HMP/YOI Winchester

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

You can send urgent enquires and cancellations only, to our social visits email address: [email protected].

Telephone booking line: 0345 223 5514 Booking line opening times: Monday to Friday 9am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 4pm (except public holidays) Find out about call charges

There are no visits on Christmas Day, Good Friday or Easter Sunday.

Prisoners will only be allowed one visit per weekend unless on accumulated visits.

The booking line opens, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Find out about call charges

All visitors will need to provide their official ID before visits start.

Find Winchester Prison on a map

Winchester Prison is about half a mile from Winchester railway station. It is opposite the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. There are regular buses from the station or you can take a taxi.

There is only parking for blue badge holders at the prison which is very limited, we do not offer any other parking on site so If you come by car, you will need to park in one of the city centre car parks or use the Park & Ride. Buses run every 15 minutes and stop almost outside the prison. Please note there is no park & ride bus service on Sundays or public/bank holidays – Please check with the service provider.

Contact Winchester if you have access needs and would like to discuss your visit.

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.

All visitors must pass through an enhanced gate process when entering for visits.

This include all items going into the visits hall passing through an X-ray machine - so no liquids, including liquids in baby bottles, are allowed.

You can, however, bring powdered milk and make the baby bottles in the visits hall, if required.

Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring any baby food pouches into the prison, but we do provide these at family days for the children.

All visitors, including children, will also pass through a metal detector before being given a rub-down search.

You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

All visitors to HMP Winchester must adhere to a strict dress code.

Staff working in visits recognise the diversity of cultures and religions of all visitors, therefore a sensitive approach will be adopted when this affects dress and appearance.

It is up to prison staff to make decisions and judgements as to when clothing is inappropriate. When making these decisions, staff will always consider decency and diversity.

You may be asked to adjust clothing or wear alternative clothing, if available. As a last resort your visit may be cancelled if the dress code cannot be followed.

There are strict controls on what you can take into the visits hall at Winchester. You will have to leave all your belongings in a locker which will be provided.

We also have provision for visitors to leave pushchairs in a safe area that is under cover.

The visitor centre is open for all visits from 1pm onwards.

There are baby changing facilities, a children’s playroom, refreshments and toilet facilities.

You can also access to information and resources about national and local support services if required.

There are high chairs and baby bouncers available to be used during visits.

The charity Spurgeons runs the visitor hall and children’s play area at Winchester.

There is a tea bar available for all visits where you can purchase a variety of drinks and snacks.

There is no cash allowed in the visits hall. Visitors wishing to make a purchase will need to collect a visitor card from the visitors centre upon arrival.

This can be loaded with money using notes or coins via the kiosk in the visitors centre.

The machine does not accept copper coins or 5p pieces.

Cards once loaded with money cannot be refunded however can be shared amongst relatives and friends. There is a maximum spend of £50 per visit.

Toilet and baby changing facilities can be found in the external visitors centre.

There are no toilet facilities within the visits hall itself, but we do offer baby changing facilities in the visits hall (including nappies and baby wipes).

Spurgeons run a family support service, ‘Invisible Walls’ at HMP Winchester.

In addition to the above the following is available to those in the resettlement hub

• parenting courses and workshops
• resettlement meetings where suitable

All of the above is accessed by the prisoners themselves. Families can refer fathers to our service by contacting [email protected] with their full name and prisoner number if known.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at Winchester Prison can only be requested by prisoners.

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

Read more about how Prison Video works

Prisoners have in cell phones which they can use at any time if they have pin credit. Pin credit can only be purchased once a week through the prison canteen system.

All prisoners need to complete a pin phone application to apply for numbers. After the number(s) have been authorised, which can take up to 10 days, prisoners will only be able to call these numbers.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

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

You can send emails to someone in Winchester using the Email a Prisoner service.

There is not a limit on how many emails you can send, to receive a reply to an email, you must choose the options which requires a small fee which the sender is liable to pay for.

You can send letters to a prisoner.

Prisoners can send two free letters a week. Any additional letters they would like to send will need a postage stamp.

All letters must include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

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