Sleep Behind Bars 🔒… UK Style!
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to find a seriously unusual place to stay.
Across the UK, former prisons, jails and courthouses have been given a very different lease of life — transformed into hotels and hostels where the history of the building is very much part of the experience.
From luxury cells in Cornwall to a former Victorian prison in the heart of Oxford, these aren’t themed hotels pretending to be prisons. They’re real historic buildings that have been transformed into somewhere you can actually spend the night.
And then there’s London, where you can even find a former courthouse where guests have slept in the original cells.
So, if your idea of a memorable hotel involves thick stone walls, iron doors and a little bit of history, you’ve come to the right place.
Explore the UK’s converted prison stays below — and discover somewhere very different to spend the night. 🐸🔒
🔒 Bodmin Jail Hotel — Cornwall
Once a working prison, Bodmin Jail has been transformed into a striking hotel where the history of the building is still very much part of the experience. Stay within the walls of this atmospheric Cornish landmark, then explore Cornwall beyond the jail — from dramatic coastline and beaches to historic towns and the wild landscapes of Bodmin Moor.
A very different way to experience Cornwall.
🔒 Malmaison Oxford — Oxford
Set within the historic Oxford Castle Quarter, Malmaison Oxford occupies the buildings of the former HM Prison Oxford. Original architecture and atmospheric details meet contemporary hotel comfort, making this a wonderfully unusual base for exploring one of England’s most famous university cities.
History, heritage and a rather unusual night’s sleep.
🔒 Courthouse Hotel — London
Set inside a beautifully restored former magistrates’ court and police station in London’s vibrant East End, Courthouse Hotel offers a very different take on a city stay. Historic details sit alongside stylish rooms and modern comforts, with Shoreditch, Brick Lane and London’s many attractions right on the doorstep.
A former courthouse, a London hotel — and definitely not your average city break.
🔒 Clink78 — London
Fancy spending the night in a former courthouse and police station? Clink78 is one of London’s most unusual accommodation stories, with its historic building and former cells giving guests a very different place to stay. The property is currently closed while it undergoes renovation, with reopening expected in 2027.
So we’re keeping this one on our radar — because when Clink78 reopens, it could make a wonderfully quirky addition to a London city break.
Watch this space… the bars are coming back! 🔐🐸
