kingston pen tours tours

Daily Kingston Pen Tours Start This Weekend

May 12, 2023 by rosalyn

New Express Tour Offered Alongside Standard and Extended Tours

Kingston, Ontario — Beginning this weekend, May 13, Kingston Pen Tours will be offered daily throughout the summer and fall, giving guests the opportunity to step behind the iron bars of Canada’s oldest prison all week long. This marks the earliest date in recent years that tours have been offered 7 days a week, creating greater availability for this popular experience.

Daily tours, offered in English and French, give guests an inside look at what daily life was like at the Kingston Penitentiary, as well as some of the extraordinary events that happened there. Tours of different lengths delve deeper and deeper into various aspects of the storied prison compound, from the people who lived and worked there, to its early history, to its current state as a film location and cultural asset.

Standard and Extended Tours include first-hand accounts from retired corrections staff, and the new Express Tour offers the opportunity to visit many of the highlights of the institution, including the North Gate, one of the cell ranges, the canteen and social services area, to learn about the momentous 1971 riot, and more.

Kingston Pen Tours has been awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award two years running for earning great traveller reviews on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period.

Tickets for fall tours, (starting September 5, 2023) will be available this summer.

About Kingston Pen Tours Kingston Pen Tours offer an in-depth look at life behind the walls of Canada’s oldest maximum – security prison. Today’s guided tours and first-hand accounts from retired corrections staff provide guests with a blend of the historic, cultural and criminological components of this storied institution, creating a one-of-a-kind experience.

To learn more, visit www.kingstonpentour.com/ .

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Kingston Penitentiary Tours

Constructed from 1833 to 1834 and opened on June 1, 1835, as the "Provincial Penitentiary of the Province of Upper Canada", it was one of the oldest prisons in continuous use in the world at the time of its closure in 2012.

Tours of Kingston Penitentiary offer a rare and unique opportunity to go behind the walls of Canada's oldest and most notorious maximum security prison.

Kingston Pen Tours

Kingston Pen Tours offers a unique opportunity to explore behind the fortified walls and inside the cell doors of the most notorious prison in Canada. The walking tour takes you through the grounds of Kingston Penitentiary, the infamous maximum-security prison that was declared a National Historic Site in 1990 . Open 1835 to 2013, Kingston Pen housed a substantial number of high profile Canadian inmates. Now is your chance to experience this part of national history!

The tour is lead by summer students who work hard for weeks to learn about and memorize the Penitentiary’s history and intriguing stories. The tour covers the private family visiting area, cellblocks where the inmates slept, highly secure private cellblocks, the shop dome where inmates worked, and recreational grounds.

You explore the Main Dome, the central hub of activity where inmates would have to pass through to get anywhere within the building. The building is architecturally constructed as a centrally planned cruciform. This signifies closeness to the divine and emphasizes spiritual healing. When you stand in the Main Dome and look up at the industrial design of the spiralling stairs and circular floors, you will be in awe!

Pictures from when the penitentiary was still open line the walls. These help you imagine what the Main Dome looked like when people still inhabited the cells.

Former Employees Share Kingston Pen Stories

Tours feature former wardens and Correctional Services Canada (CSC) employees, placed at significant spots throughout the Penitentiary. This provides an opportunity for former employees to share personal stories that are within the realm of their script. Confidentiality is still important under these circumstances. The tour guides do an exceptional job of respecting people’s privacy while keeping the history rich with exciting anecdotes.

Former CSC employees are excited to see this historical monument transform into an attraction and contribute positively to Kingston’s economic prosperity and cultural community. Thousands of people from Kingston and far beyond are incredibly eager about this opportunity and the tour does not disappoint!

Make sure to listen for the stories about famous escapes from Kingston Pen! Undeniably, the inmates were incredibly resourceful in their planned escapes and the last one occurred in 1999.

Canada’s Penitentiary Museum

The transformation of Kingston Pen into a national attraction is a wonderful continuation of its story in Kingston’s history. Further insight into Canada’s penitentiary history can be found across the street at Canada’s Penitentiary Museum . The Museum is housed in Cedarhedge, which was built between 1870 and 1873 and once housed the wardens of the Penitentiary. The Museum illustrates the Canadian penitentiary environment beyond crime and punishment by emphasizing art and educational programs set in place for inmate rehabilitation. To learn more about this Museum, read the Kingston & Area Museums Blog post, “Canada’s Penitentiary Museum.”

