Ministry Of Justice
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Book and plan your visit to Wormwood Scrubs
Now that regular COVID testing of people in the wider community has ended, you are no longer required to take a COVID test before coming to see someone for a visit, although we would still encourage you to do so.
We will continue to run social visits whilst it is safe to do so.
Visiting rules may change if there is an outbreak within the prison, this may include bringing back testing before visits for a short time to protect you, the person you are visiting and staff.
If you are unable to visit someone in prison you can still keep in touch.
You can also contact the Prisoners Families Helpline on 0808 808 2003. You will not be able to book a visit using this number.
To visit someone in Wormwood Scrubs you must:
- be on that persons visitor list
- book your visit at least 2 days 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 person can have. You can check this with Wormwood Scrubs.
Contact Wormwood Scrubs 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 Wormwood Scrubs
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online.
To book a visit, call the visits booking line.
Booking/information line: 0300 060 6511
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Visiting times
- Monday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Tuesday: 9am to 11am
- Wednesday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Thursday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9am to 11am
You will not be admitted if you are more than half an hour late.
How to book legal and professional visits
Email: hmppsvisitbooking@noms.gsi.gov.uk
You can also book by telephone.
Booking line: 0300 060 6511
Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Find out about call charges
Legal visits can take place at an open table or a closed booth.
Legal visiting times
- Everyday: 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm
Getting to Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs is a 10-minute walk from East Acton underground station. The closest mainline railway station is London Paddington. Several local bus routes pass the prison.
To plan your journey by public transport:
If coming by car, you can park outside the prison. You will need to pay and display at certain times during the week. Check times and prices on the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham website.
There is no visitor parking in the prison.
Entering Wormwood Scrubs
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.
Wormwood Scrubs has a family-friendly dress code policy which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like vests, low-cut tops, high-cut shorts or dresses, ripped jeans, flip-flops or headwear other than that worn for religious reasons. Additionally, you cannot wear anything with offensive patterns or slogans, uniforms, steel toe-capped boots or motorcycle boots. You will need to remove hats, scarves, sunglasses and metal accessories before you go in. Ask in the visitors centre if you have questions about the dress code.
Each adult visitor is allowed to take in a maximum of 25 to buy food and drink from the canteen in the visiting hall.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Wormwood Scrubs. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security, including pushchairs and car seats. You will need a 1 coin for the locker.
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 centre run by the Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT) charity.
The centre is open:* Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm* Friday 8am to 1pm * Saturday 8am to 5pm* Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Email: wormwoodscrubs@prisonadvice.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8735 0595
Find out about call charges
Family days
There are currently no family days being run.
Keep in touch with someone at Wormwood Scrubs
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Wormwood Scrubs.
Secure video calls
Secure video calling is available at this prison. Family and friends will need to download the Prison Video app, create an account, register all visitors and add the prisoner to their contact list.
Phone calls
Prisoners have access to in-cell and landing phones for making outgoing calls to preapproved phone numbers only.
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 Wormwood Scrubs using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Wormwood Scrubs.
Letters
You can write at any time.
Include the persons name and prisoner number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Wormwood Scrubs.
All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.
Send money and gifts
You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.
You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.
If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:
- are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
- do not have a debit card
This will allow you to send money by post.
Gifts and parcels
Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Wormwood Scrubs for more information on whats allowed.
HMP Wormwood Scrubs will accept parcels from all courier/deliv