HMP PENTONVILLE VISITORS' CENTRE
About the Visitors' Centre
Contact details
How to get there
Visitors' Centre opening hours
Facilities on offer at the Visitors' Centre
Information for visitors to HMP Pentonville
Prison visiting times
How to book a visit
Before you visit
What to bring as ID
Bringing the children?
Booking in for a visit
What happens on a visit
Help with travel costs
The Inside Out support group
Concerned about someone in prison?
Giving difficult or bad news
Support from other organisations
Concerned about drug use and imprisonment?
Giving the prisoner property and money
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Contact details
Visitors' Centre
HMP Pentonville
Caledonian Road
London
N7 8TT
020 7609 3860
pentonville@prisonadvice.org.uk
The Services Manager is Ellen Dacre.
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How to get there
Pentonville Prison is in North London, and the nearest mainline train station is Kings Cross. The nearest tube stop is Caledonian Road, and the prison is easy to get to by bus. For more information about getting to Pentonville Prison, visit the Prison Service website. To find the Visitors' Centre, turn right after entering the prison gates; follow the pedestrian walkway along, and the Visitors' Centre is on your left.
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Visitors' Centre opening hours
Monday - Saturday: 9am - 4.15pm
Sunday: 12.30pm - 4.30pm
Please note that the prison visiting times are slightly different to the Visitors' Centre opening hours. If you need to find out the visiting times, see below.
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Facilities on offer at the Visitors' Centre
- information and advice about prison routines, visiting procedure, and the Prison Assisted Visits Scheme
- a coffee bar selling a range of drinks and snacks
- toys for children to play with
- information leaflets
- toilets and baby changing facilities
- pact staff and volunteers are always on hand to offer advice and a listening ear
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Prison visiting times
Monday - Saturday: 9.30am - 11.30am (last entry at 10.30am), 2pm - 4pm (last entry at 3pm)
Sunday: 2pm - 4pm (enhanced prisoners only)
No visitors under 18 on Monday or Thursday mornings
There are no visits on Good Friday or Christmas Day.
Please note that all visits must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
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- all visits must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. You will not, therefore, be able to visit on the same day as booking
- a maximum of three adults and three children can visit at any one time
- visitors under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Proof of age may be required
- visits generally last for two hours
- to visit a convicted prisoner, you will need them to send you a Visiting Order in the post
- to book a visit, phone the prison's Booking Line on 020 7023 7251
Booking Line opening hours:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm (closed on bank holidays) - or you can book a visit in person at the Visitors' Centre (you can do this Monday - Friday, 9am - 12 noon, 2pm - 4pm)
- or you can book your next visit before going in for a visit (with a form)
When booking a visit, you will be asked to provide the following information:
- prisoner's name and prison number
- Visiting Order number (for convicted inmates only)
- your name and full address, including post code
- the names and addresses of any other adult visitors
How many visits is the prisoner allowed?
It depends whether the prisoner is on remand or convicted - and on the privileges system.
All prisoners at HMP Pentonville are part of a system for earning or losing privileges. Each prisoner is on a basic, standard or enhanced regime - depending on how many privileges they have earned.
Here is a breakdown of the number of visits prisoners are allowed:
- convicted prisoners are allowed one visit a fortnight. Also, extra Visiting Orders can be earned; these are called Enhanced Visits.
- If you are in possession of a privileged Visiting Order, you can only use this on a Sunday
- remand prisoners are allowed two visits a week
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Before you visit
Give yourself plenty of time to get to HMP Pentonville; aim to arrive at least half an hour before you visit is due to start. If you arrive after 10.30am or 3pm you will not be allowed to visit.
When more than one person is visiting, you must wait for the whole group to be present. If you enter the prison and a member of your party arrives late they will not be allowed in.
You will need to bring identification with you - please see below for a list of appropriate ID. You will also need to bring a pound coin with you to use in the locker where your belongings will be kept while you are on the visit.
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What to bring as ID
All visitors who are over 18 must provide ID in order to gain entrance to the prison. If, in the opinion of a member of staff, you or someone you are with looks 18 years or older, identification may be required to confirm your age.
