Stirling Old Town Jail, Stirling (must see)

Located in the heart of Stirling is the Old Town Jail. It is set back from the street and features turrets prominently seen in the city's skyline. Built during the prison reform period, it opened in 1847 after the old Tolbooth Jail was deemed overcrowded and was rated as the worst prison in Britain. Although living conditions improved with the new jail, the strict regime of solitude, labor, food, and discomfort would still have been an impediment.

In 1888, the Old Town Jail was turned into a military prison and used as a detention barracks to discipline members of Scottish regiments. It operated into the 1930s, the prison closing for good in 1936. It was abandoned and neglected until finally undergoing restoration in the early 1990s.

No longer operating as a prison, the Stirling Old Town Jail is now a tourist attraction. A visitor can take a self-guided tour and explore the prison cells. There are also weekend performance tours with live characters that bring the history of this jail to life.

Up on the roof, you can visit the exercise yard. Afterward, head to the observation tower to get magnificent views of the city and surrounding landscape. For an immersive experience, try one of the escape rooms and learn what it's like to try and make a break from a Victorian prison.

A top attraction in town, a visit to the Stirling Old Town Jail is a great way to explore and learn about life in prison. A fun bit of trivia is that in the 1950s, the Caledonian Confectionary Company stocked ingredients in the building. The scent of sweets was said to drift throughout Old Town!