Leyhill Prison
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-30)

Leyhill is an open prison for men near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.

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Book and plan your visit to Leyhill

To visit someone in Leyhill you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit up to 28 days in advance
- have the the required ID (#entering-leyhill) with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Leyhill.

You can buy refreshments during your visit.

Please bring coins not bank notes. (You can’t pay by card.)

Contact Leyhill (#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 Leyhill
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits

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

Visiting times:
- Saturday, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
- Sunday, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
How to book official visits

You must book official visits by telephone.

Booking line: xx-xxxx-xxxx Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges)

Official video visit times:
- Monday to Thursday, 9am to 10am, 10:30am to 11:15am and 2:30 to 4:15pm
Official face to face visit times:
- Wednesday, 1pm to 4pm
Getting to Leyhill

Find Leyhill on a map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.4367766,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xcca96439735a341!8m2!3d51.6280342!4d-2.4367766?shorturl%3D1&gl=IE&m=0&pc=m&uxe=eomtm&cm=2&hl=en&src=1)

The closest mainline railway station is Bristol Parkway, which is about 30 minutes by taxi from the prison.

The closest local railways station is Yate, where you can catch a bus to Leyhill except on Sundays.

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 a free visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Leyhill

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.

Revealing clothing such as low-cut tops, mini skirts and short shorts are not allowed. Clothes with offensive slogans on them are also not allowed. You may be turned away if you are dressed this way.

There will be refreshments available to purchase during your visit.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Leyhill. 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

There is a family-friendly visitors centre at Leyhill, run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hmp-leyhill) charity.

The centre opens at midday on visiting days.

Family days

In addition to weekend visits we aim to hold 4 children and family visits days and 3 adult only family visits days per year.

Keep in touch with someone at Leyhill

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

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

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

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

Phone calls

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

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.

Prisoners can make calls between 6am and 11pm every day.

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 Leyhill using the Email a Prisoner service (https://www.emailaprisoner.com/).

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Leyhill.

Letters

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

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Leyhill (#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

Family and friends of prisoners are permitted to hand in books for prisoners before a visit, 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).

It’s not possible to hand in any other items or send items by post. You can send prisoners money instead which they can use to buy items through a catalogue system.

Contact Leyhill (#contacts) if you have any questions.

Life at Leyhill

Leyhill is committed to providing a safe and educational environment to help prepare prisoners for release.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Leyhill 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).

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Leyhill, 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.

Induction

Each prisoner who arrives at Leyhill 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

About 500 prisoners live at Leyhill across 3 three units. There is a mixture of single and shared cells as well as cells for prisoners with access needs.

Education and work

Prisoners can learn English, maths, IT and other subjects at Leyhill through a partnership with Weston College (https://www.weston.ac.uk/).

Prisoners can gain work experience and earn qualifications in the wood machine shop, printing shop, laundry, retail warehouse, kitchen, farm and garden, market garden and gym. They can train in areas including catering and hospitality, barbering, painting and decorating and dry stone walling.

Release on temporary licence

Some prisoners may qualify for release on temporary licence. This can be used to gain work experience in the local community, prepare for release or spend time with family. Prisoners can apply for this within the prison.

Organisations Leyhill works with

Leyhill works with Catch 22 (https://www.catch-22.org.uk), a not-for-profit business, to support prisoners’ wellbeing.

HMP Leyhill’s pre-release team support prisoners with housing, employment, finance and relationships ahead of their release.

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).

Contact the Head of Family provision at HMP Leyhill at: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Contact the Head of Reducing Reoffending on xx-xxxx-xxxx.

Support at Leyhill

The Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) (https://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/hmp-leyhill) works with prisoners and their families to provide support and help strengthen family ties.

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.

Problems and complaints

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

Contact Leyhill

Governor: Steve Cross

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

Address

HMP LeyhillWotton-under-EdgeGloucesterGL12 8BT

See map (https://consent.google.com/m?continue=https://xxx@xxx.xx,-2.4367766,15z/data%3D!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xcca96439735a341!8m2!3d51.6280342!4d-2.4367766?shorturl%3D1&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/leyhill/).