Littledean Jail — Attraction in Forest of Dean

This is the kind of place you’re either going to love or hate. For me and my partner it was more of the latter, hence my rating, but that’s just us and there’s plenty of warnings about what to expect. Others I’m sure will delight in the twisted spectacle of it all.

Be warned though, that this place does have a heavy energy, I was about half way through the building when I started to feel physically sick and in need of some air, which took me by surprise as I was expecting to find it all quite harmless. Speaking of which, the first thing that hits you when you enter the building is the smell. A dense aroma that just felt oppressive and stagnant. Maybe something to do with all the grotesque taxidermy, but again I think it just reflects the claustrophobic energy of the place.

There’s exhibits everywhere, from weapons, to weird figurines, military paraphernalia, crime and punishment stuff, witchcraft, satanic and the occult, war imagery and lots of sexualised content too.

There’s actually very little about the history of the museum itself, rather it’s a cluttered collection of the darkest interests a Human mind could have. What felt most unsettling and confusing was that among the serial killers and horrifically graphic war imagery, was all the pornographic and lewd newspaper cuttings of nude celebrities. Think Daily Star wallpaper. It felt completely out of context, apart from maybe being a ‘graphic’ representation of the kind of depravity that could be felt in the museum in general.

To sum up, it felt more like walking through a snuff movie than an actual museum. Sure there are some genuinely interesting historical artefacts here and there, but they are far outnumbered by the sheer disturbing randomness of the rest of the exhibits.

Definitely not child friendly at all, some of the images on display you can’t ‘unsee’. So not fair to subject a kid to that.

Also probably best to have an exorcist on call just in case you leave the place with an unexpected guest!

Glad we tried it, even just as a reminder to appreciate the beautiful things in life even more, but won’t be visiting again. So in that respect, it definitely lives up to...

Visited Littledean Jail expecting a slice of quirky British history. Left wondering if I’d just walked through the lovechild of a haunted house, crime museum, and your uncle’s conspiracy theory attic. And honestly? No regrets like at all!!!

Let’s start with the setting....an old 18th-century jail in the Forest of Dean, which already has some serious spooky vibes before you even walk through the door. The place oozes atmosphere damp stone walls, iron barred cells, and that unmistakable "someone probably died here" ambiance. A+ for authenticity!!!!

Now, onto the exhibits. If you’re after polished, PC-friendly museum displays... turn back now. Littledean goes full throttle. We’re talking serial killer memorabilia next to Nazi propaganda, celebrity mugshots, Victorian freak show posters, and pages of British tabloid scandal layered so thick you’ll need a mental palate cleanser afterward. It’s chaotic, crass, creepy—and kind of brilliant?

It’s like the internet in physical form: part fascinating, part terrifying, and occasionally makes you question your life choices. Some rooms feel like the darkest corners of Wikipedia.....one minute you're reading about prison reform, next you're looking at a shrine to the Kray twins or a mannequin that absolutely didn’t need to be that anatomically accurate.

Yes, some of it crosses lines. Yes, you’ll probably gasp, laugh, then question your morality in quick succession... But it’s also one of the most unforgettable museums I’ve ever been to. You can’t accuse it of being boring, the level of unapologetic reading is phenomenal!

Final thoughts: Not for kids, the easily offended, or anyone who thinks museums should be quiet, respectful places.... But if you’ve got a dark sense of humour, a curiosity for the macabre, and a love of the weird and wonderful, Littledean Jail is one hell of a trip and will 100% be going for a revisit!

Bring an open mind....and maybe a stiff drink...

First off, there is quite limited parking but more room in the courtyard itself everyone parks in the trees it seems rather than going all the way in.

The museum itself takes about 2 hours to walk around and unless there is something you are desperately keen or interested in seeing this is a good amount of time to look around.

I found the exhibits interesting but a little chaotic. The best parts were the parts that had a clear theme. My advice would be to think about 3 or 4 areas you are interested in and do a deep dive into the numerous articles and peces of memorabilia. I found the ISIS, Bronson and serial killer sections the most interesting. This is probably one of the only places in the UK where you can understand the horrors of conservative Islam in an uncensored fashion the very act of showing people the truth of what's happening to innocent people in ISIS controlled areas is incredibly brave of the owner as the powers that be try to hide or obscure this to sanitise and mellow the UK population's beliefs concerning radical Islam.

Whilst it's not fun to look at images of beheading and people being burnt alive it's crucial if we are ever going to truly Integrate Islam into UK culture to understand the excess' and challenge and refute these sick beliefs that have led to UK citiizens actually joining ISIS to take part.

My only advice to the owner would be that sometimes less is more and exhibits could then be rotated to encourage people to attend more then once and have a reason to return and...