Bring one of the following forms of ID with you:
- a passport. This can include foreign passports, and time-expired passports where the photograph is still recognizable
- driving licence
- EC identity card, home office ID, letter or photo ID from immigration
- annual public transport season ticket with photo card
- benefits book or card
- Freedom Pass
- employer's or student ID card, but only if this clearly shows the name of the visitor and the employer or educational establishment and has a photograph or signature which can be compared with the visitor's appearance or signature and if the employer or educational establishment are known to exist
If you are unable to produce one of the above forms of ID, staff may accept combinations of two or more of the following:
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate
- rail or bus pass with photo card
- cheque book or credit/debit card
- young person's proof of age card
- trade union or National Students Union membership card
- library card, if it has a signature which can be compared with the visitor's signature
- rent book or card
- foreign identity or resident's card
- expired documents from the above lists that appear satisfactory in other ways
If you are refused entrance to the prison and you need assistance, please speak to a senior member of staff at the Visitors' Centre.
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Bringing the children?
Inside the visits hall is a children's play area, run by pact, which provides toys, games and playworkers for the children. Find out more about the HMP Pentonville play service
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Booking in for a visit
If you are visiting Monday - Saturday, you will need to go to the Visitors' Centre, which is situated on the main driveway, next to the prison entrance. If your visit is on a Sunday or on a bank holiday, please go directly to the prison gate.
The Visitors' Centre staff will go through the checking in procedures and will give you further information or help that you may require. You can buy refreshments at the Visitors' Centre and also sit and wait for your visit.
If you are visiting an inmate on remand you will be asked to fill in an 'Open Visiting Order' stating the names and address of any other persons visiting with you.
If you are visiting a convicted inmate you will need to show your Visiting Order, and provide the names and addresses of any other persons visiting with you.
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What happens on a visit
For a detailed step-by-step guide to what happens when you visit a prisoner in HMP Pentonville, click here.
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Help with travel costs
If you are on a low income or you receive benefits, you might be entitled to get help from the government with the cost of visiting your relative in prison. Help is provided by the Assisted Prison Visits Unit (APVU). You can claim for two visits a month.
For more information about the APVU:
- ask at the Visitors' Centre
- call the APVU on 0845 300 1423
- or visit the Prison Service website
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The Inside Out support group
If someone special to you is in prison and you are feeling upset or alone, this support group for relatives and friends of prisoners in HMP Pentonville meets on the first Wednesday of every month, from 12 - 1pm, in the visitors' centre. All are welcome. For more information, contact Shirley Havens at the visitors' centre on 020 7609 3860.
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Concerned about someone in prison?
If you are concerned about someone in HMP Pentonville - for example, you think they might be a victim of bullying or violence - call the HMP Pentonville Anti-Violence Line on 020 7619 0897.
This is an answer machine service and will be checked daily. When leaving a message, please speak clearly and leave as much detail as possible so that the prison can deal with your concerns.
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Giving difficult or bad news
It is not easy for anyone to give bad news and you may find it helpful to speak about it first.
If you would like to speak to someone or are concerned about giving difficult or bad news to the person that you are visiting, please speak to the Visitors' Centre staff or the Visits Senior Officer in the prison.
Where there is a death in the family, the Multi Faith Team will offer support to the prisoner. Call 020 7023 7000 extension 3145.
If the Visitors' Centre is closed, please contact the Orderly Officer or Duty Governor at the prison on 020 7023 7000.
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Support from other organisations
There are a number of organisations that offer advice and support to prisoners and their families. To find out more, visit our links page or ask at the Visitors' Centre.
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Concerned about drug use and imprisonment?
The Visitors' Centre is committed to helping anyone concerned about substance misuse or related issues. However, we cannot allow the possession, supply or use of alcohol or elicit drugs on our premises. Reasonable measures will be made to prevent drug-related activity and to reduce the potential harm to staff and visitors.
A drugs amnesty box is provided outside the Visitors' Centre.
The 'Road to Release' Project
This project is run by Adfam, a charity which supports the friends and families of drug users.
When someone you care about is in prison, things are never easy. If the person you are visiting has a drug problem, things may be even tougher and you might like to have some information and support that could help you cope with the situation.
If you are worried about these or any other drug-related issues and would like to talk to someone, please ask the Visitors' Centre staff or call Adfam National Prisoners' Families Support on 020 7202 9446 between 10am - 4pm Monday to Friday.
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Giving the prisoner property and money
There are many rules and regulations about how to do this. Please click here for detailed information about what is allowed.
The Inside Out support group
If someone special to you is in prison and you are feeling upset or alone, this support group for friends and relatives of prisoners in HMP Pentonville meets on the first Wednesday of every month, from 12 - 1pm, in the visitors' centre. All are welcome.
For more information, contact Shirley Havens at the visitors' centre on 020 7609 0897 or Helen McLachlan (the prison's family liaison officer) on 020 7023 7093.