Bodmin Jail
Bodmin, CornwallAbout Bodmin Jail
Explore Cornwall’s Dark Past on a Family Adventure at Bodmin Jail
Looking for a thrilling, educational, and unforgettable day out with the kids? Bodmin Jail offers families a completely unique experience where history comes alive through immersive storytelling, incredible heritage spaces, and interactive adventures that children and parents will be talking about long after their visit.
Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, Bodmin Jail is a striking 18th-century prison brought brilliantly into the 21st century. It’s a place where curious young minds can step into the real past, exploring what life was like for prisoners, executioners, wardens and townsfolk through rich, hands-on exhibits and spine-tingling tales. It’s history that doesn’t sit quietly in a textbook - it jumps off the walls and into the imagination.
A Journey Through Time
Your family’s visit begins with the award-winning Dark Walk, an immersive audio-visual experience that’s perfect for older children and tweens with a love for stories and suspense. Step into atmospheric scenes that blend theatrical effects, cinematic storytelling, and real historical accounts to uncover what life was like in Cornwall during the 18th and 19th centuries. From smugglers and highwaymen to desperate families driven to crime by poverty, children will connect emotionally with real people from the past and gain a deep understanding of the social history behind the walls of the jail.
The experience is designed to be both engaging and age-appropriate -exciting without being too frightening. The characters your family meets along the way bring context and colour to Cornwall’s history, while also teaching valuable lessons about justice, crime, and consequences in a way that’s compelling and age sensitive.
Explore the Original Jail Cells
Once you’ve completed the Dark Walk, you step into the original jail itself. This vast stone structure is steeped in atmosphere and offers children a chance to explore real Victorian prison cells, complete with haunting soundscapes, artefacts, and interpretation. Imagine what it was like to live in these conditions - dark, damp, and utterly isolated. Interactive displays encourage children to reflect on how justice and punishment have changed over time, making this not only a fascinating experience, but an educational one too.
The jail museum covers everything from infamous prisoners and Victorian punishment methods to the evolution of British justice. Young visitors can engage with exhibits designed especially for curious minds, with tactile elements, accessible storytelling, and surprising facts waiting around every corner.
The Execution Shed & Historical Context
One of the most talked-about features of the jail is its fully restored execution shed and working Victorian hanging pit - the only one of its kind in the UK. While this part of the experience is more suited to older children, it provides an authentic look at the justice system of the time, and can spark thought-provoking family conversations about ethics, change, and progress. The staff are always on hand to answer questions in a sensitive and informative way, making sure every family feels comfortable and informed.
During school holidays, keep an eye out for special family events and costumed guides who make the jail's stories leap into life.
Family-Friendly Facilities
Bodmin Jail prides itself on being a welcoming space for families. The site is buggy-accessible, with lifts and ramps throughout the attraction, and baby-changing facilities are available. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and always happy to suggest age-appropriate ways to explore the experience. Kids are encouraged to ask questions, explore the exhibits and chat with our guides who can tell them what it was like to live in Victorian Cornwall.
After exploring the jail, families can relax in the on-site restaurant or grab a bite at the café. With a menu catering to all ages (including picky eaters!), there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s a hearty Cornish pasty or a fresh sandwich. High chairs are available, and the seating area offers space to unwind after a busy few hours of exploring.
Spooky Adventures
For families with older children or teens, Bodmin Jail also offers unique evening events - after-hours ghost tours for the brave! These are perfect for adventurous teens who love a good scare and want to explore the jail under cover of darkness. While these experiences are more suitable for older age groups, they add an exciting layer to the attraction and give families something truly unique to talk about.
Education with a Twist
Whether you’re homeschooling or just want to sneak a bit of learning into your day out, Bodmin Jail offers fantastic educational value. Children will come away with a richer understanding of British history, social justice, and how our ideas about fairness and punishment have evolved. The content ties beautifully into Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 history and PSHE topics, offering real-life examples that bring classroom learning to life.
The jail also welcomes school groups throughout the year, with education packs, guided tours, and tailored sessions designed to inspire a love of history. If your children enjoy their visit, it might just spark a lifelong interest in the past.
A Day Out You’ll Never Forget
Bodmin Jail is more than just a heritage site - it’s a full of discovery, imagination, and awe. It offers the perfect balance of education and entertainment, delivering historical insight with a thrilling edge. For children, it’s a place to explore and learn. For parents, it’s a chance to enjoy something enriching, unusual, and completely different from the typical family attraction.
Whether your kids are into pirates and prisoners, mysteries and ghost stories, or just love learning through doing, Bodmin Jail is an incredible experience that the whole family will enjoy. It’s hands-on, emotionally resonant, and filled with fascinating stories that stick with you.
So, if you're planning your next family day out in Cornwall, don’t miss the chance to walk the shadowy corridors of Bodmin Jail. With history, adventure, and a touch of the unexpected, it’s a place where memories are made - and the past never feels far away.
Immersive, Educational Family Adventure Inside a Real Historic Jail
Unlock Cornwall’s Dark History at Bodmin Jail
Step into Cornwall’s past at Bodmin Jail, a striking 18th-century prison brought to life through immersive storytelling and cutting-edge technology. Built in 1779, this iconic heritage site invites families to explore the harsh realities of Georgian and Victorian justice in a thrilling, educational environment.
