Across the world, some hotels come with walls that hold a different history. Former prisons have been recast as places to stay, their cellblocks, iron walkways, courtyards and imposing stone facades given a second life. At these properties, the past has not been scrubbed away in favour of polished interiors. Instead, it remains part of the architecture—and often the experience. From a former Ottoman prison in Istanbul to a Victorian jail in Oxford and a derelict Cornish complex transformed with glass and steel, these six hotels show how buildings once designed for confinement can become spaces of hospitality without losing the stories embedded in their walls.
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, Türkiye
In Istanbul's historic Sultanahmet district, history rarely fits into a single monument. However, even in a neighbourhood defined by centuries of architectural past, the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet has an unusual story of its own. Designed by architect Mimar Kemaleddin Bey, the building was constructed between 1918 and 1919 as a prison beside the city's courthouse. It functioned as a detention centre for people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. Among its former inmates were Turkish writers and poets, including Orhan Kemal, Sabahattin Ali and Nazım Hikmet Ran.
The building's architecture reflects the First National Architecture movement, amalgamating Ottoman influences and neoclassical elements. Pointed arches, decorative tiles and dramatic domes give the structure a character quite different from the stark institutional image often associated with prisons. Converted into a Four Seasons hotel in 1996, the property reopened in 2022 following a hotel-wide renovation. Original architectural features, including historic marble and stonework, have been preserved in parts of the building.
Today, its enclosed courtyard offers a quieter setting amid the bustle of Istanbul's Old City. Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are within walking distance, placing guests close to landmarks that explore other chapters of the city's history. The building's transformation is especially striking because its former essence has not been erased. Its architecture continues to carry the imprint of the institution it once housed, even as its present-day role is defined by hospitality.
The Information
Address: Sultanahmet, Tevkifhane Sk. No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye.
Tariff: The current rates for the Superior Room are approximately INR 101,145 per night for double occupancy. Prices vary by dates and room category.
Contact: +90 212 381 40 00
Website: fourseasons.com
How to get the best deal on the hotel: Check the hotel's official room-rate offer, which advertises the best available rate for selected accommodation and dates. Compare the total cost, including applicable taxes and fees, before booking.
Things to do nearby: Visit Hagia Sophia, explore the Blue Mosque and walk through the historic Sultanahmet district. The hotel's location places guests within walking distance of these landmarks.
The Liberty Hotel, Boston, USA
At the foot of Boston's Beacon Hill, the Liberty Hotel occupies a building that once served a very different purpose. The former Charles Street Jail was completed in 1851, designed by architect Gridley James Fox Bryant in collaboration with prison reform advocate Reverend Louis Dwight. Its architecture was distinctive for its time. The Boston Granite exterior, large arched windows and central rotunda reflected an approach to prison design that placed considerable emphasis on light and ventilation. The building's monumental proportions remain among its defining features.
The jail housed prisoners for approximately 120 years. Following concerns about living conditions, it was declared unfit for continued use in 1973. The last prisoners were transferred to a new facility in 1990, and after sitting vacant for years, the property entered a new chapter in the 2000s. The Liberty Hotel opened in 2007 as part of an adaptive-reuse project that preserved significant elements of the historic structure. The central atrium remains a defining feature, while historic iron catwalks and original window openings recall the building's institutional origins. Guests can also arrange a history tour through the concierge, subject to availability and reservation.
The Information
Address: 215 Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Tariff: The current rates start from approximately INR 78,180 per night, for double occupancy. Date-dependent; check the official website for room rates.
Contact: +1 617 224 4000; reservations: +1 866 961 3778.
Website: libertyhotel.com
How to get the best deal on the hotel: Explore the hotel's official packages. Options include a Stay for Breakfast package and a Drive, Stay & Play package with overnight accommodation, valet parking and welcome cocktails. Compare package inclusions with the standard room rate before choosing.
Things to do nearby: Walk along the Charles River Esplanade, explore the historic streets of Beacon Hill and visit the Boston Public Garden. The hotel's central location also makes it convenient for exploring Boston's historic attractions.
Het Arresthuis, Roermond, Netherlands
The name Het Arresthuis means House of Detention, and that leaves little doubt about its past. The former prison in the Dutch city of Roermond has been transformed into a five-star hotel, where the architecture of incarceration forms the foundation of the guest experience. Its accommodation includes rooms in the historic cellblock, alongside more spacious suites with contemporary interiors and modern amenities. The room categories continue the theme, with options such as the Comfort Cell and Deluxe Cell, while suites carry names including De Directeur, De Rechter and De Cipier. The result is a property that acknowledges its past without attempting to reproduce the conditions of prison life.
