Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun
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Temporarily closed until further notice
Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun
Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun
4.5
Temporarily closedClosed until further notice
About
Ruthin Gaol is closed until the Spring of 2025. A unique Victorian prison experience! Come and explore the cells of this Pentonville style prison and unlock the stories of the prisoners who were kept here. Learn about the "Welsh Houdini" and discover what happened to those who were transported across the seas to Australia. See how the prisoners lived their daily lives: what they ate, how they worked, and the punishments they suffered. Younger visitors can enjoy our "Gaol Trails"! - Can you escape from Ruthin Gaol? Choose a prisoner and search for the items, but don't get caught by the warder! Our Teddy Trail is also ideal for little ones. We are open every day (except Tuesday) from 10:30 until 17:00 (last entry at 16:00).
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
290 reviews
Excellent
179
Very good
95
Average
10
Poor
5
Terrible
1
Katie A
Mold, UK13 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
I visited Ruthin Gaol with my husband and three children aged 8, 5 and 2. I’ve known of it for years and is only around 20 minute drive away from home so decided to go and have a look around. £20 for a family ticket for the adults and two oldest children, 2 year old was free admission. Well worth the price for us, we spent a good couple of hours learning about the prison and the children doing the various creative activities set out and the treasure hunts. The audio tour was interesting and informative. The staff at the main entrance were really friendly, helpful and great with the children too. It was a lovely few hours out, we’ll definitely be back.
Written August 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flyer54434259376
5 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Fab place to visit. Recommend the tour guide device offered as you can listen as you go and scan each cell. Took about 1.5 hours. Helpful and friendly staff. Kids aged 13 and 10 loved it.
Written August 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beekeeper57
Upton Upon Severn, United Kingdom87 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
An interesting place with some history, but I felt that it could be so much better. A free audio guide was provided, but you were listening to pretty much the same thing that was written on boards in the cells/rooms. There was a short video of the munitions factory, but the quality was poor, and the sort section that actually had audio was almost inaudible even to me as someone who has good hearing!
It does make you realise that actually although it was a harsh environment, the building itself would have been solid and relatively spacious back in the day. As someone who's never been to prison, it was good to see what a modern prison looks like too...
It is certainly a place that you could take children to and they would learn just how hard life could be...
It does make you realise that actually although it was a harsh environment, the building itself would have been solid and relatively spacious back in the day. As someone who's never been to prison, it was good to see what a modern prison looks like too...
It is certainly a place that you could take children to and they would learn just how hard life could be...
Written September 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne H
1 contribution
Jun 2023
Visited 15 June the place was very quiet. did not feel any spirit activity at all, think the ghosts have departed for a better place after all the obvious alterations. Took less than 1 hour for us to go around this place and after memories of peoples raving about spirit activity and it being a scary location we were extremely disappointed. would not go again and would not recommend. you can only access certain parts of the building.
Written June 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Becci D
25 contributions
Jun 2023 • Family
Loved it here today. Staff were fantastic. Calm interesting place to come and spend an hour or so. It is simple but immersive. Audio tour is well pitched and brings it to life. There are dressing up clothes and simple crafts for kids
Written June 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lyn - North Wales
North Wales, UK91 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Interesting attraction. Parking nearby which was good, so relatively easy access. Helpful staff. Audio guidance available and plenty of information around to read. All very atmospheric. We were a party of 3 adults and we all thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Highly recommended. There is a similar attraction at Beaumaris which was also very good and well worth a visit for anyone visiting the area.
Written May 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie W
Pontypridd, UK170 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Spent an enjoyable hour or so visiting the gaol museum. The audio devices provide a great account of the gaol’s history as well as the penal system in the UK. I especially liked hearing about Coch Bach y Bala. Entry is reasonably priced. Staff were friendly and helpful. My teen daughter enjoyed doing the quiz on the way around.
Written July 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claire N
107 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
Nice place to visit. There is a small part that is outdoor, so plan the jackets/umbrellas if it's raining.
The audio guides are included in the entrance.
There are activities stations for the kids, to help keeping them entertained.
We went in with the dog and the pram - there are lifts to go between levels.
The audio guides are included in the entrance.
There are activities stations for the kids, to help keeping them entertained.
We went in with the dog and the pram - there are lifts to go between levels.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
birgiss
Ripley, UK324 contributions
Aug 2024 • Family
Visited with a 7yr old. The ladies in the shop/entrance were friendly and helpful. Good idea to have the virtual tour audio devices though think they need to be louder (turned up but didn't seem to make much difference).
It was an interesting place to look around and well maintained. I just found the displays in the lower ground cells a bit lack lustre somehow and would of liked to have seen 1 laid out as it would of been with the beds etc. Thought from images I had seen before visiting that you would be able yo go in the fells upstairs but with the exception of a few with displays in, you couldn't access these. My child enjoyed finding the teddies and the dress up props were fun.
Took around 1 hr to go round. Worth noting, there's no parking at the gaol but is some on street parking, however, that is li.ited to 45mins.
It was an interesting place to look around and well maintained. I just found the displays in the lower ground cells a bit lack lustre somehow and would of liked to have seen 1 laid out as it would of been with the beds etc. Thought from images I had seen before visiting that you would be able yo go in the fells upstairs but with the exception of a few with displays in, you couldn't access these. My child enjoyed finding the teddies and the dress up props were fun.
Took around 1 hr to go round. Worth noting, there's no parking at the gaol but is some on street parking, however, that is li.ited to 45mins.
Written August 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
christina175
Wirral, UK370 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
Hadn’t been here for many years but they seem to have improved the experience considerably. Headsets provided with ticket … lots of information and looked to be very good activities for children . It was interesting to learn about its role as a munitions factory in WWII
Written July 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is this place still closed at the moment for refurb?
Written July 25, 2022
Good afternoon. We are planning to visit you - could you please tell me if dogs are allowed? Thank you
Written August 5, 2019
When I visited a couple had a dog inside with them so I assume so. Hope that helps. 🤗
Written August 5, 2019
Small but an excellent experience. Not expensive entry and the staff are more than willing to educate anyone who walks through the door. Excellent for all ages
Written October 31, 2018
Small but an excellent experience. Not expensive entry and the staff are more than willing to educate anyone who walks through the door. Excellent for all ages
Written October 31, 2018
Suitable for a wheelchair?
Written September 18, 2016
Yes there was a lift there
Written September 19, 2016
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