What are the opening hours?

Monday 10:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 10:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 10:30am - 4:30pm Friday 10:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 10:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 10:30am - 4:30pm

Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun

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Ruthin Gaol - Carchar Rhuthun

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Profiad unigryw o garchar Fictoraidd! | A unique Victorian prison experience! Our museum and shop is open from 10:30 to 16:30 every day (except Tuesday).

Cynlluniwch eich ymweliad: www.sirddinbych.gov.uk/carchar-rhuthun

Plan your visit:
www.denbighshire.gov.uk/ruthin-gaol Ruthin Gaol is the only purpose-built Pentonville style prison open to the public as a heritage attraction. Visitors can explore the gaol's nooks and crannies, and learn about life in the Victorian system. See how the prisoners lived their daily lives: what they ate, how they worked, and the punishments they suffered. Explore the prison cells and uncover the stories of the prisoners who were kept at the gaol, including the "Welsh Houdini" and William Hughes, the last man to be hanged here. Last admission is at 15:30.

12/10/2026

Bilingual post (scroll for English)

👻 Calan Gaeaf yng Ngharchar Rhuthun… heb bethau i godi ofn! 🎃

Os ydi eich teulu yn hoffi Calan Gaeaf, ond ddim yn barod eto am bethau ofnus ac actorion, mae gennym yr union beth.

Mae ein digwyddiad Calan Gaeaf yn ystod y gwyliau yn addas i’r teulu, yn hunan-dywys, a heb actorion a bethau i godi ofn - gan roi’r rhyddid i chi archwilio Carchar Rhuthun ar eich liwt eich hun.

Disgwyliwch:

🔦 Thrywydd ysbrydol dan olau tortsh
🎨 Crefftau ofnus
🌙 Oriau agor Liw Nos ar nosweithiau arbennig

📅 24–31 Hydref 2026
🎟️ Wedi’i gynnwys gyda phris mynediad safonol
🎃 Does dim angen archebu lle

Dydd neu nos, peidiwch ag anghofio eich tortsh - bydd yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer y trywydd teulu!

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👻 Halloween at Ruthin Gaol… without the scares! 🎃

If your family loves Halloween but isn't quite ready for jump scares and actors, we've got just the thing.

Our Halloween half-term event is family-friendly, self-led and completely free from actors and scares – giving you the freedom to explore Ruthin Gaol at your own pace.

Expect:

🔦 Ghostly torchlight trails
🎨 Spooky craft activities
🌙 Late-night After Dark openings on selected evenings

📅 24–31 October 2026
🎟️ Included with standard admission
🎃 No booking required

Day or night, don’t forget your torch – it’ll come in handy for our family trail! 🔦

09/10/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English)

🎃 Mae Noson Calan Gaeaf yn dod i Garchar Rhuthun!

Camwch i mewn i waliau hanesyddol Carchar Rhuthun dros yr hanner tymor ar gyfer antur arswydus heb ei debyg.

Archwiliwch y Carchar gan ddilyn llwybrau ofnus dan olau tortsh, a byddwch yn greadigol gyda chrefftau dychrynllyd o ddifyr, gan ddod o hyd i sypreisys syfrdanol wrth i chi ymlwybro drwy’r atyniad hanesyddol rhyfeddol hwn.

Ac os ydych chi awydd archwilio wedi iddi nosi, mae ein nosweithiau poblogaidd Liw Nos yn dychwelyd o ddydd Iau, 29 Hydref! 🌙

Yn bennaf oll, nid oes pethau i godi ofn nac actorion - mae hwn yn brofiad hunan-dywys sy’n addas i’r teulu cyfan, felly gallwch archwilio fel y mynnwch.

🕯️ Dewch â thortsh - bydd y goleuadau ar yr islawr yn is na’r arfer er mwyn creu atmosffer ofnus, a bydd yn ddefnyddiol ar gyfer y trywydd teulu hefyd!

📅 24 – 31 Hydref 2026
🎃 Mae’r gweithgareddau wedi’u cynnwys gyda phris mynediad safonol
👻 Does dim angen archebu lle

Pwy sydd ddigon dewr i gamu dros y trothwy? 👀

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🎃 Halloween is coming to Ruthin Gaol! 👻

Step inside the historic walls of Ruthin Gaol this half-term for a spooky adventure with a difference.

Explore the Gaol with ghostly torchlight trails and get creative with some wonderfully wicked crafts, discovering spooky surprises as you make your way around this fascinating historic attraction.

And if you fancy exploring after dark, our popular After Dark evenings return from Thursday 29 October! 🌙

Best of all, there are no scares or actors - this is a family-friendly, self-led experience, so you can explore at your own pace.

🕯️ Bring a torch - the lights in the basement will be lower than usual to create a spooky atmosphere, and it will come in handy for the family trail too!