Visit Kingston Pen Tours today

The Kingston Pen Tour is like nothing you have ever seen before and truly an experience you will never forget. From the Penitentiary’s historical significance and unforgettable past to a current tourist landmark and filming location, this site is a must see for everyone. Do your time today and book tickets online !

Tours include the Standard (1.5 hours), Extended (2.5 hours), and Express (45 minutes) to choose from.

Stay connect with Kingston Pen Tours on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter !

Check out  Canada’s Penitentiary Museum , also on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter !

If you would like to learn more about the Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites of Kingston and the Area start by exploring the spaces around you!

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2 responses to “Kingston Pen Tours”

[…] mug shots in Canada. As a knowledgeable source on penitentiary history, Dave focused on Kingston Penitentiary as he outlined the evolution of record keeping and mug […]

[…] also historically known as “Canada’s Penitentiary City.” Women prisoners were first sent to Kingston Penitentiary (KP) in 1835. In 1925 construction started across the street on the Prison for Women (P4W). The […]

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Your guide to Kingston guided tours

By visit kingston.

Whether you’re an experienced explorer who wants to take the reins or someone who wants to enrich your experience by learning from a guide first-hand – Kingston has a tour for you! Get ready to discover some of Kingston’s most famous locations! Let us know which tour you decide to take!

Haunted walk ghost tours

200 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y9

Are you brave enough to learn about Kingston’s spooky and haunted past? Haunted Walk offers three different guided ghost tours: the Original Haunted Walk of Kingston, Ghosts of Fort Henry, and Ghosts of Queen’s University. If you enjoy a good scare, please visit their website to learn more and book a ticket .

Kingston by Bike Tours

21 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y2

During this three-hour tour, Steve Lawrence will show you many things of natural and cultural interest found in beautiful and historic Kingston, including the Queen’s and Royal Military College campuses, the lakeshore trail, harbours, parks, and prisons. This tour takes a 14-kilometre, relatively flat route at a leisurely pace. Kingston Bike Tours requires 12 hours’ notice for all bookings, so please visit Kingston Bike Tours’ website to reserve your spot.

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Sunset sail with Ahoy Rentals

Have you ever imagined what it would be like gliding along Kingston’s waterfront? The view of beautiful, historic Kingston from the water is a wonderfully unique, exciting perspective. Climb aboard Ahoy Rental’s lovely 26′ sailing sloop and let your skipper take you on a personalized sailing tour of Kingston’s historic waterfront to see why this city is known as the “freshwater sailing capital” of Canada. No sailing experience is required; group size is capped at five. Reserve your group’s sunset sail on their website .

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PumpHouse Museum

23 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y2

A historic Kingston treasure, PumpHouse is one of North America’s last six remaining water pumping stations. Built in 1850 in response to a devastating fire that swept through the city, Kingston’s first water pumping station operated until 1951. Learn more on a guided tour of the site, included in the museum’s price of admission. For more information about PumpHouse’s tours, please visit their website .

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1 Fort Henry Drive, Kingston ON K7K 5G8

Discover Fort Henry this summer and explore its rich history, comprising tales of passion and determination. Once inside the wooden gates, you will be transported to the realm of 19th-century military life. English and French guided tours are offered daily, included in the price of admission. Please visit their website for more information on Fort Henry and admission tickets.

Do you want to stay in Kingston while visiting Fort Henry? Explore customized packages to get two or more tickets for Fort Henry, a $50 dining credit for AquaTerra or The Patio, and a one-night stay with one of the following hotels: Quality Inn Kingston Central , Holiday Inn Express Kingston Central , Comfort Suites Kingston Central , and Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront . Or choose a package that gives you two adult tickets for Fort Henry and a one-night stay at Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront .

Agnes Etherington Art Centre

36 University Avenue, Kingston, ON K7L 3N5

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre reopens on July 1, offering private guided tours of their exhibitions. Located on the picturesque Queen’s University campus, the Agnes combines historical artwork with present artistic experimentation. The art centre is home to more than 17,000 works, ranging from Indigenous art pieces to works by Rembrandt. Group tours can be booked on their website .

