Express Tour

Type: Guided | Duration: 45 minutes

This fully accessible guided tour offers an introductory experience of Kingston Penitentiary. Guests will have the opportunity to visit many of the highlights of the institution, including the North Gate, a cell range, the canteen and social services area to hear about the 1971 riot, and more.

This tour contains subject matter designed for a mature audience - parental discretion is advised.

English Tour: Purchase Tickets
French Tour: Purchase Tickets
Dissociation Unit at Kingston Penitentiary.



Standard Tour

Type: Guided | Duration: 1.5 hours

Step inside the walls of Canada’s oldest penitentiary and explore the living and working areas, some dating back to the 1830s. Hear the personalized accounts from former staff and learn about the history and the daily routines, including stories of escapes, riots and everything in between on this guided tour. Available in French as well.

This tour contains subject matter designed for a mature audience - parental discretion is advised.

English Tour: Purchase Tickets
French Tour: Purchase Tickets
Prison Cells in the Kingston Penitentiary

Extended Tour

Type: Guided | Duration: 2.5 hours

This tour covers the Standard Tour content as well as a more in-depth look behind the walls exploring the history of Kingston Penitentiary and Regional Treatment Centre. Discover more of the site and hear about the history of additional areas, such as the hospital, gymnasium, and school. With smaller group sizes the Extended Tour provides a greater opportunity to connect with retired corrections staff and tour guides.

This tour contains subject matter designed for a mature audience - parental discretion is advised.

English Tour: Purchase Tickets
French Tour: Purchase Tickets
Kingston Penitentiary main entrance


Prisoners of Age Exhibit

Type: Semi-Guided | Duration: 1 hour

Prisoners of Age, a travelling exhibit made up of a series of large canvas posters highlighting photographs and interviews with elderly offenders conducted in prisons in the United States and Canada from 1996-2015, will be hosted within a cell range and workshop at Kingston Penitentiary for the 2023 season. While more than 2.5 million North Americans are behind bars, an estimated 35% of them are far past middle age. The Prisoners of Age exhibit, accompanying documentary and 208-page book (available to purchase) captures the complexity of a subject that is seldom contemplated: aging offenders in the correctional system. This self-guided one-hour exhibit and documentary viewing set against Kingston Penitentiary’s impressive architecture encourages guests to consider the human dimension of doing time while growing old in prison.

This tour contains subject matter designed for a mature audience - parental discretion is advised.

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Tour Accessibility

Accessible tour options for persons with vision loss and mobility needs are integrated into all tours. Wheelchairs are available for guests to use as needed. Companions accompanying a visitor with a disability will receive complimentary admission when their assistance is required. If guests have any unique needs, require an accompanying companion or have any questions about accommodation, contact us using the button below 

Tours for People with Hearing Loss

A full tour script is available to visitors who have hearing loss. Please purchase tickets online and request the tour script upon arrival.

If you require a tour with ASL interpretation, please contact SLPC Guest Services using the button below prior to purchasing tickets.

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