A self-guided tour of Bodmin Jail including the amazing Dark Walk Experience.
CAN WE BRING OUR DOG/S TO THE JAIL WITH US?
Dogs are allowed on site, which means they can join you in the courtyard, The Courtyard Bistro, hotel, and gift shop. Sadly, due to the nature of the attraction, we have to ask that you don't bring your pup into the museum. The loud noises and sudden movements might be too much for their sensitive ears.
I AM DISABLED, IS THERE A CHARGE FOR CARERS TO COME WITH ME?
Guests able to provide evidence of their disability will be entitled to bring a carer free of charge.
For proof of disability please bring ONE of the following forms of documentation:
Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or DLA/Personal Independent Payments (PIP) for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded, or the actual Allowance book.
Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance letter of award.
Incapacity Benefit books, or a letter notifying the recipient that the benefit has been awarded Incapacity Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
A valid Blue Badge.
In the case of visual impairment, a registration card known as the BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI).
A local authority registration document which is local to the attraction where it is being submitted.
A recognised Assistance Dog ID Card.
Credibility’s Access Card.
HOW LONG DOES A VISIT LAST?
We recommend you allow 1.5/ 2 hours to experience the attraction
AM I ELIGIBLE FOR CONCESSIONS TICKETS?
Our concession rates are for the over 60’s, students and disabled visitors.
Carers will enter the attraction for free when assisting a disabled visitor.
ARE BOOKINGS REFUNDABLE?
Our tickets are non-refundable; however, we can alter the date of your ticket(s) To do this, please contact us and have your booking confirmation to hand. Please note that all date changes are subject to availability and must be made before the date of your visit.
CAN I FILM AND TAKE PHOTOS WITHIN THE ATTRACTION?
Filming and photography is prohibited in the Bodmin Jail Attraction
WILL IT BE SCARY?
These are not experiences for the light hearted. It can be scary, enlightening, unpredictable and emotional. Many interactions can and will happen.
Days of Operations: Daily
Opening hours :
July to September 2023
Sunday to Thursday - 9:30am to 8:30pm (last entry 6.30pm)
Fridays & Saturdays - 9:30am to 6:30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
October 2023
Monday to Thursday - 9:30am to 8:30pm (last entry 6.30pm)
Fridays to Sunday - 9:30am to 6:30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
November to December 2023
Daily - 9:30am to 6:30pm (last entry 4.30pm)
Planned closure: 25th December
Bodmin Jail is located 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.
Bodmin Jail, Berrycoombe Road, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 2NR
Sat Nav please use PL31 2PL
CAR PARKS
Public parking is available within the Bodmin Town car parks just a short stroll away.
Camel Trail Car Park - PL31 2NR
Please allow for a five-minute walk.
Berrycombe Road Car Park - PL31 2NP
Please allow for a seven-minute walk.
Dennison Road Car Park – PL31 2LL
Pay and display, short stay car park with 62 spaces. Please allow for an eight-minute walk.
Priory Car Park – PL31 2DQ
Priory Car Park is a pay and display car park for approximately 150 cars with additional spaces adjacent to the Football Club. Please allow for a 14-minute walk.
Fore Street Car Park – PL31 2DB
Pay and display with both long and short term car parking. Please allow for a 16-minute walk.
Renowned for its award-winning Immersive History Bodmin Jail is a world-class experience for all the family. Your 2-hour self-guided visit showcases Cornwall's Dark History and is a historical feast for the senses.
THE PAST COMES BACK TO LIFE
The £8.5million immersive visitor attraction sees the introduction of the ‘Dark Walk’ experience and a completely new level of interest interwoven throughout these impressive buildings, included within standard jail entry tickets & the heritage guided tours. Built in 1779 for King George III, Bodmin Jail has played an important role in Cornwall’s history and this bold redevelopment gives visitors the chance to delve into an intriguing hidden history. A massive investment in Cornwall’s tourism and visitor economy, this was the biggest attraction opening in 2020 with its state-of-the-art technology allowing for a more immersive experience.
THE DARK WALK - STEP INTO HISTORY AND UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF CORNWALL’S PAST
The ‘Dark Walk’, the first of its kind in Cornwall, uses theatrical effects and the latest technology to transport visitors back to Cornwall’s murky past, enabling a first-hand experience of the penal life of a working 18th and 19th-century prison on the fringes of the windswept Bodmin Moor. Retold for 21st-century audiences, the haunting cinematic visual experience will tell stories of smuggling, mining and the everyday hardships facing Cornwall’s poorest, including tales from infamous prisoners.
THE NAVAL WING - GRIMY CELLS, HARSH PUNISHMENTS AND GRUELLING CONDITIONS
Visitors face a cold walk along into the jail's original Naval Wing, getting a first-hand look at what the dreary days and nights behind bars were really like. Grimy cells, prison punishments and stories of child criminals take centre stage as visitors wander through these formidable buildings.
THE ADMINISTRATION BLOCK - DELVE DEEPER INTO THE MECHANICS OF RUNNING A HARD VICTORIAN PRISON
The journey continues through to the Administration Block and the Governor's Office, where visitors can delve into the fascinating background of the people who served, worked and lived at Bodmin Jail, with hidden stories and myths of Cornwall, Bodmin and the historic jail building from an operational perspective.
THE LAST MOMENTS - DISCOVER THE ONLY WORKING EXECUTION PIT IN THE UK
There's a chill of the condemned as the path follows the last footsteps of the 55 prisoners as they were led to the hanging pit. The last moments seeing the only original, fully working Victorian Hanging Pit in the UK is a time for real reflection.