Business Details
Explore Dartmoor Prison Museum's Turbulent History
Dartmoor Prison Museum offers a compelling journey through over 200 years of incarceration history, from its origins as a Napoleonic-era prisoner-of-war depot to its role in modern penal reform. Our exhibits showcase life-size historical models, prisoner-crafted artefacts, and poignant memorials, providing visitors with a visceral understanding of prison life across different eras. With over 35,000 annual visitors, we combine educational value with immersive storytelling, guided by expert curators who contextualise our extensive collection.The museum actively preserves Dartmoor's unique heritage while addressing contemporary issues of crime, punishment, and rehabilitation. Our team's deep expertise in penal history ensures an authoritative and thought-provoking experience for all who visit.
Services
Museum Entry
Guided Tours
Educational Visits
Group Bookings
Historical Exhibits
Special Events
Highlights and features
- We offer expert-led tours through 200 years of authentic penal history
- Our collection includes rare prisoner-made artefacts and historical documents
- We provide educational resources for schools and academic researchers
- Our exhibits combine historical accuracy with modern interpretative techniques
- We maintain the original 1806 prison architecture for authentic immersion
What people say
Absolutely fascinating
Superb museum
Excellent presentation
Educational experience
Family-friendly
Services
Museum Entry
Explore our extensive collection of prison memorabilia, including historical uniforms, escape tools, and personal prisoner artefacts. Our exhibits cover 200 years of Dartmoor's incarceration history, from Napoleonic prisoners to modern penal reform. Visitors can examine life-size models, original documents, and interactive displays explaining the prison's evolution.
Guided Tours
Led by expert curators, our guided tours provide in-depth explanations of key historical events and prison operations. Tours cover the Princetown Massacre, famous escapes, and daily life for prisoners across different eras. Groups receive tailored information matching their educational requirements or specific interests in penal history.
Educational Visits
Designed for school groups and academic researchers, our educational programmes align with history and criminology curricula. Students engage with primary sources, historical analysis workshops, and discussions about modern rehabilitation practices. Teachers receive pre-visit materials and post-visit activity suggestions to enhance learning outcomes.
Group Bookings
We accommodate groups of 10+ with discounted rates and dedicated facilities. Group bookings include priority entry, reserved parking spaces, and optional guided tours. Special arrangements available for coach parties, historical societies, and themed events like our annual Halloween trail experience.
Special Events
Seasonal events like our Halloween trail and historical reenactments bring prison history to life. These family-friendly activities combine education with entertainment through interactive quizzes, costume displays, and dramatised historical narratives. Events often feature guest speakers and exclusive access to restricted exhibits.
People
Steve Mead
Governor
With over 25 years' experience in the prison service, Steve Mead oversees HMP Dartmoor's operations while championing historical preservation. He actively promotes public understanding of penal reform through museum engagement and media appearances.
Questions
What are the museum's opening hours?
We're open Monday-Thursday and Saturday 9:30am-4:30pm, Friday and Sunday 9:30am-4:00pm. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Are there group discounts available?
Groups of 10+ receive discounted rates at £4.00 per person. Pre-booking is required to ensure parking availability for larger groups.
Is the museum accessible for disabled visitors?
We offer adjacent parking and limited internal access. Please contact us in advance for specific accessibility requirements and assistance arrangements.
Can I take photographs inside?
Non-commercial photography is permitted throughout the museum. Please avoid using flash to preserve historical artefacts.
Are there educational resources for schools?
We provide tailored educational materials, guided tours, and interactive workshops aligned with history and criminology curricula for school groups.
What special events do you host?
Seasonal events include our popular Halloween trail, historical reenactments, and guided tours of prisoner memorials by special arrangement.
Reviews (6)
Food Ninja
Nov 24, 2021
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We decided to visit the museum on a whim as we are visiting the Dartmoor area. I didn't know anything about it, just thought I'd be cool to visit a museum about a prison. Didn't realise the actual prison was across the road with 600+ prisoners! Very cool. 4 for adults and well worth it as you get to learn more about it and see a whole load of things made by the prisoners; weapons, art, and matchstick decor!
Took us about 1.5 hours.
Took us about 1.5 hours.
Andrew Drake
Oct 24, 2021
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Great little place to visit. Lots to read and learn about the prison past and present. Displays are very good and include creations from prisoners. Definitely recommend a visit
Prashant Shukla
Oct 23, 2021
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Great place to visit if you like prison or prison related stuff. It's just a museum so you don't get chance to see any prisoner. All the setup including the history nicely created with well explained manner.
Brad Davis
Sep 29, 2021
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Great place to visit if your out there. Guy behind the counter was funny fella. Really enjoyed the info he gave me and my wife. Lots of amazing things to view. Bonus a great drive. Just watch out for the mad drivers.
Antony Socrates
Sep 22, 2021
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Good collection of prison art work, history of the place, old photographs and uniforms of guards and prisoners. Not allowed to take photos so cant post any. Costs 4 to get in and a worthwhile visit.
Alice Buck
Sep 17, 2021
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This place was amazing! So much bigger than expected with so much information. The lady that greeted us was fantastic and started our experience off with some interesting facts. We could have easily spent 2 hours in there. My favourite part was definitely the confiscated smuggled items/weapons room.
