Clink Prison Museum London

The Clink Prison Museum is built upon the original site of the Clink Prison. The Prison dates back to 1144, making it one of England’s oldest, if not the oldest Prison. Visitors will experience a hands-on educational experience, allowing them to handle original artefacts, including torture devices, as well as having the opportunity to view and hear the amazing stories of the inmates and the notorious Southbank.

Owned by the Bishop of Winchester, The Clink Prison was used to control the Southbank of London known as The Liberty of The Clink. This area housed much of London’s entertainment establishments, including four theatres, bull-baiting, bear-baiting, inns, and many other darker entertainments.

The Clink Prison was only a small part of a vast complex on the Bankside that the Bishop owned called Winchester House. At one point in history, Henry VIII planned to take control of the palace and use it as his own. Parts of the Great Hall still stand even today, including the world famous Rose Arch Window, preserved by English Heritage.

Visitors to the area included individuals such as William Shakespeare, King Henry VIII, Sir Francis Drake, Geoffrey Chaucer, and many more.

Why not explore the prison that gave its name to all others? The Clink Prison.

We have hand sanitiser at the museum and we also have social distancing throughout.

The Clink Prison Museum welcomes a large number of educational groups and visitors each year, offering them a unique opportunity to learn about social, religious, and historical issues relating to The Clink Prison and London’s Bankside. Many of the issues and events relating to The Clink Prison don’t only represent regional importance, but also national and international significance.

When visiting The Clink Prison Museum, students will have the opportunity to handle original historical artifacts relating to crime and punishment, used both in The Clink Prison and nationally.

The Clink Prison Museum is a research museum furthering the understanding and heritage of The Clink Prison Museum site, as well as the overall subject area of prisons, crime, and punishment.

The tour takes approximately 45 minutes.

Please visit our website www.clink.co.uk for information regarding all Key Stages.

We cater for whole year groups and all group sizes.

We can cater for a minimum group size of 10.

We offer a School Worksheet for both primary and secondary schools to use during their self guided visits. We can email these to the school for them to print, or we are more than happy for teachers to visit beforehand to put their own together.

You can take photos throughout the museum.

We can provide a Risk Assessment if required.

Free preliminary visits for Risk Assessments are available.

Alternatively, we can email you our School Risk Assessment. Please contact 020 7403 0900.

Price Per Student:

There must be a minimum of 10 students.

£4.50 for a Self Guided Tour.

£8.00 for a 45-minute Guided Tour.

For every 10 students, one teacher goes free.

We do not always have a First Aider on site.

It is advisable that teachers bring along someone who is qualified in First Aid.

We have a small Gift Shop at the end of the museum.

We do not have eating facilities.

Sorry, the museum is not wheelchair accessible.

“Thank you for yesterday’s fantastic tour, my learners absolutely loved it.”

– Oaklands College

“I came to The Clink yesterday with my A2 students. I wanted to thank you for such a fantastic educational visit. The Tour guide was great, very informative, and positive towards my students. It was well worth it and I will definitely be bringing A2 students in the future. Again, many thanks for a fantastic visit.”

– Amersham and Wycombe College

“The students found it very informative. We have another date for our tour into London and I was wondering if we could book again. Kind regards.”

– Hasmonean High School