Bristol

Inside the prison and daily life

Bristol Prison is a men's establishment in Horfield. Its five main wings provide a mixture of single and shared accommodation, alongside facilities and services intended to support people during custody.

Education and training cover English, maths, cooking, practical cleaning, bicycle mechanics, painting and decorating and construction-related skills. Peer mentoring and healthier-living courses are among the other listed opportunities.

Monthly employability workshops help prisoners prepare CVs, complete job applications and practise interview skills. These sessions connect activity inside the prison with the practical requirements of seeking work after release.

Support is also available for housing, debt, health and family relationships. Those needs can affect a person's ability to settle back into the community, so they form part of the preparation offered before release.

Visiting and family contact

An induction introduces new arrivals to prison rules, welfare services, learning and family contact. It also includes a gym induction so prisoners can use the exercise facilities safely.

Family and friends should check visiting arrangements directly before travelling, including booking, identification and what they may bring through the gate.

Practical advice before you make arrangements

Use Bristol's official page below for its current booking route, required identification, permitted items and travel instructions.

Confirm that the person is still at Bristol and that your visit has been accepted before making travel arrangements. Ask the prison in advance about disability access, medication or children's needs.