Preston Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-01)

Preston Prison is a men’s prison in Preston, Lancashire.

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Book and plan your visit to Preston prison

To visit someone in Preston Prison you must book your visit in advance and have the required ID (#entering-preston) with you when you go.

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

The number of visits a prisoner can have varies. You can check this with Preston Prison.

Contact Preston Prison (#contacts) if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-prison-visits), including:
- travel to Preston Prison
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online (https://www.gov.uk/prison-visits) or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.

Visiting times:
- Monday, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Tuesday, no visits
- Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
How to book official visits

To arrange an official visit, you can:
- email, xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)
- telephone,xx-xxxx-xxxx
The booking line is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Official video visit times:
- Monday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Tuesday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Wednesday, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
- Thursday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am
- Friday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:30am, 2pm to 3pm and 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Official face to face visit times:
- as official visit times above
Video court hours:
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Getting to Preston Prison

Find Preston Prison on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.6886838,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7c1dc2283a1f8b4!8m2!3d53.7618406!4d-2.6886838&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Preston Prison is about a mile from Preston station and half a mile from the bus station.

To plan your journey by public transport:
- use National Rail Enquiries (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/)
- use Traveline for local bus times (https://www.traveline.info/)
There is no visitor parking at the prison. Visitors need to find their own parking.

Entering Preston Prison

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/management-of-security-at-visits-policy-framework-open-estate/acceptable-forms-of-identification-id-when-visiting-a-prison-in-england-and-wales-annex-a).

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Preston Prison has a strict dress code policy which means visitors should dress sensibly.

You may be turned away if you are wearing items like:
- see through, revealing clothing or crop tops which reveal the stomach
- low cut tops
- uniforms (except children in school uniform or police officers on a legal visit)
- chains which resemble key chains
- football slogan clothing
- headwear of any sort (unless appropriate headwear worn for religious purposes),
- sunglasses
- fluorescent tops
- ripped or damaged clothing
- hooded tops
- steel toe cap footwear
- football boots or similar footwear
- flip-flops
- sliders or heelies
- clothing bearing slogans that are deemed racist, insulting or derogatory
- jackets or open fronted tops, this includes cardigans and full front zippered tops
- clothing that represents a gang or gang affiliation.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of £20 in cash to buy food and drink from the snack bar in the visiting hall.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Preston Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

Refreshments are available, the children’s play area is open and we have children’s play boxes for at the tables.

Family days

Family days have recommenced. Information can be obtained via Partners Of Prisoners (POPs).

Keep in touch with someone at Preston Prison

There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Preston Prison.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app (https://prisonvideo.com/app)
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visit-a-prisoner-using-a-video-call)

Phone calls

All prisoners now have access to in-cell telephony.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service (https://prisonvoicemail.com/).

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Preston Prison using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

You are also able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prison number, contact Preston Prison (#contacts).

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison (https://www.gov.uk/send-prisoner-money).

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption (https://send-money-to-prisoner.service.gov.uk/help/apply-for-exemption/) - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read Prison education and library services, Annex A (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/prison-education-and-library-services-for-adult-prisons-in-england/annex-a-sending-and-handing-in-of-books-to-prisoners).

Make sure to include the person’s name and prison number on the order. They will be opened and checked by officers.

It’s not possible to send any other items or property by post and such parcels will be returned.

You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.

Life at Preston Prison

Preston Prison is committed to reducing reoffending by providing prisoners with a structured and educational environment and preparing them for release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Preston Prison has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website (https://www.prisonersfamilies.org/pages/category/need-urgent-help?Take=24).

Preston Prison also trains prisoners to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When a prisoner first arrives at Preston Prison, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

They will get to speak to someone again on their second night so they have another chance to ask questions.

Induction

Each prisoner arriving at Preston prison gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
- health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
- any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
- personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
- other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Over 700 prisoners live at Preston Prison in a mixture of single and shared cells.

There are 3 gym areas offering a range of activities for prisoners of all physical abilities. They also have access to a well-stocked library.

Education and work

All prisoners have access to classroom learning provided by The Manchester College (https://www.tmc.ac.uk/). Subjects include maths, English, IT, graphic design, digital imaging, media/radio production, painting and decorating and art. Support is available for students with dyslexia.

Preston also works in partnership with Novus (https://www.novus.ac.uk/) to provide training for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

There are professional courses in industrial cleaning, health and safety, manual handling and first aid.

There are personal and social development courses on topics such as substance misuse and recovery, victim awareness and restorative justice (where offenders may meet the victims of their crime).

Prisoners can also work throughout the prison in the laundry, maintenance, textiles workshop, cleaning orderly services and other areas.

Temporary release

Some Preston Prison prisoners may qualify for release on temporary licence. This can be used to gain work experience in the local community and prepare for release. Prisoners can apply for this within the prison.

Organisations Preston Prison works with

Preston Prison runs a 2-week resettlement course to prepare prisoners for release. This is done in partnership with organisations including Shelter, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends (https://www.gov.uk/support-for-families-friends-of-prisoners).

Support at Preston Prison

Partners of Prisoners (https://www.partnersofprisoners.co.uk/) provide support for families at Preston prison. Family support workers can offer help and advice before or after visits. They can be found in the booking in area at the prison.

You can also contact them by email to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx).

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency

Call xx-xxxx-xxxx if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

If you wish to use the voicemail service where you will receive a call back, please call xx-xxxx-xxxx. This number is for family and friends should you have any safety concerns.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Preston Prison (#contacts).

Contact Preston Prison

Governor: Dan Cooper

Telephone (24 hours): xx-xxxx-xxxx Fax: xx-xxxx-xxxx Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Address

HMP Preston2 Ribbleton LanePrestonLancashirePR1 5AB

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.6886838,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7c1dc2283a1f8b4!8m2!3d53.7618406!4d-2.6886838&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey (https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/hmppreston/).