The closest railway station is Leyland, from there you can get a taxi or take the bus.
The closest railway station is Leyland which is about 6 miles away from the prison. Taxis are available at the station, call 01772 424 242. The nearest minor station is Croston which is around 1 to 2 miles away, but there are limited facilities and there may not be any taxi’s, call 01772 600 489.
By Car from M6 (junction 28): Turn left, follow mini-roundabout, go straight across and follow road to traffic lights. Turn left, go through next set of lights, follow road round to right (leisure centre on left).
At end, turn left and then immediately right. Follow road to end (mini-roundabout) and turn right. At next mini-roundabout, go straight across. Bear left into Slater Lane and go straight across at the traffic lights. Follow the road to the end and turn left. Garth is approximately one mile on the right (follow signs).
There is a free visitors car park and there is also a disabled visitors car park.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
Visitors must adhere to the prison dress code that applies, further details can be requested on your first visit.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Wymott. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker in the visitors’ centre or in your car - this includes pushchairs and car seats.
Call the booking line if you have any questions about visiting.
There is a visitor’s centre located between HMP Wymott and HMP Garth. Visitors must book in here first.
You can leave items like mobile phones, cigarettes, food and drink etc.and so on in lockers herewhile you have your visit.
Visitors are required to produce Photographicphotographic ID and proof of address before being admitted to the prison and you will be searched by prison staff.
Please make sure you arrive at the visitors centre well before the time of your visitvisit, so that all the paperwork/formalities are completed.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Wymott.
You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker 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 coffee machine available for drinks at the visitor’s centre when you arrive, and there is a food hub inside the visit’s hall to purchase food and drinks during your visit.
There is a children’s play area in both areas.
The visitors centre is located between HMP Wymott and HMP Garth and all visitors are still required to book in here first.
Free parking is available in the visitor’s car park.
Visitors Centrecentre Openingopening Times:times:
Monday to Friday:Friday, 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Saturday and Sunday:Sunday, 8:30am to 11:30am11:30am, and12:30pm to 4:30pm
Family days
HMP Wymott run regular family days throughout the year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting: Wymott.families@justice.gov.uk.
Keep in touch with someone at Wymott
There are several ways you can keep in touch with a prisoner during their time at Wymott.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:
Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so 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 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
People in Wymott are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Wymott for more information on what’s allowed.
Any parcels or books that family and friends wish to send in, must have prior approval from Wymott before sending items into the prison.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prisoner number on the parcel.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.
To send a book to a prisoner at HMP Wymott, the prisoner will submit an application form to the Operations team, this will then be approved and the prisoner will be informed. The prisoner will then inform their loved ones that the book can be sent in.
By waiting for the reply this will ensure that the staff at the gate have prior knowledge of any parcels being sent resulting in them being accepted.
Please note staff on the gate need to have prior knowledge of items being sent.
Prisoners can order books directly from the approved suppliers as outlined in Annex F.A.
Life at Wymott
Wymott is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Wymott has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.
When a prisoner first arrives at Wymott, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive.
Induction and first night interview is conducted on arrival at Wymott. All prisoners are screened by healthcare professionals and provided with an induction pack.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Wymott gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:
health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions
Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.
Accommodation
Over 1,100 prisoners are housed at Wymott across 11 units.
Six of those units are reserved for men convicted of a sex offence.
Facilities include a sports hall, exercise equipment, weight room, assault course and outdoor sports field. There is a full programme of activities for all fitness levels.
Wymott has a diverse, multi-faith chaplaincy team providing support to all prisoners.
Education and work
HMP Wymott and Novus work in partnership to offer skills and qualifications to enable prisoners to gain employment and have a positive role in society. Employability and vocational training is accessible alongside functional English and Maths pass to level 2.
Prisoners have access to a broad range of vocational training, including engineering, welding, painting and decorating, bricklaying, joinery, industrial cleaning, fork lift truck driving, horticulture and catering. Each course can lead to an official qualification.
They can take classroom courses in subjects such as literacy and numeracy, IT, art and design, cookery, accountancy and history.
VPs (vulnerable prisoners) can work at Wymott in occupations such as tailoring, laundry, welding, waste management, printing, retail, catering and horticulture.
Organisations Wymott works with
Wymott includes special facilities for elderly prisoners and those with disabilities provided in partnership with Age Concern.
Lancashire Violence Reduction Network are working with us and our regional group of prisons on a trauma informed approach to supporting children with a parent in prison in Lancashire.
Call 01772 442 000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
Contact category
Phone number
Additional information
Non-emergency
0800 496 1481
Call this number if you have concerns about a prisoner’s safety or wellbeing which are serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website.
Staff Integrity Hotline
0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine)
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a prisoner being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the prison, you can call this number anonymously.
Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
17 March 2022
Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
14 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
7 January 2022
Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
13 August 2021
Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.
20 July 2021
Clarification on the rules for sending in books, under the 'Gifts and parcels' section
21 May 2021
New visiting times and booking information added.
18 May 2021
Additional guidance about new COVID-19 variant in the Bolton and Blackburn areas.
30 April 2021
Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.
21 December 2020
Visits update
4 December 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
2 December 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
6 November 2020
Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.