The UK has a complex prison system that houses a wide variety of inmates. 

From small local prisons to massive multi-purpose facilities, the country’s prisons serve various purposes, including rehabilitation, punishment, and public safety. 

In this article, we will explore 15 of the biggest prisons in the UK. 

These prisons vary in their histories, functions, and controversies, but all are vital parts of the UK’s criminal justice system. 

We will count down from 15 to 1, with number 1 being the largest prison in the UK.

15. Pentonville

Pentonville Prison, located in North London, was opened in 1842 and is one of the most well-known Victorian prisons in the UK. 

It was originally designed to hold about 500 inmates but has been expanded over the years to accommodate more.

Today, Pentonville serves as a category B/C prison, holding remand and short-term prisoners. 

It is known for housing a diverse range of offenders, from those awaiting trial to those serving sentences.

Pentonville has been the focus of numerous controversies over the years, mainly related to overcrowding, poor living conditions, and high rates of violence. 

Its outdated infrastructure has made it difficult to maintain acceptable living standards, leading to repeated criticisms from inspectors.

14. Thameside

Thameside Prison, located in South East London, is a relatively new facility, opening in 2012. 

It was built as part of a public-private partnership and is run by Serco.

Thameside serves as a category B local prison, holding male offenders who are either awaiting trial or serving short to medium-term sentences. 

It also has facilities for inmates undergoing rehabilitation programs.

The prison has faced criticism for its high staff turnover, lack of experienced personnel, and poor conditions for inmates. 

There have been reports of violence, drug use, and issues with overcrowding, despite its modern facilities.

13. Littlehey

Littlehey Prison, located in Cambridgeshire, opened in 1988 and originally served as a young offenders’ institution. 

In 2010, it expanded to accommodate adult prisoners as well.

Littlehey is a category C prison that houses male inmates convicted of sexual offences. 

It has specific programs aimed at rehabilitation, particularly in the area of addressing sexual offending behaviour.

The prison has faced controversy due to its high population of sex offenders. 

There have been concerns about whether the prison is equipped to handle the specific needs of these inmates, particularly in terms of rehabilitation programs and security.

12. Wormwood Scrubs

Wormwood Scrubs, located in West London, opened in 1874. 

The prison has a long history and has housed some of the UK’s most notorious criminals.

It is a category B prison primarily holding remand prisoners and those serving short sentences. 

Wormwood Scrubs also focuses on rehabilitation, offering educational and vocational training programs.

Wormwood Scrubs has been criticised for its poor living conditions and high levels of violence. 

Numerous reports over the years have highlighted issues with overcrowding, understaffing, and the treatment of inmates, leading to a tarnished reputation.

11. Northumberland

HMP Northumberland, located in the northeast of England, was formed in 2011 by merging two existing prisons: Acklington and Castington. 

It is operated by Sodexo.

Northumberland is a category C prison that houses male offenders, with a focus on rehabilitation and preparing inmates for reintegration into society. 

The prison offers various educational and vocational programs.

The prison has faced criticism for its high levels of drug use and violence. 

There have also been concerns about the prison’s privatised management and whether it prioritises cost-cutting over inmate welfare and rehabilitation.

10. Peterborough

HMP Peterborough, located in Cambridgeshire, is a unique dual-purpose facility. 

Opened in 2005, it is the only prison in the UK that houses both male and female inmates.

Peterborough is a category B prison for men and a category C prison for women. 

It offers a wide range of rehabilitation programs, including educational and vocational training.

The prison has faced criticism for its high levels of violence and drug use. 

There have also been concerns about the effectiveness of its rehabilitation programs.

9. Highpoint

Highpoint Prison, located in Suffolk, was originally built in the 1930s as a Royal Air Force base. 

It was converted into a prison in the 1970s.

Highpoint is a category C prison that houses male inmates. 

It has a strong focus on rehabilitation, offering various educational and vocational programs.

The prison has faced issues with overcrowding, leading to poor living conditions for inmates. 

There have also been reports of violence and drug use within the facility, raising concerns about safety and security.

8. Forest Bank

Forest Bank Prison, located in Greater Manchester, opened in 2000. 

It is managed by Sodexo as part of a public-private partnership.

Forest Bank is a category B prison that houses male inmates. 

It offers a range of educational and vocational programs, as well as mental health services.

