Stirling Old Town Jail
- a classroom with a difference!

Stirling Old Town Jail provides educational groups with a unique insight into life during the Victorian era – a period of immense change in Scotland’s towns and cities.

Stirling Old Town Jail can easily be linked with other attractions (including Argyll’s Lodging, Cowane’s Hospital, Stirling Castle, and The Church of the Holy Rude) and activities (including walking tours of the historic city) to provide an intriguing experience for groups at all levels.

A visit to the Jail provides groups with a unique insight into:

• Life in Victorian Scotland - including living conditions and social reform
• Stirling in the 19th Century
• Crime and Punishment in Victorian Scotland - and the treatment of juvenile offenders
• Engineering and Innovation in Victorian Scotland
• Crime and Justice in Scotland today

Booking Your Visit

Advance reservations are essential for educational groups visiting Stirling Old Town Jail – to ensure that your party can arrive at a time which will enable them to enjoy their visit to the full.

To make your reservation, call Stirling Old Town Jail on (01786) 450050. To assist in making your reservation, please have the following information available:

• The name and address of your school (including the post code), and contact details (telephone/fax numbers, and e-mail address)
• The name (and contact details, if different) for the teacher who is organising or leading the visit
• The preferred date and time for your visit
• The number of pupils, teachers, and accompanying adults in the group
• Details of any special needs or requirements (e.g. pupils with special physical needs, etc.)

Helpful Notes

- to ensure that your group has a safe and enjoyable visit to Stirling Old Town Jail:

• You should plan for a minimum period of 1½ hours for a visit to The Jail - allowing time to complete the live prison tour (which takes place with an actor), visit all the displays and exhibition areas (including the Rooftop Viewpoint), and visit the Souvenir and Gift Shop.
• If you have more than 25 pupils - then the best way of visiting The Jail is to split the party into smaller groups, each of which will undertake a different activity simultaneously. For example - one group can go directly to The Rooftop Viewpoint, then visit each of the exhibition areas before the live prison tour, whilst the other group can start their visit with the live prison tour. Each group must be accompanied by at least one adult or teacher.
• The different areas of The Jail are accessed by a lift, and by a spiral staircase leading from the upper exhibition area and terrace to The Rooftop Viewpoint.
• The safety of all visitors to The Jail is important - and pupils must be supervised at all times, especially when they visit The Rooftop Viewpoint. Items must not be thrown from here - as they could be a danger to people below.
• The Souvenir and Gift Shop is situated just inside the main entrance gates, and has a wide range of items available for purchase. Pupils must be supervised when visiting this area.
• Toilet facilities are available within The Jail.

The personnel at Stirling Old Town Jail will do all they can to make sure that your group enjoys its time at The Jail to the full, and they will be happy to deal with any enquiries, either beforehand or during your visit.