Begin your journey with the award-winning Dark Walk - a spellbinding audio-visual experience that transports you into the lives of real historical figures. Blending cinematic effects, atmospheric sets and engaging narration, it’s a captivating way to bring history to life for visitors of all ages.
With self-guided tours, expert-led guided experiences, and spine-tingling paranormal events, Bodmin Jail offers a range of ways to explore its grim yet fascinating past. Discover original prison cells, the UK’s only working Victorian hanging pit, and interactive exhibits designed to intrigue and educate.
Whether you’re seeking a family adventure, an educational day out, or a unique look into Cornwall’s darker side, Bodmin Jail promises an unforgettable experience that combines heritage, excitement and storytelling like nowhere else.
Cornwall’s Ultimate Year-Round Haunted Experience
Step into Cornwall’s most haunted location on the Bodmin Jail Ghost Walk - an immersive, spine-tingling journey through centuries of ghost stories, legends, and unexplained phenomena. Led by expert paranormal guides, this after-dark tour takes you deep into the jail’s most haunted spaces, from crumbling cells to shadowy corridors still echoing with the past.
Hear chilling tales of real sightings, mysterious sounds, and supernatural events documented over the years. Learn about the spirits said to haunt Bodmin Jail and the dark folklore of Bodmin Moor that continues to terrify and fascinate.
Lit only by lanterns, this atmospheric experience is as authentic as it is thrilling - perfect for ghost hunters, history lovers, and brave-hearted visitors looking for a unique evening in Cornwall.
Not just for Halloween, the Ghost Walk runs year-round, making it a must-do for anyone drawn to the paranormal or Cornwall’s eerie heritage.
Dare to discover what lurks in the shadows? Book your Ghost Walk now… if you’re brave enough.
Award-Winning Guided Tour Through Cornwall’s Darkest History
Step into Cornwall’s shadowy past on Bodmin Jail’s award-winning Guided Tour - a powerful, immersive journey led by expert storytellers who bring the building’s darkest tales vividly to life. This isn’t just a tour; it’s an emotional step into the lives of real people who lived - and died - within these walls.
Walk in the footsteps of the condemned as you explore original cells, hear chilling stories of infamous criminals, and witness the fully restored Victorian hanging pit, site of Cornwall’s final execution in 1909. Learn about the brutal “Bloody Code,” a justice system where even petty crimes could lead to the gallows, and uncover the harsh realities of prison life in the 18th and 19th centuries.
This hands-on, all-weather experience is suitable for families with older children and ideal for history lovers seeking something truly memorable. With its unique blend of storytelling, heritage, and atmospheric surroundings, the Guided Tour offers a fascinating look into crime, punishment, and social justice in Georgian and Victorian Cornwall.
Discover the jail that still echoes with stories of mutiny, murder, and survival.
Book your Bodmin Jail Guided Tour today - if you dare to unlock the secrets of the past.
Facilities
Toilets
Free Wifi
Gift Shop
Accessible Toilets
Baby Changing
Food Available
Wheelchair Friendly
Pushchair Friendly
Card Payments Accepted
Opening Times
- Monday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Tuesday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Wednesday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Thursday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Friday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Saturday, 09:30 - 16:00
- Sunday, 09:30 - 16:00
Pricing & Tickets
- Babies and Toddlers (0-4) : Free
Self-Guided General Admission Adults from £20.00Children (5-15) from £13.50Concessions: £17.00
Family of 3 (up to 1 adult): £45.00
Family of 4 (up to 2 adults): £65.00
Heritage Guided Tour Adults: £25.00Children: £15.00Paranormal Tours from £25.00
Book in advance for cheapest tickets
Find other attractions similar to Bodmin Jail by visiting our attraction tickets section.
Plan Your Visit
Typical visit time 2 - 3 hours
Suitable for Kids and Adults too
Food & Drink Options
The Moor Café offers a respite for adventurers, with light refreshments and quick bites; including pasty's, sausage rolls, toasties, soup, scones, cakes, sandwiches, barista coffee, soft drinks, wine, beer and cider.
FAQs
Parking
Toilets
Family Friendly Options
Food & Drink
Accessibility Information
Tickets & Bookings
Private Hire & Birthday Parties
Public Transport
Contact Details
Bodmin Jail Museum Ltd
Berrycoombe Road
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 2NR
England
Bodmin Jail is located just a couple of minutes from Bodmin town centre and can be found either by Sat Nav or by following the brown tourism directional signs once you reach Bodmin. The best postcode to use for your satnav is PL31 2PL.
Tel: 0120876292
Visit WebsiteTransport Information
By Train
The closest train station to Bodmin Jail is Bodmin Parkway, which is an 11-minute taxi ride away.
By Bus
You can take the following buses to Bodmin Jail: 11, 26, 96, 96A.
By Car
Bodmin Jail is just a couple of minutes from the town centre and can be found either by Sat Nav or by following the brown tourism directional signs once you reach Bodmin. If you are using the Sat Nav, please use this postcode: PL31 2PL.
Verification & Last Updated
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Last Updated: 05:21 30/06/2025
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