Leicester HM Prison, Leicester

Leicester HM Prison, Leicester

Located on Welford Road in the heart of Leicester, HM Prison Leicester is a Category B men’s local prison, meaning it houses individuals on remand to the local courts as well as convicted prisoners. Operated by His Majesty’s Prison Service, the facility stands immediately north of Nelson Mandela Park and has long been a defining feature of the cityscape.

Designed by William Parsons, the county surveyor, Leicester Prison was built to resemble a medieval castle. Completed in 1828, the imposing structure features embattled stonework, a grand gatehouse, and towering red brick walls—which, at 30 feet high, are believed to be the tallest prison walls in the UK. The historic gatehouse, adjoining buildings, and perimeter wall are all Grade II listed structures.

The prison has a long and, at times, grim history. Between 1829 and 1953, 23 executions were carried out within its walls. The youngest person executed was John Swift, aged 19, while the oldest was Thomas Bloxham, aged 62. Except for early executions for horse theft and highway robbery, all capital punishments were for murder. The only woman executed at Leicester Prison was Sarah Smith in 1832. Notably, there were two triple executions (1829, 1877) and two double executions (1903, 1944).

Even in its earliest days, the prison’s construction drew public criticism. The journalist William Cobbett, known for documenting his travels across England, chastised Leicester’s residents for taking pride in their new prison, arguing that a city without crime would have been a far greater achievement. Over time, however, the prison has become an unmistakable landmark, so closely associated with Welford Road that it is often referred to simply as "Welford Road Prison".

Today, Leicester HM Prison remains an active correctional facility, standing as both a reminder of the city’s past and a working institution in the present.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Leicester. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Leicester HM Prison on Map

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30 m
100 ft
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors
Sight Name: Leicester HM Prison
Sight Location: Leicester, England (See walking tours in Leicester)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark

Walking Tours in Leicester, England

Create Your Own Walk in Leicester

Create Your Own Walk in Leicester

Creating your own self-guided walk in Leicester is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historical Buildings

Historical Buildings

Leicester, a city in England's East Midlands, has a storied past that is vividly presented in its historical buildings. Valuable architectural monuments, they are the city's pride and as such enjoy special protection by the government.

Among such, Magazine Gateway stands as a testament to the city's medieval legacy. Originally part of its defensive walls, this structure now...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Leicester Introduction Walking Tour

Leicester Introduction Walking Tour

Leicester is one of the oldest cities in England, whose history goes back almost two millennia. The Romans arrived in the area around 47 AD, during their conquest of southern Britain. Following the Saxon invasion, Leicester was then captured by Danish Vikings, in the 9th century.

The settlement was first documented in the early 10th century, under the name Ligeraceaster. At the time of the...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.1 Km or 0.7 Miles