About The Clink Prison Museum
The Clink Prison is a place that has quite a history. It’s been around since 1144, which makes it one of England’s oldest and most infamous prisons. You can find it right in the heart of modern-day Southwark, sitting on the same spot it was built all those years ago. Now, The Clink Prison Museum offers a truly immersive and educational experience that dives deep into the scandalous truth of Old Bankside.
After pushing our way through a bustling Borough market and walking down a very modern built-up area we find ourselves at the entrance to The Clink Prison Museum.
The not-so-spooky surroundings are soon forgotten though as we stand under a portcullis and a caged skeleton which seems to loom over the pedestrians making their way to Gourmet Burger Kitchen.
Having checked these out we head down the stairs and ring the bell to announce ourselves as two new inmates to the Prison and after handing over our very reasonable entrance fee we make our way inside.
What To Expect Inside The Clink
Pushing open the large entry door we immediately find ourselves transported back in time to an ironmonger.
Straight away there are interactive elements to get yourself immersed with, and I thoroughly enjoy hitting a massive anvil with a blacksmith hammer. Both of those items are very real and could do some serious damage and they trust you to not act like an ass, so please don’t or they will have to take it away and you will have ruined everyone’s fun.
There are information boards for you to read up on the history of the items on show and also a cute little cartoon rat with kid-friendly info, although we aren’t sure if this is the right place to be bringing kids, especially with the aforementioned hammer…
Making our way further into the museum there is a lot to see, and as we enter another room we find mannequins of prisoners, info on pillories and stocks, and even a section of wall from the original Clink Prison which stood on the site between 1550 and 1650, meaning you can put your hands on a real piece of history.
We were pleasantly surprised with how many interactive elements there are throughout this little place, they really do pack them in, with some pretty weighty weapons and instruments of torture available for you to handle being among our favourites. Don’t panic though, most are firmly attached to the wall, safety first and all that.
There are some truly disturbing mannequins throughout, including some eerily realistic heads on pikes and the remains of a poor guy in a gibbet, all in the name of education.
The Clink Prison Museum Review wouldn’t be complete without checking out the merch, and you’ll be pleased to know there is a nifty little gift shop with some pocket money-friendly souvenirs (yes, we got a magnet for Creepy Towers) and there is also a free photo opportunity which we were so very impressed with.
As you reach the end of the museum you are invited to enter a little side room and put on some of the provided costumes and pose behind prison bars and get your picture taken. When it is done you can take your ticket from the machine and use your personal code to download your photo from the website later. An amazing addition to the whole experience.
How Long Do You Need?
Our visit to the museum took us about an hour, and if you are like us and like to read all the information provided and soak up the atmosphere then you can expect to be in there for a similar amount of time. If you are more of a glance-as-you-walk-past type or you just want to fill a spare bit of time while you are in London then you could be in and out within 15 mins, it is what you make of it.
The Clink Museum Review Conclusion
As we mentioned the price is incredibly reasonable, especially for an attraction in central London, and for the number of things on show you can’t complain at all.
We would say you should take your kids at your discretion, there are torture implements and gory and imprisoned mannequins in various states, so be sure to use your judgment on that.
The photo as a free souvenir is an awesome touch too and we enjoyed the mix of genuine artefacts and recreations.