The building now houses Damianz, the hotel's fine-dining restaurant, where seasonal ingredients feature in lunch and dinner menus. Meeting spaces and other facilities further demonstrate the paradox of how a building once organised around confinement can be adapted for social and professional gatherings. Located within walking distance of Roermond's historic city centre, Het Arresthuis offers a different perspective on the heritage hotel. Here, history is not just something to look at from the outside. It shapes the layout, vocabulary and character of the stay.
The Information
Address: Pollartstraat 7, 6041 GC Roermond, Netherlands.
Tariff: The current prices for the Comfort Cachot start from approximately INR 17,700 per night, while those for the Suite De Advocaat go up to INR 23,542 per night. Varies by date, accommodation type, occupancy and package.
Contact: +31 475 870 870; info@hetarresthuis.nl.
Website: hetarresthuis.nl
How to get the best deal on the hotel: Check the hotel's official packages alongside individual room rates. Compare the available arrangements, including dining inclusions, and book directly after checking the cancellation conditions. The hotel also offers a private car park for INR 1,060 per car per stay, with electric vehicle charging facilities available.
Things to do nearby: Explore Roermond's historic city centre, which is approximately a two-minute walk from the hotel. Discover the town's historic streets and architecture, or visit the Designer Outlet Roermond for shopping. The hotel's central location makes it a convenient base for exploring the city.
Långholmen Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden
On Långholmen, a narrow island in central Stockholm, the story of a former prison reveals itself against a surprisingly green backdrop. The island is known for its parkland, winding paths and leafy surroundings, but its history is closely tied to the prison buildings that once dominated it. At Långholmen Hotel, former prison cells have been renovated into guest rooms. The hotel is housed within the old Crown Prison complex, which was part of an institution that shaped the island for approximately 250 years.
Prison operations ended in 1975. After a period in which some of the buildings fell into disrepair, Långholmen's hotel and youth hostel opened in 1989, giving the historic site a new purpose. The surrounding landscape also carries traces of the prison's history. During the 19th century, prisoners planted thousands of trees on the island, helping create the green environment that visitors encounter today. What is particularly interesting is that the island also houses a prison museum, From Crime to Chains, for an understanding of the site beyond its hotel rooms. The museum explores the institution's history, including the conditions in which prisoners lived and the treatment they received. Overnight guests can visit without paying the usual admission fee.
The Information
Address: Långholmsmuren 20, 117 33 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tariff: The current rates for the Standard Cell start from approximately INR 14,681 per night. Varies by date and room category. Breakfast is included with the hotel's accommodation.
Contact: +46 8 720 85 00; hotell@langholmen.com.
Website: langholmen.com
How to get the best deal on the hotel: The property states that guests get the best price when booking directly through its website. Compare the available room categories, particularly the Compact Double Cell, Double Cell and Standard Cell, to find an option suited to your budget.
Things to do nearby: Visit the on-site Långholmen Prison Museum to explore the island's 250-year prison history. You can also walk along the island's park trails, visit its bathing beach in summer or cross towards Södermalm for restaurants, galleries and theatres.
The Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall, England
Built in 1779 under the reign of King George III, the Bodmin Jail complex is located in Cornwall, England, about five hours west of London. The jail was constructed using more than 20,000 tonnes of granite quarried from Bodmin Moor. Designed around the prison-reform ideas of the time, it featured individual cells and separate wings for men and women. After its closing in 1927, the jail was left derelict for decades, its abandoned interiors eventually overtaken by vegetation and birds. Its second life began with an ambitious restoration that preserved the building's stark character while introducing glass, steel and contemporary design.
Today, 70 guest suites occupy the former prison, with each one ingeniously combining three original cells into a bedroom, living area and bathroom. A pitched glass roof now covers the central atrium, replacing the open sky that once looked down on the ruins. Metal walkways reconnect the upper levels, restoring the galleries that originally ran through the space, while glass lifts provide views of the historic structure and the world beyond it. The result is a striking contrast between the jail's heavy masonry and the lighter, contemporary interventions that now run through it. The building's former chapel has also found a new purpose as the Chapel Restaurant, where contemporary dining unfolds within the historic setting. For guests interested in the stories behind the stone walls, the adjoining Bodmin Jail attraction offers a deeper look at the institution's past through its exhibitions and historical experiences.
