Clink Prison Museum, Southwark, London

Bijou museum chronicling elements of the seamier side of the history of Southwark, or more specifically, it's jailbirds and ne're-do-wells. Aimed principally at, I would guess, a younger ( < 12 years old) clientele, and really rather small, as I mentioned - if you're a grown up, expect to be in and out in an hour. Some exhibits are vaguely interactive, in an old-fashioned, non-computerised way ( seeing how heavy and ball and chain would be, having a go in the stocks, etc. etc.) A lightweight museum experience.

This isn't like the London Dungeon so don't visit it expecting that! I would say this is more for older children, teens and adults who are really interested in the history of London's prison. I thought it was quite difficult to find and it's not signposted very well which means it seems more of an obscure tourist attraction. It's very creepy inside and if you ever get the chance to hear a goth band play at this venue (Mortis once did a gig here) then go for it, it has a great atmosphere!

My family and I used Tesco Clubcard vouchers when we visited the Clink Museum and I am go glad we did as I dont think I would have been that happy to pay 'real’ money for the experience. It was tiny! I did like what was there and learnt some new things - the first ever prison made was for women! However I think it would need to pay at least 3 times the size to be value for money.
There is a lot of other stuff to do in the area though so we did not waste a day there.

This place is naff. It smells like Ye olde London but actually that’s about it. The models are old and need replacing, it is quite expensive for what is basically nothing. There is text on the walls and a few manicles on the floor. Could be so much better and in such a great location. I think its basically a place for tourists to be ripped off.

It looks terrifying from the outside, will someone hold my hand for me?

We visited the Clink because of the '2-for-1’ entrance fees offer which we got because we travelled in by train. We hadn’t heard of it before, other than through the word 'clink’ having entered the English language. It’s small, but atmospheric, and we found the displays helped us to imagine how awful it was to end up in here. Depressing to learn of the involvement of Bishops of Winchester with the prison and the brothels of the area. Recommended if you like history, and have half an hour or so to spare. But they could have done with proof-reading their display panels, which were full of mistakes.

I loved it (but then I love history). My husband hated it and said it was 'boring with a capital B!).
The museum depicts a range of infamous (or just famous) prisoners. Whether the claims are true regarding it being the oldest mens and womens prison in England or not, i’m not sure. It is a little too pricey for what it is.
My husband also used its function room upstairs for a work event. He hated it as the bar was not opened and as he said 'it was like a hundred degrees with no windows and the air conditioner was turned off as the noise drowned out the people talking’.

A big disappointment. The Clink is one of those places I’d always meant to go in, having been past so many times. It’s got a great location, this narrow ancient backstreet, and a great history, being a genuine prison going back centuries. But the displays are very basic, uninspired and not informative. This could be so much better.

For those with a relevative in the clink, one can only imagine the poor criminal being subject to some of the devices on show here. A great day out for all the family and a good reminder which side of the law to stay on. Those interested in penal history will no doubt love the day here. Kids may get a bit bored.

An OK place to go but it needs a bit of work in it. Still it is quite creepy and the kids will love it. A fun place to spend an afternoon if you havn’t nothing else to do.

I used to walk past this every day on my way to work until one day I decided to actually go in. The entrance fee wasn’t huge, but that was understandable as it only took about 20 minutes to walk through what little was on display. It felt as though it could do with a makeover and wasn’t much more than a series of passages written on the walls with not much more to engage the visitor.

i left a long review here but the qype site crashed…booo…

so in a nutshell:

the clink is old and creepy - mainly due to the sad state of its’ displays. the only reason i went here was because i was in the mood for sinister and macabre london history, and did not want to queue nor pay exorbitant prices for the london dungeon.
worthwhile if you are in the area and have an hour to kill, otherwise, forget it.

The Clink suffers from an identity crisis. Is it a small, serious museum, or a busy tourist attraction? My visit suggested that the answer is a bit of both, but with neither succeeding terribly well.

The museum is near London Bridge, between Southwark Cathedral and Vinopolis. On your way, note Winchester Palace (or rather, the few remnants of the palace) as its history is closely linked to that of the museum.

This museum is situated on the site of the notorious mediaeval jail, which gave its name to the colloquial term for prison.

The museum depicts the history of the site, including the range of famous (and infamous) prisoners. Shakespeare even visited a friend here once. From 1106 until its destruction in 1780, its inmates have ranged from priests to prostitutes, and it lays claim to being 'possibly the oldest men's, and probably the oldest women's prison in England'.

I'm not sure about either claim, but the location in one the South Bank's narrow lanes is certainly atmospheric and claustrophobic. You can 'try out' some of the mediaeval torture instruments - safely, of course - and it certainly makes for a different experience from some of the glitzier attractions. It's too small (and a little pricey for what you get, in my view) to warrant a special trip, but it is close to The Globe, Southwark Cathedral and Borough Market if you have a spare hour or so in the area.