You can now spend a night in a former prison at these quirky hotels

You can now spend a night in a former prison at these quirky hotels
Cosy (Image: The Liberty Resort/ Jessica Wyld)

On June 12, 1962, three inmates tried to flee Alcatraz.

60 years on, we’re having a look on the prisons around the globe you’ll virtually be begging to serve time in.

These cell blocks have now been reworked into lodges, from luxurious stays to backpackers hostels.

Not a nasty place to be locked up then, eh?

However in the event you do wish to check out life as a prisoner (minus the crime, clearly), then one Latvian resort offers you the total inmate expertise.

Let’s simply hope they don’t throw away the important thing.

The Liberty, Boston, USA

Liberty Hotel in Boston which from 1851 housed the Charles Street Jail, former inmates included Malcolm X Rooms from £338pn, libertyhotel.com
How gothic (Image: The Liberty Resort)

For a lot of, the enchantment of an evening in a former jail is the presence of nods to its previous.

And there's loads of that at The Liberty, whether or not it’s the metal catwalks within the foyer, shows of cell keys or the prospect to do a couple of laps of the previous train yard, repurposed as a reasonably courtyard.

Completed in 1851, the Charles Avenue Jail had inmates together with Malcolm X and was a collaboration between architect Gridley James Fox Bryant and jail reformer Rev Louis Dwight, who believed that an abundance of pure mild was key to reformation.

Its crowning glory is the hovering atrium, with its huge expanses of Boston granite and authentic stained glass – and what would possibly simply be America’s most spectacular foyer bar.

E book from £288pn by way of The Liberty Resort.

Fremantle Jail YHA, Western Australia

Fremantle Prison YHA, Western Australia Built in the 1850s, this former jail once housed Australia’s most fearsome female convicts, and you can read all about their escapades thanks to the information boards on the walls. There’s plenty of original architecture on display, and guests sleep in the (surprisingly spacious) former cells. From £17pppn in a shared dorm, yha.com.au
It’s a cell block for backpackers (Image: Jessica Wyld)

We’ve all heard tales about backpacker hostels which have extra in frequent with prisons however this one does – and it’s the explanation it’s Fremantle’s hottest funds crash pad.

Constructed within the 1850s, it as soon as housed Australia’s most fearsome feminine convicts and you'll learn all about their escapades by way of data boards on the partitions.

There’s loads of authentic structure and friends sleep within the (surprisingly spacious) cells.

E book from £17pppn (shared dorm) by way of YHA.

4 Seasons Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey

Four Seasons Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey In the early 1900s, this Ottoman-era former prison housed musicians, writers, artists and various dissidents, although it’s since been transformed into one of Istanbul’s most beautiful hotels. Rooms from £434pn, fourseasons.com/istanbul
Do all prisons look this pretty? (Image: Paul Thuysbaert)

In-built 1918, this transformed jail has been reworked into one in every of Istanbul’s most stunning lodges.

What former inmates would have considered the attractive courtyard – as soon as a bleak train yard – and the herb-filled gardens can solely be imagined.

Don’t neglect to take a look at the roof terrace, the place you may take in metropolis views and plan escapes to the Sea of Marmara’s Princes’ Islands.

E book from £431pn by way of The 4 Seasons.

Het Arresthuis Roermond, Netherlands

Het Arresthuis, Roermond a former prison which dates back to 1858 and was initially used to house small-time criminals – although between 2002 and 2007 it was used solely as a prison for drug smugglers. The fanciest suites are named after characters from its past including the Jailer Suite with its royal blue colour scheme, inspired by the colour of the jailer’s cap found here during the prison’s renovation. Rooms from £144pn, hetarresthuis.nl
This outdated jailhouse received a contemporary makeover (Image: Het Arresthuis)

Count on authentic options similar to bars on the home windows and pictures of mysterious figures in jail garb at Het Arresthuis (‘home of detention’), a former jail inbuilt 1858.

It was initially used to accommodate small-time criminals – though between 2002 and 2007 it was used solely as a jail for drug smugglers.

Strive the Jailer Suite with its royal blue color scheme, impressed by the color of the jailer’s cap discovered right here in the course of the jail’s renovation.

E book from £144pn by way of Het Arresthuis.

Karosta Jail Liepāja, Latvia

Karosta Prison, Liepāja, Latvia To be clear, this isn’t a former prison repurposed as a boutique hotel, but a gritty former military jail. Visitors can sign up for guided tours as well as sleepovers, and during these terrifying overnight stays you’ll be treated like a former inmate (hence the disclaimer which you’ll have to sign first). Expect interrogations, threadbare blankets and a night in a cold, damp cell adorned with the graffiti of former prisoners Double cell from £26pn, karostascietums.lv
One for the courageous… (Image: Karosta Jail)

For the true deal, strive Karosta Jail. Guests to this former army jail can join guided excursions in addition to sleepovers.

Throughout these terrifying in a single day stays you’ll be handled like a former inmate – therefore the disclaimer you’ll should signal first.

Count on interrogations, threadbare blankets and an evening in a chilly, damp cell adorned with graffiti of former prisoners. Enjoyable!

E book a double cell from £20pn by way of Karosta Jail.

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