Open prisons (England & Wales): reading the thematic list
20 March 2026Counts and labels reflect the prison import in this site build. They are not live government data.
Thematic graphic — not a photograph of a named facility.
This thematic slice currently includes 13 establishments. The article explains the filter in plain English and points you to the hub grid for the full set.
What this thematic list means
“Open prisons (England & Wales)” is a thematic slice of our England and Wales directory. This article explains the intent of that slice and how many prisons it currently contains.
From the collection hub: Open conditions are inferred from category mapping and predominant function text. Always verify category with the establishment.
Size of the group today
The current import places 13 establishments in this thematic group. Counts change when the underlying export changes.
Examples include: HMP Ford, HMP Hatfield, HMP Haverigg, HMP Kirkham, HMP Kirklevington Grange.
Figures and labels on Prisons Online come from the HMPPS prison export used in this build. Security category and function wording are administrative fields in that source (and category may be inferred where the export does not map cleanly). Always confirm visiting rules, contact details, and regime information with official HMPPS or GOV.UK sources.
Using the collection hub
The linked collection page is the canonical card grid for this filter. Use this article when you want narrative context and quick links into examples before browsing the full set.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is a prison missing from this thematic list?
- Thematic groups use explicit rules on gender, function text, category, and operator fields. If the source label differs, the site may classify the prison under another collection or only under the general UK browse.
Related listings
Thematic collections
Related Guides
Related directory articles
More articles
Related prisons
HMP Ford
Open
Ford is a men’s open prison in Arundel, West Sussex.
HMP Hatfield
Open
Hatfield is a prison and young offender institution near Doncaster for men aged 18 and over. It is split into 2 sites, Hatfield Main and Hatfield Lakes.
HMP Haverigg
Open
Haverigg is a men’s open prison near Millom in Cumbria.
HMP Kirkham
Open
Kirkham is a men’s open prison in the village of Kirkham, Lancashire.
HMP Kirklevington Grange
Open
Kirklevington Grange is an open prison in Stockton-on-Tees for men resettling in the north-east of England.
HMP Leyhill
Open
Leyhill is an open prison for men near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire.
HMP North Sea Camp
Open
North Sea Camp is an open prison for men aged 18 and over in Boston, Lincolnshire.
HMP Spring Hill
Open
Spring Hill is a men’s open prison in the village of Grendon Underwood, Buckinghamshire. It is jointly managed with Grendon Prison, which is on the same site.
HMP Sudbury
Open
Sudbury Prison is a men’s prison near Ashbourne in Derbyshire.
HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay
Open
Hollesley Bay is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) for men over 18 in Woodbridge, Suffolk.
HMP/YOI Prescoed
Open
Prescoed is a men’s open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in the village of Coed-y-Paen, South Wales. It is managed jointly with Usk Prison.
HMP/YOI Standford Hill
Open
Standford Hill is an open prison for men. It is one of 3 prisons that form the Sheppey Cluster in Kent, along with HMP Elmley and HMP Swaleside.
HMP/YOI Thorn Cross
Open
Thorn Cross is a men’s open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Warrington, Cheshire.