Clink Prison Museum
Small museum on the site of Southwark's medieval Clink prison, with archaeological finds, an original wall and hands-on punishment devices.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Clink was a prison attached to Winchester Palace, the London residence of the Bishops of Winchester in Southwark. The palace was completed in 1144, and the prison served the surrounding district, the Liberty of the Clink, which was under the bishop's authority rather than the king's. The name may come from the sound of irons being fastened or from an old word for a latch, and it later became a general word for a prison.
Over several centuries the Clink held debtors, vagrants, heretics and religious opponents of the government, among them people linked to the Reformation and to the Puritans who later sailed for the New World. The prison was damaged in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 and again in Jack Cade's rebellion of 1450, after which a two-storey men's prison was built on the spot where the museum now stands. In 1780 a crowd led by Lord George Gordon released the prisoners and burned the building down, and it was never rebuilt.
The Clink Prison Museum occupies this site on Clink Street. Its displays tell the story of the prison and of crime and punishment in medieval, Tudor and Elizabethan England. They include archaeological finds, a preserved original wall and tools and devices of punishment that visitors may handle. The museum describes itself as a research museum on prisons, crime and punishment and welcomes school groups.
Highlights
- Museum on the site of England's best-known medieval prison
- Preserved original wall and archaeological finds
- Hands-on punishment devices and sounds and smells of prison life
- Stories of inmates from the Middle Ages to 1780
Permanent exhibition
- The Clink Prison Museum – Displays on the prison of the Bishops of Winchester from 1144 to 1780, with archaeological finds, an original wall, accounts of inmates and hands-on punishment devices.
- Operated by
- The Clink Museum Ltd
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £8Students, over-65s and disabled visitors (ID required) |
| Children & teens | £8Under 16s |
| Seniors | £8OAP concession, ID required |
| Visitors with disabilities | £8ID required |
| Students & apprentices | £8ID required |
| Groups (10+ people) | –School groups of 10 to 25 pay £9 per person for a guided tour or £5 per person for a self-guided visit. |
| Families | £292 adults and 2 children under 16 |
| School group guided tour (per person, 10 to 25 pupils) | £9 |
| School group self-guided visit (per person, 10 to 25 pupils) | £5 |
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum states that it is not wheelchair accessible.
Kids & families
Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 7+
| Family ticket | £29 · 2 adults and 2 children under 16 |
|---|
- Hands-on stations
The museum advertises itself as good with kids but recommends the museum and its tours for ages 7 to adult. Visitors can handle punishment devices and original artefacts.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
London Bridge station
The nearest Tube and National Rail station is London Bridge. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers serves Bankside Pier, less than 10 minutes' walk from the museum.
By car
No on-site parking at the museum.
The museum has no car park; the closest parking given is the NCP car park on Kipling Street, SE1 3RU.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Corporate events
Up to 25 guests.
Evening corporate events for up to 25 guests: a complimentary glass of red wine followed by a 45-minute tour of the museum.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Guided tours are available for school and student groups, who can also handle original artefacts related to crime and punishment. The museum and its tours are recommended for ages 7 and over. |
