HMP Pentonville - Monday 23rd February 2026 - 2.6 miles - I hour
Timetable of the day
• 8:15 am - coffee and pastries - generously provided by Social Pantry - at the Old Bailey, Warwick Square entrance, off Warwick Lane
• 9:00 am - walk starts
• 10:15-10:30 am - arrival at HMP Pentonville
• 10:30-1:00 pm - itinerary below
Public Transport Options from HMP Pentonville
• Caledonian Road tube - Piccadilly Line - 5 minutes walk
• King’s Cross St. Pancras - 10 minute walk
• Bus stop next to Prison with buses towards London Bridge (17), Crouch End (91), King’s Cross (259) and Angel Islington (274)
Details of the walk
This walk will be led by Ian Blakeman, Prison Group Director - London Prisons and previously Prison Governor of HMP Pentonville. Accompanying walkers will include Rev Jo Davies, previously Prison Chaplain HMP Pentonville, Luke Carson of London City Mission, Sheriff Robert and Shrieval Consort Elspeth.
This is the shortest walk at just over 2.5 miles. After leaving the Old Bailey we will walk up Giltspur Street, past St Bart’s Hospital, through Smithfield’s meat market and up St John’s Street, crossing Pentonville Road, with Angel tube station, left onto Liverpool Road with the Angel Wings sculpture on the right, left down Tolpuddle St, through Culpepper Park with its community garden, cutting up to Copenhagen Street, right up Matilda Street up to and around Thornhill Square into Cres Street, left onto Offord Road then right onto the busy Caledonian Road past the Breakout Café on your left with the entrance to the prison on your right.
Itinerary in prison
10.30am - arrival and check-in, go to XO Bikes and chat with the men about the course they are about to/have undertaken
11.15 - 11.45 - short tour and time with prison governor, Simon Drysdale, taking questions, sharing changes made over the last year since Urgent Notice and the challenges of running a prison.
11.45 - 12.30pm - Public Speaking - (John) - an interactive session between men and walkers in pairs or small groups - eg what are the important lessons to learn to help make life work on the outside.
12.30-1.15pm - Liberty Kitchen (donation requested)- serving wraps for lunch, chatting to men about experience with LK.
1.15pm - departure
Public transport options from HMP Pentonville
• Caledonian Road tube - Piccadilly Line - 5 minutes walk
• King’s Cross St. Pancras - 10 minute walk
• Bus stop next to Prison with buses towards London Bridge (17), Crouch End (91), King’s Cross (259) and Angel Islington (274)
What to wear and what to bring
PHOTOGRAPHIC ID (driver's licence or passport)
This is a short walk on London pavements, comfortable trainers and clothes and carry as little else as possible.
No phones or electronics are allowed in the prison. Belongings in lockers or can be brought from the Old Bailey to the prison by Shrieval cab.