riverside park beside the River Severn, popular for walks.
- Shrewsbury town centre – a network of Tudor timber-framed streets, markets, and independent shops.
- Attingham Park – a National Trust estate and mansion just outside town.
What to visit tomorrow
- Littledean Jail, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire – around 1.5–1.75 hours away; a true-crime museum in a former Georgian house of correction, not suitable for children.
- Oxford Castle & Prison, Oxford – around 2 hours away; a former Victorian prison and Norman castle with costumed tours.
- Beaumaris Gaol, Isle of Anglesey, Wales – around 2 hours away; a restored Victorian prison museum within Beaumaris’s medieval walls.
More West Midlands travel
Other West Midlands travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Visitor tips for Stokesay Castle in Shropshire.
- What you need to know before visiting Buildwas Abbey in Shropshire.
- What to see at Wroxeter Roman City in Shropshire – one of the best Roman sites in Britain for visitors.
- Plan a visit to Witley Court and Gardens in Worcestershire.
- Review of the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley.
