Wormwood Scrubs

Inside the prison and daily life

Wormwood Scrubs is a men's prison in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Accommodation combines single and shared cells across five main wings and smaller specialist units. Book rooms, gym facilities and multi-faith chaplaincy form part of its described services.

Education opportunities include English, maths, IT and English for speakers of other languages. Vocational subjects include catering, customer service, barbering and rail-track laying. These different routes reflect the fact that prisoners arrive with different qualifications, language needs and work experience.

Contract workshops provide work experience and opportunities to gain qualifications. Industrial cleaning, laundry and textiles are among the areas described. A useful working routine can involve both learning a specific task and developing reliability, communication and the ability to work with others.

Visiting and family contact

New arrivals receive an induction explaining health and support services, prison rules and contact with family. Visits, telephone calls and correspondence are important practical arrangements for people outside custody too. Anyone travelling to see a prisoner should confirm the current booking system, identification requirements and rules about belongings, rather than rely on arrangements from a previous visit.

Anyone arranging a visit should check the latest booking rules, identification requirements and accessibility arrangements before travelling. Education and work described here are provision offered, rather than a guarantee of individual access or outcomes.

Practical advice before you make arrangements

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

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