Bodmin Jail
Built in 1779 and Cornwall's county prison for over 150 years, Bodmin Jail has been reborn as one of the UK's most visceral heritage experiences — part immersive theatre, part genuine history lesson. Few places in the West Country pack this much atmosphere into a single postcode.
Inside the Walls
Originally built in 1779, Bodmin Jail is now a world-class visitor experience where real stories come to life through powerful storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and hauntingly authentic spaces. It witnessed 55 public executions and was the UK's first prison to introduce individual cells.
The centrepiece is the award-winning Dark Walk, which plunges you into the sights and sounds of Georgian and Victorian Cornwall before you move through the original jail wings, restored cells, and the very execution pit where Cornwall's last hanging took place.
After Dark — and Overnight
Ghost Walk evenings take the drama up several notches: expert guides lead you through the jail's most paranormally active areas, sharing chilling tales drawn from genuine historical records.
For the truly committed, the Bodmin Jail Hotel lets you sleep in converted cells that once held 18th-century prisoners — the most atmospheric (if unsettling) bed in Cornwall.
Bodmin Jail on video
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