HMP WANDSWORTH VISITORS' CENTRE
About the visitors' centre
Contact details
Getting there
Opening hours
Facilities on offer at the visitors' centre
Information for visitors to HMP Wandsworth
Prison visiting times
How to book a visit
The induction visit
Before you visit
What to bring as ID
Bringing the children?
Homework club
Help with travel costs
What can I take into the visits hall?
Giving the prisoner property and money
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Contact details
Wandsworth Visitors- Centre
HMP Wandsworth
Heathfield Road
London
SW18 3HR
020 8874 4377
wandsworth@prisonadvice.org.uk
The visitors' centre manager is Angus Mulready-Jones.
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Getting there
HMP Wandsworth is in South London. The nearest train station is Clapham Junction, and the nearest tube station is Tooting Bec. From there, you can take the 77 or 219 bus. For more advice about getting to Wandsworth Prison, visit the Prison Service website. The Visitors' Centre is a small house to the left of the prison, next to the road - look for the orange 'pact centre' sign.
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Visitors' centre opening hours
Monday: 8.45am - 5.45pm
Tuesday: 12.15pm - 8pm
Wednesday: 8.45am - 8pm (except the first Wednesday in the month)
Thursday: 8.45am - 8pm
Friday: 8.45am - 5.45pm
Saturday: 8.15am - 5pm
Sunday: 8.15am - 5pm
*** From Monday 2nd August, visits times will be as follows: ***
Monday: 10am - 5.30pm
Tuesday: 12.15pm - 7.45pm
Wednesday: 8.45am - 7.45pm (except the second Wednesday in the month when the centre is closed between 12 noon and 5pm)
Thursday: 8.45am - 5.30pm (visitors for the homework club should go straight to the visits gate)
Friday: 8.45am - 5.30pm
Saturday: 8.15am - 4.45pm
Sunday: 8.15am - 4.45pm
Please note that the prison visiting times are slightly different to the Visitors' Centre opening hours. See below for the prison visiting times.
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The gardenFacilities on offer at the visitors' centre
- information and advice about prison routines, visiting procedure, and the Prison Assisted Visits Scheme
- a garden, with seats and outdoor toys
- 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 and Friday: 9.30am, 10.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm
Tuesday: 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (Heathfield Centre quiet visit, no children)
Wednesday: 9.30am, 10.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (Onslow Centre only)
Thursday: 9am ('drop in' visit for prisoners who have sent less than seven days in custody), 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (homework club: ask the visitors' centre staff for more information)
Saturday and Sunday: 8.45am, 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm
Please note that all visits must be booked in advance - apart from the 'induction' visit (see below)
*** As of 2nd August, visits times will be as follows: ***
Monday: 10.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm
Tuesday: 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (Heathfield Centre quiet visit, no children)
Wednesday: 9.30am, 10.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (Onslow Centre only)
Thursday: 9am ('drop in' visit for prisoners who have sent less than seven days in custody), 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm, 6.15pm (homework club: ask the visitors' centre staff for more information)
Friday: 9.30am, 10.45am, 1.15pm, 2.45pm, 4.15pm
Saturday and Sunday: 8.45am, 10am, 11.30am, 2pm, 3.30pm
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All visits must be booked in advance - except the induction visit (see below).
By phone
Call 020 8588 4002. Booking line opening hours (please note the change to opening times):
- Monday to Friday, 8am - 7.45pm
Like many prison booking lines, it is very difficult to get through to book your visit by phone. So we advise visitors where possible to use another method.
By e-mail
Send an e-mail to socialvisits.wandsworth@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
By internal application
All prisoners in HMP Wandsworth can book their visits internally by filling out a form within the prison. This form is then approved by the booking clerks, who return it to the prisoner.
The prisoner then simply informs his visitors of the time and date of the visit.
This system is available to both convicted and remand prisoners. Convicted prisoners' visiting orders (VOs) booked by this method will be at the visitors' centre for the visitors to collect on the day of their visit.
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The induction visit
At HMP Wandsworth, induction visits are visits to prisoners who have been in custody for less than seven days, and who have not received a visit yet. Visitors are able to attend an induction visit without prior booking on a Thursday morning. Find out more about induction visits at HMP Wandsworth
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Before you visit
Give yourself plenty of time to get to HMP Wandsworth; aim to be at the visitors' centre at least half an hour before your visit. If you are late you could miss your visit or have a very short time in the visits hall.
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Adult visitors
Adults must bring one of the following:
- a passport (including expired passports where the picture is still recognisable)
- photo driving license
- EU identity card
- photo ID from the immigration services
- current public transport season ticket with photo
- Freedom Pass (Transport for London)
- photographic ID card from a known employer, or a student ID card from an educational establishment
If you do not have any of the above, please bring two of the following:
- cheque book or debit card
- young person's proof of age card
- trade union or NUS card
- library card with proof of signature
- NHS medical card
- rent book
- entitlement to benefit letter
- foreign identity or resident's card
Child visitors
Children who are visiting need to bring one of these:
- birth certificate
- verification of entitlement to child benefit
- children's passport
If you do not have the required ID, please call the visitors' centre on 020 8874 4377 for advice on what to bring.
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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 Wandsworth play service
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Homework club
At the homework club, dads who are in Wandsworth Prison have the opportunity to help their children with their homework. Volunteer teachers and playworkers are on hand to help if needed.
The homework club takes place once a week and is an extra, on top of the prisoner's normal visits entitlement.
To apply to join the homework club, the prisoner must:
- have children of school age
- have been at HMP Wandsworth for at least three months
- be on at least standard status
- not have had any MDTs within the last three months
If you are interested in finding out more, please ask the visitors' centre staff.
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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What can I take into the visits hall?
You cannot take very much into the visits hall with you. Almost all your possessions must be left behind in a locker in the visitors' centre.
You can take the following things in with you:
- change to buy refreshments (coins only, no notes). You can get change at the visitors' centre if necessary
- your locker key
- baby milk in a clear container
- baby food (this has to be in an unopened, shop-bought jar, which will be emptied and placed into a plastic container on entering the prison)
- baby wipes
- prescription medication that a visitor may need while on their visit (please make officers aware of this medication on entering the prison)
Nappies are provided by the prison.
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Giving the prisoner property and money
Property
If you want to give property to someone inside HMP Wandsworth, you must hand it in at the prison.
- property can be handed in before any daytime visit (but please note that the property office closes at 4.15pm)
- the property office is located next to the visitors' centre
- please note that clothing must be handed into the prison within 28 days of the prisoner's arrival
- full details of what kinds of items you are allowed to hand in is available from the visitors' centre
Family and friends are not allowed to post any items of property to prisoners except stamps.
Sending money
Money can be sent to prisoners by cheque or postal order (postal orders take less time to clear so the prisoner will receive the money in less time).
All cheques and postal orders must be made out to 'the Governor'. Write the prisoner's name and prison number on the back of the cheque or postal order.
Post the cheques or postal orders in separate envelopes from any letters to:
HMP Wandsworth, PO Box 757, Heathfield Road, London, SW18 3HR.
