Ministry Of Justice
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Book and plan your visit to Durham
To visit someone in Durham Prison you must:
- be on that persons visitor list
- book your visit between 2 weeks and 24 hours in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with the prison.
Contact Durham Prison if you have any questions about visiting.
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- travel to Durham prison
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Book your visit by telephone: 0300 303 2300
Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (closed on Bank Holidays)
Find out about call charges
Or email: www.gov.uk/prison-visits
Visiting times
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9:30am to 11:30am and2pm to4pm
- Wednesday: 9:30am to 11:30am and 2pm to4pm
- Thursday:2pm to4pm
- Friday: 2pm to4pm, Family Learning session, 5pm to 6:30pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am and2pm to4pm
Ex Fam Days:
- 6, 13 April
- 1 June
- 27 July
- 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 August
- 2 November
- 21 December
Father and Child:
- 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 March
- 20, 27 April
- 4, 11, 18, 25 May
- 8, 15, 22, 29 June
- 6, 13, 20 July
- 7, 14, 21, 28 September
- 5, 12, 19, 26 October
- 9, 16, 23, 30 November
- 7, 14 December
Family Learning:
- 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 March
- 14, 21, 28 April
- 5, 12, 19 26 May
- 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 June
- 7, 14, 21, 28 July
- 4, 11, 18, 25 August
- 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 September
- 6, 13, 20, 27 October
- 3, 10, 17, 24 November
- 1, 8, 15, 22 December
One visiting session per year will be open to all prisoners, regardless of IEP level. This date will be advertised locally.
How to book legal and professional visits
Email: LegalVisits.Durham@justice.gov.uk
Telephone: 0191 332 3816
Legal visits booking line hours: 8:30am to 4pm
Find out about call charges
Legal visiting times
- Monday: 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday to Thursday: 9am to 11:45am and 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 2pm to 4pm
You must inform booking staff if you need to bring equipment with you (such as a laptop). Your booking confirmation will explain restrictions during your visit.
There is a court video link available for a prisoners legal representatives if there is capacity. Ask booking line staff for more information.
Video link visits
Email: vccdurham@justice.gov.uk
Telephone booking: 0191 332 3818
- Monday to Friday: 9am to 11:45pm and 2pm to 4pm
Help with the cost of your visit
If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:
- Travel to Durham prison
- Somewhere to stay overnight
- Meals
Getting to Durham Prison
The closest railway station is Durham, around a 20-minute walk away, or you can take a taxi.
Durham bus station is around a 15-minute walk from the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport use:
There is no visitors car park.
There is no disabled visitors car park. Disabled visitors who want to use this car park must contact the visitor centre before your visit on 0191 332 3676, Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.
Contact NEPACs, on:
Freephone 0800 012 1539
Email support@nepacs.co.uk
Text 07983 437 457
Entering Durham Prison
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs. Visitors over the age of 10 will have their photo taken.
Durham has a strict dress code policy, which means visitors should wear smart clothes (no vests, no low-cut or revealing tops, no short shorts, no short dresses, no see-through clothing, no football shirts, no offensive slogans and no headwear, other than that worn for religious reasons). Visitors are also not allowed to wear smart watches, sunglasses, steel toe cap footwear or metal hair accessories.
You can purchase refreshments in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to 20 in coins for purchases.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Durham. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a 1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.
Visiting facilities
There is a visitors and family support centre run by Nepacs. Staff and volunteers in the visitors centre can provide you with information and support.
Refreshments can be purchased in the visitor centre and in the visits hall. You are permitted to bring in up to 20 in coins for purchases.
Family days
HMP Durham has various family visits throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be found here or by contacting: http://www.nepacs.co.uk/page/durham.
Keep in touch with someone at Durham
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Durham.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the prisoner to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Video call hours
- Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 4:45pm
Phone calls
Prisoners have phones in their rooms but they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.
They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.
You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.
Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.
You can send emails to someone in Durham using the Email a Priso