The Information
Address: Scarlett's Well Road, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2PL, England.
Tariff: The current rates for the Luxury King Cells start from approximately INR 27,159 per night, while those for the Luxury Family Cells go up to INR 29,180 per night. Varies by room type, dates and package.
Contact: +44 1208 822 822; reservations@bodminjailhotel.com.
Website: bodminjailhotel.com
How to get the best deal on the hotel: Compare the hotel's Cellblock and Breakfast package with its standard room rates. The package includes accommodation and breakfast, while the hotel also advertises a Dinner, Bed & Breakfast experience. Its Advanced Saver rate is non-refundable and requires full prepayment, so weigh the savings against the reduced flexibility. Tickets to the adjacent Bodmin Jail Museum are not included in the breakfast package.
Things to do nearby: Explore the adjoining Bodmin Jail Museum, where exhibitions and guided experiences delve into the prison's history. The surrounding area also offers access to Bodmin Moor, known for its rugged landscapes and walking routes. Check the museum's official website for visitor information and experiences.
Malmaison Oxford, England
Oxford has spent centuries building a reputation around scholars, university libraries, centuries-old colleges, stone spires and cloistered courtyards. But within the walls of Oxford Castle, another history lingers, which speaks of iron staircases, heavy cell doors and corridors designed to keep people in. The former HM Prison Oxford has traded incarceration for accommodation, with Malmaison Oxford turning its austere Victorian interiors into a boutique hotel. The prison closed in 1996, bringing an end to approximately 150 years of operation.
When the site was redeveloped, the challenge was not simply to make the building habitable, but to preserve the architectural details that gave it character. The result is a hotel where the past remains stubbornly visible. Original cell doors, exposed brickwork, iron railings and elevated walkways survive, offering reminders of the building's former life. Heavy doors and exposed masonry sit alongside plush furnishings and subdued lighting. That juxtaposition helps the architecture retain its severity even as the interiors soften it. Set within the wider Oxford Castle complex, the hotel also places guests within reach of the city's historic centre.
The Information
Address: Oxford Castle, 3 New Road, Oxford, OX1 1AY, England.
Tariff: The current rates for the Standard Cell Room start from approximately INR 25,145 per night. Varies by date, room category and package.
Contact: +44 1865 689 944; reception.oxford@malmaison.com.
Website: malmaison.com
How to get the best deal on the hotel: Check the hotel's official offers and compare promotional rates with standard accommodation prices. If your dates are flexible, compare weekday and weekend stays and check whether breakfast is included. The hotel has limited chargeable parking, so confirm availability and costs directly before arriving by car.
Things to do nearby: Explore the wider Oxford Castle & Prison complex, which offers historical tours and insights into the site's past. Walk through central Oxford to discover its historic university buildings, visit the Ashmolean Museum or browse the covered stalls at Oxford Covered Market. The hotel is approximately a five-minute walk from Oxford railway station.
These buildings and their walls have outlived their original purpose, carrying traces of lives, rules and histories that cannot simply be renovated away. Today, they offer a different kind of escape, one where comfort comes with a sense of the past, and checking in means stepping into a building that has already lived another life. Perhaps that is what makes these former prisons such interesting places to stay at.
FAQs
1. Which hotels around the world were once prisons?
Malmaison Oxford, Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet, The Liberty Hotel Boston, Het Arresthuis, Långholmen Hotel and The Bodmin Jail Hotel were all housed in former prisons.
2. Which hotel was once an Ottoman prison?
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet occupies a former prison built between 1918 and 1919 beside Istanbul's historic courthouse.
3. What can travellers expect when staying in a former prison hotel?
Guests can expect modern hospitality alongside preserved architectural features such as original cell doors, stone walls, ironwork, courtyards and historic corridors.
4. Which former prison hotel has rooms made from three cells?
The Bodmin Jail Hotel in Cornwall has guest suites created by combining three original prison cells into a bedroom, living area and bathroom.
5. Which former prison hotel is located on an island?
Långholmen Hotel in Stockholm occupies part of the former Crown Prison complex on Långholmen island, whose prison history spans approximately 250 years.
