Cookham Wood

Role and background

Cookham Wood is now described as a men's prison in Rochester, Kent. Its current role should be distinguished from older accounts and photographs showing the establishment as a youth institution.

Inside the prison and daily life

The prison's three residential wings provide single-cell accommodation. Exercise facilities include a sports hall, fitness suites, a weights room and an outdoor pitch.

Education ranges from English and maths to distance learning through the Open University. Vocational training includes digital skills, industrial cleaning and catering, alongside opportunities for practical work around the establishment.

Jobs are available in recycling, gardens, maintenance and food preparation. Accredited offending behaviour programmes are also listed as part of the prison's regime.

Visiting and family contact

New arrivals receive an induction of about a week. It introduces welfare services, education, prison rules, fire safety and the arrangements for phone calls and visits.

A multi-faith chaplaincy offers religious support. Families and friends can use the prison's contact and visiting arrangements to maintain approved contact during custody.

Anyone visiting should check the current booking process and identification rules before travelling. Historic information about the former youth regime should not be assumed to describe the prison today.

Practical advice before you make arrangements

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

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