Five Wells

Inside the prison and daily life

Five Wells is a Category C resettlement prison for adult men in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. It opened in February 2022 on the site of the former Wellingborough prison.

The establishment was designed around education, training and preparation for employment. Its modern houseblocks, classrooms and workshops were intended to connect daily prison activity with the skills needed after release.

A May 2026 inspection found that the prison had become more stable and that relationships between staff and prisoners had improved. However, there were still too few education, training and work spaces for the population.

The inspection also identified weaknesses in sentence progression, healthcare access and resettlement support. Those findings show why the presence of modern buildings should be considered separately from the delivery of services inside them.

Role and background

The prison has an integrated population, with men convicted of sexual offences living and working alongside other prisoners. It is privately operated by G4S.

Visiting and family contact

Workshop activity included ceramics, textiles, furniture restoration, media and waste management. Family contact and peer support were identified as strengths.

Current visiting arrangements should be checked directly before travelling.

Practical advice before you make arrangements

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

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