United Kingdom · Scotland · Glasgow
HMP Barlinnie
Data is aggregated from public sources and may be incomplete or out of date. Always verify with primary sources before acting on any figure. See data sources.
For families
How to send mail, money, and visit HMP Barlinnie
Step-by-step guidance using the United Kingdom system — addresses, money services, visit booking, what to bring on your first visit.
Glasgow's main remand prison. Long-running plans to replace it with HMP Glasgow are advancing — full closure expected 2027-2028.
Background
HM Prison Barlinnie is the largest prison in Scotland. It is operated by the Scottish Prison Service and is located in the residential suburb of Riddrie, in the northeast of Glasgow, Scotland. It is informally known locally as The Big Hoose, Bar and Bar-L. In 2018, plans for its closure were announced.
Source: Wikipedia article lead, CC-BY-SA.
Capacity
987
Current population
1,450
Occupancy
147%
Year opened
1882
Operational
Facility profile
Operator
Scottish Prison Service
Population held
male
Opened
1882
Region
Scotland
Security level
High
Death-row facility
No
Conditions
Severe overcrowding — among the worst in the UK at ~150% of design capacity.
Visiting
Booked via Scottish Prison Service. Photo ID required.
Mailing
Format: Prisoner Name & Number, HMP Barlinnie, 81 Lee Avenue, Glasgow G33 2QX.
Practical info
Subway/train: Easterhouse. Visitor information line: 0141 770 2000.
Known issues
HMI Scotland repeatedly flagged sanitary conditions and cell time. Replacement facility commissioned.
Notable inmates
Jimmy Boyle, Walter Scott Ellis, multiple Glasgow gangland figures.
Contact & address
Conditions Risk Score
Derived signal — not a judgement. How it's calculated
- Overcrowding
- 12/30
- Oversight reports
- 0/30
- Structural flags
- 5/15
- Death signals
- 0/15
- Conditions text
- 3/10
What the score is responding to:
- · Operating at 147% of design capacity
- · Substantial documented known-issues record
- · Severe-conditions keyword in sources
Compared to other facilities in United Kingdom
583 peersHigher risk than 95% of peer facilities in United Kingdom.
Data completeness
100%How many of our profile fields are populated. We surface this so families and researchers know the limits.
Sources
- Scottish Prison Service — Barlinnie
- Wikidata — Wikimedia Foundation
- Wikipedia — Wikimedia Foundation
- See /data-sources for our overall methodology.