FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Old Town Jail?
You can find us at St John Street, half-way between the City Centre and Stirling Castle, next door to the SYHA Hostel and Tolbooth Theatre.

Is Visitor Parking Available?
Yes. We have free visitor parking at the Jail. Gates close at 6pm during the summer season, and 5pm during the rest of the year.

Does the Stirling Castle ticket get me entry to the Old Town Jail?
A Castle ticket won’t get you entry to the Old Town Jail, but the Stirling City Pass includes both these attractions and the National Wallace Monument, and gets you a discount on the Stirling GhostWalk and Old Town Tour. It also saves you money!

Do you have to buy a ticket for a specific tour time?
We have 14 tours a day, so there are plenty of opportunities to see the Jail. If you would like to book for a particular time, let us know, and we’ll try to make sure you get the slot you want! We can only take 24 people at a time, however, so we’d suggest being at the Jail 10 minutes before your preferred show to avoid delays. Alternatively, you can book online and choose your time slot in advance!

Are the tours different?
Our actors all follow a similar script, but they all have their own unique interpretations and improvisations which makes every performance a little bit different – and their banter with the audience keeps EVERYONE on their toes.

Where can I buy a ticket?
You can buy a ticket at the front desk of the attraction or the Visitor Information Center at the fort gate of the Old Town Jail. You can also book online!

Can I come and do a self guided tour of the jail.
Absolutely, our new self-guided audio tours provide a deeper insight into the history of crime and punishment in Stirling and are available midweek outside school holidays.

How long is the tour?
The tour is in two parts. The first is a live performance tour with an actor, which takes around 25 minutes. The second part allows you to view cells and visit our Observation Tower and enjoy the BEST views of Stirling – which can take as long as you want, as you set your own pace. Most people take around 40-60 minutes to enjoy the whole Jail experience.

Is the Performance Tour only in English?
We have audio translations in eight languages including French, German and Spanish.

Is the Jail suitable for children?
We try to make the Jail experience a pleasant one for ALL ages. There’s nothing gruesome, and our actors use comedy and audience participation to put little ones at ease.

Is there disabled access?
The Ground Floor is accessible where the performance tours occur, and provides access to disabled toilet facilities.  Our Top Floor and Observation Tower, however, are unfortunately not accessible. Victorian prisons, sadly, were not built with mobility in mind!

Do you offer Group Discount?
We do indeed. Get in touch with us!

Do you offer armed service or blue light discounts?
Absolutely, if you work for the Police, Prison Service, NHS or Military just show your ID on arrival for concession rate.

Plan your journey
Stirling Old Town Jail is just a 12 minute walk from the nearest train station. Plan your journey online here.