Inveraray Jail and Escape Room — Attraction in Great Britain

I was a reluctant visitor to Inveraray Jail on a damp Friday afternoon in March. I’d been to similar places and found them a bit dull to be honest, but I was pleasantly surprised! The free audio guides complement the physical exhibits well. I like how they’ve tried to bring rooms like the courtroom to life using models and audio, even though the models are looking a bit tired! The two jail buildings are interesting and they’ve done well to make the cells interesting by addressing different themes in each of them.

We spoke with one of the ‘guards’ who was very knowledgeable and gave us some context for both of the jail buildings.

It’s actually quite a big museum so be prepared to walk around a bit. Also, it’s cold and exposed so wrap up!

Overall, I would definitely...

A proper 'old school' visitor attraction museum/experience! I didn't opt for the audio guide so just read the labels and signage. I felt like I learned a lot about prisons and justice in the 17th-19th centuries and it was entertaining. The staff were friendly and informative. It is perhaps a bit dated, but in a good way! Everything is laid out logically and you don't get overloaded with information. There is just enough non-electronic 'interactive' stuff that the kids I saw there were enjoying themselves. I hope they don't try to modernise it with interactive displays or anything. The buildings, history, staff and most of all the mannequins are everything you need!...

While staying in Dunoon, around 45 minutes away, we decided to have a drive across to Inverary for the day, with 3 young boys of 10, 9 and 2, the jail was somewhere the eldest 2 wanted to visit. It worked out well because it was heavy rain that day and gave us somewhere to kill some time. It ended up being very interesting and we all enjoyed exploring all the different rooms, I wouldn't recommend for those who struggle with stairs or uneven floors, however we made it round with a small toddler, so those with young children will be fine, infact he enjoyed exploring all the rooms just as much as his big brothers! Definitely worth a visit if...