📅 24 – 31 October 2026
🎃 Activities included with standard admission
👻 No booking required

Who’s brave enough to step inside? 👀

01/09/2026

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POV: Roeddech chi’n meddwl bod cael eich cadw ar eich pen eich hun yn swnio’n heddychlon. Dydi hyn ddim yn wir. Rydych chi ar eich pen eich hun gyda’ch meddyliau. Am 23 awr y dydd. I’r gell drws nesaf ddylai’r sawl a feddyliodd am hyn fynd!

⛓ Roedd bywyd dyddiol carcharor yn un o unigrwydd. Dysgwch sut y byddent yn treulio eu diwrnodau...

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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POV: You thought “solitary confinement” sounded peaceful. It’s not. It’s just you, and your own thoughts. For 23 hours a day. Whoever invented this deserves the cell next door!

⛓ Daily prisoner life was one of solitude. Come and learn about how their days were spent..

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

30/08/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English).

Rydym AR AGOR ar ddydd Llun gŵyl y banc (31 Awst) o 10:30am tan 4:30pm (mynediad olaf am 3:30pm). Dewch i ddatgloi byd o drosedd a chosb hanesyddol yn yr hen garchar trawiadol hwn. Rydym yn addo eich gadael chi allan! 🗝

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We are OPEN on bank holiday Monday (31st August) from 10:30am to 4:30pm (last entry is at 3:30pm). Come and unlock the world of historic crime and punishment at this striking former prison. We promise to let you out! 🗝

29/08/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English)

A ydych chi erioed wedi meddwl pam fod gan y carcharorion saethau ar eu dillad?
Ymunwch â ni i wybod mwy ...

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Have you ever wondered why prisoners had arrows on their clothes? Pay us a visit to find out!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

27/08/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English)

Wedi’i adeiladu i godi ofn

Dyluniwyd Carchar Rhuthun i edrych yn fawreddog.

Roedd ei waliau cerrig cadarn a’i edrychiad, a oedd yn debyg i gaer, yn cyfleu neges glir am awdurdod a rheolaeth, hyd yn oed cyn i garcharorion gamu drwy’r drws.

Diolch byth, mae’n llawer mwy croesawgar heddiw!

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Built to Intimidate

Ruthin Gaol was designed to look imposing.

Its solid stone walls and fortress-like appearance sent a clear message about authority and control, before inmates even stepped inside.

Thankfully, it is much more welcoming today!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

26/08/2026

Diwrnod Cenedlaethol y Cŵn yng Ngharchar Rhuthun!
National Dog Day at Ruthin Gaol!

25/08/2026

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Disgwyliad: “Fe awn ni i gael cipolwg sydyn”

Realiti: Rydych chi wedi treulio’r awr ddiwethaf yn trafod diwygio carchardai Fictoraidd gyda’ch teulu a rŵan mae dad eisiau gweld am faint mae o’n gallu aros yn y gell dywyll!

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Expectation: “We’ll just have a quick look”

Reality: You’ve spent the last hour discussing Victorian prison reform with your family and now Dad’s seeing how long he can brave the dark cell!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

23/08/2026

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Yr wythnos olaf i ddilyn ôl troed Wrexham Bill! Mae yna amser o hyd i fynd ar Lwybr Dianc o’r Carchar cyn diwedd y gwyliau. A fydd eich teulu yn gallu osgoi Mr Parry a dianc am y tro olaf?

🎟️ Nid oes angen archebu lle, galwch heibio ar y diwrnod!

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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Final week to follow in the footsteps of Wrexham Bill! There’s still time to take on the Escape the Gaol Trail before the holidays end. Can your family evade Mr Parry and make one last great escape?

🎟️ No booking needed – just turn up and dive in!

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

21/08/2026

Bilingual post (please scroll for English)

👁 Dan lygad craff

Roedd gwyliadwriaeth wedi’i chynnwys yn nyluniad Carchar Rhuthun.

Roedd mannau arsylwi a thyllau archwilio’n caniatáu i staff wirio celloedd a monitro ymddygiad heb unrhyw gyswllt uniongyrchol.

📍 Carchar Rhuthun, Rhuthun, LL15 1HP
📆 Dydd Llun - Dydd Sul (ar gau bob dydd Mawrth)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (mynediad olaf am 3.30pm)

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👁 Under a watchful eye

Surveillance was built into the fabric of Ruthin Gaol.

Observation points and inspection holes allowed staff to check cells and monitor behaviour without direct contact.

📍 Ruthin Gaol, Ruthin, LL15 1HP
📆 Mon – Sun (closed Tuesdays)
🕰 10.30am – 4.30pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Address

46 Clwyd Street
Ruthin
LL151HP

Opening Hours

Monday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	10:30am - 4:30pm
Sunday	10:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

01824 708281

Website

http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/ruthin-gaol, http://www.sirddinbych.gov.uk/carchar-rhuthun

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