Step inside one of Dartmoor’s most famous landmarks

No visit to Dartmoor is complete without a stop in Princetown to see the world-famous — and sometimes infamous — Dartmoor Prison. Just a short walk from the main gates, the Dartmoor Prison Museum brings to life over 200 years of dramatic history.

Built between 1806 and 1809, the prison was originally created to hold Prisoners of War from the Napoleonic Wars and later the War of 1812 between Britain and the United States. It became a convict prison in 1850, housing some of Britain’s most notorious criminals, including John George Haigh (the “Acid Bath Murderer”), Ronnie Biggs (the Great Train Robber) and Frank “The Mad Axeman” Mitchell.

Inside the museum you’ll find fascinating exhibitions and artefacts revealing what life was really like behind the granite walls — both for the prisoners and those who guarded them. Discover handcrafted prisoner art, ingenious escape aids, and illegally made weapons, all telling stories of creativity, cunning and survival.

Explore displays that trace the prison’s evolution from a Prisoner of War Depot to a modern-day facility, with vivid accounts of key moments such as the Princetown Massacre of 1815. See life-size Napoleonic figures, early control devices including manacles, straitjackets and flogging frames, and admire beautiful handmade models and paintings produced by inmates over the years.

The museum has its own car park and a gift shop selling unique items made by current prisoners. Welcoming more than 35,000 visitors every year, it’s one of Dartmoor’s most popular and intriguing attractions.

Come and experience life inside one of the world’s most legendary prisons — a visit that’s fascinating, atmospheric and completely unforgettable.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dartmoor Prison Museum in Princetown.