The prison has faced criticism for high levels of violence, drug use, and overcrowding. 

There have been concerns about the management of the facility and whether it is adequately addressing the needs of inmates.

7. Wandsworth

Wandsworth Prison, located in South London, opened in 1851. 

It is one of the largest prisons in the UK and has a long history of housing some of the country’s most notorious criminals.

Wandsworth is a category B prison that holds male inmates. 

It serves as a remand prison and houses those serving short sentences.

The prison has been heavily criticised for its poor living conditions, including overcrowding and unsanitary facilities. 

Numerous reports have highlighted high levels of violence and self-harm among inmates, leading to calls for reform.

6. Barlinnie

Barlinnie Prison, located in Glasgow, Scotland, opened in 1882. 

It is one of Scotland’s most well-known prisons and has a long history of housing notorious criminals.

Barlinnie is a multi-purpose facility, holding remand prisoners, short-term inmates, and those serving long sentences. 

It also offers rehabilitation programs for inmates.

The prison has faced criticism for its outdated infrastructure and overcrowding. 

There have been reports of poor living conditions and high levels of violence, leading to calls for the construction of a new facility to replace Barlinnie.

5. Five Wells

HMP Five Wells, located in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, is a brand-new prison that opened in early 2022. 

It is the first in a series of new prisons being built as part of the UK government’s prison expansion program.

Five Wells is a category C prison that houses male inmates. 

It is designed to be a ‘rehabilitation-focused’ facility, offering educational and vocational programs to help inmates reintegrate into society.

As a new facility, Five Wells has yet to face significant controversy, however some have raised concerns about whether it will effectively address the issue of overcrowding in the UK prison system.

4. Fosse Way

HMP Fosse Way, located in Leicestershire, is another new prison that opened in 2023 as part of the government’s prison expansion program.

Fosse Way is a category C prison designed to house male inmates. 

It focuses on rehabilitation, offering a wide range of programs to help inmates prepare for life after release.

Like Five Wells, Fosse Way is still in its early stages and has not yet faced significant controversy. 

However, there are concerns about whether the prison will be able to maintain its focus on rehabilitation in the long term.

3. Parc

Parc Prison, located in Bridgend, Wales, opened in 1997 and is the second largest prison in Wales. 

It is operated by G4S as part of a public-private partnership.

Parc is a category B prison that houses male inmates. It also has a separate unit for young offenders. 

The prison offers a wide range of rehabilitation programs, including education, vocational training, and mental health services.

Parc has faced criticism for high levels of violence and drug use among inmates. 

There have also been concerns about the management of the facility, particularly in terms of staffing levels and the quality of care provided to inmates, as in 2024, 10 inmates died in the space of 10 months.

2. Berwyn

HMP Berwyn, located in Wrexham, Wales, is the second largest prison in the UK by capacity. 

It opened in 2017 as part of the government’s prison expansion program.

Berwyn is a category C prison designed to house up to 2,100 male inmates. 

The prison focuses on rehabilitation, offering a range of programs aimed at helping inmates reintegrate into society.

Despite its size and focus on rehabilitation, Berwyn has faced criticism for its high levels of violence and drug use. 

There have also been concerns about overcrowding, even in this massive facility, and whether the prison can effectively provide the services it promises.

It has also been claimed that numerous cells have been damaged and left unrepaired, rendering them out of operation.

1. Oakwood

HMP Oakwood, located in Staffordshire, is the largest prison in the UK. 

It opened in 2012 as part of a public-private partnership and is operated by G4S.

Oakwood is a category C prison that houses male inmates.

It focuses on rehabilitation and offers a wide range of programs, including education, vocational training, and mental health services.

Oakwood has faced significant controversy since its opening. 

The prison has been criticised for high levels of violence, drug use, and understaffing. 

In 2014, it was revealed that ambulances were called to the prison over 350 times in 2013, more than double the number of any other UK prison.

There have also been concerns about the management of the facility, particularly in terms of whether it is adequately addressing the needs of inmates.

Conclusion

That was the 15 Biggest Prisons in the UK.

The UK’s prison system is vast and varied, with facilities ranging from historic Victorian prisons to modern rehabilitation-focused institutions. 

While these prisons serve a critical role in maintaining public safety, they also face significant challenges, including overcrowding, violence, and drug use. 

Addressing these issues will require continued investment in both new facilities and the rehabilitation of existing ones.