Kingston Pen Tours

560 King Street W, Kingston, ON K7L 4V7

So much more than just a walk-through, the Kingston Pen is a must-see for anyone interested in criminology, Canadian history, or just unusual places and experiences. Unlock the mystery, learn the history, and go behind the walls of the Kingston Pen on a guided tour.

Learn more about tour offerings on their website or stay in Kingston while you tour the Pen with a package . Receive two tickets for the Standard Kingston Pen Tour, a $50 dining credit for AquaTerra or The Patio, and a one-night stay with one of the following hotels: Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront , Holiday Inn Express Kingston Centre , Quality Inn Kingston Central , and Comfort Suites Kingston Central . Or choose a package where you get two tickets for the Standard Kingston Pen Tour, and a one or two-night stay at Residence Inn by Marriott Water’s Edge or Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront .

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Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston

55 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Y2

Go full steam ahead on a guided tour of the Marine Museum of the Great Lake’s Kingston Dry Dock National Historic Site, starting June 1. Discover the vast maritime heritage of Kingston and the Great Lakes, and connect with a physical piece of history, the historic Dry Dock. Information about admission to the museum and tours is located on their website.

Kingston Trolley Tours

209 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z1

Ride in style as you explore Kingston on a trolley tour! Kingston Trolley Tours offers the popular City Trolley Tour through downtown, covering all of Kingston’s historic old town and downtown shopping district. Also offered is the Ghost & Mystery Tour, travelling to notable sites and neighbourhoods that played a ghostly role in Kingston’s early history. Both tours are an ideal way to enjoy Kingston’s history and attractions. Book a ticket on Kingston Trolley Tours website.

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Kingston Walks: Arthur Milnes Walking Tour

Embark on a one-hour guided walking tour with Arthur Milnes, Kingston’s storyteller-in-chief, and journey into a world of Canadian Prime Ministers, United States Presidents, Indigenous leaders, Governor Generals, and much more. These tours are available starting June 30, every Friday and Saturday. Check out their website for more information on Arthur himself, ticket prices, and how to book.

Historic City Hall

216 Ontario Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3

Take in Kingston’s City Hall, a National Historic Site, on a guided tour. Gain exclusive access to the 1840s jail cells in the City Hall lockup gallery, the Victoria Library, and the clock tower dome. The tour schedule is being released this summer on the City of Kingston website .

Kingston Food Tours

Kingston Food Tours is a walking tour of Kingston’s hip and historic downtown that blends tastings at our best local restaurants with an insider’s perspective on our city’s history and culture. The Classic Kingston Tour introduces you to Kingston’s history as a premier destination for food. The Tapas Tour uniquely features small tastings paired with an alcoholic (or non-alcoholic) beverage at every stop.

Learn more about eating your way through Kingston by visiting their website , or combine your tour with a stay in Kingston by booking an available package . Available packages include two tickets for Kingston Food Tours, a $100 Visa gift card, and a two-night stay at the All Suites Whitney Manor , The Smith Hotel , Frontenac Club , Holiday Inn Kingston Waterfront , Green Acres Inn , The Rosemount Inn , or Residence Inn by Marriott Water’s Edge .

Museum of Health Care at Kingston

32 George Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2V7

Connect to the past and see the future of Canadian health and medicine at the Museum of Health Care at Kingston. The museum showcases the history and development of healthcare in Canada, particularly in the Kingston region, offering guided gallery tours and self-guided tours. For a unique opportunity to explore the experiences of health-care professionals and patients over time, please visit their website .

Queen’s University campus tours

Gordon Hall, 74 Union Street, Kingston, ON K7L 2N8

Established in 1841, Queen’s University is one of Canada’s oldest universities, located in Kingston near the shores of Lake Ontario. The best way to get to know Queen’s is through embarking on a campus tour. Explore historic buildings, spend time in distinguished museums, archives, and galleries, and learn what it’s like being a Queen’s Gael. Please visit their website to learn more about booking a campus tour.

Military Communications & Electronics Museum

95 Craftsman Boulevard, Kingston, ON K7K 7B4

Honour the troops, the times, and the technology at The Military Communications & Electronics Museum. This museum is dedicated to sharing the stories of Military Communications and Electronics Branch members and the Royal Canadian Electronic and Mechanical Engineers. Discover this important part of military heritage on a guided museum tour. More information is available on the Military Communications & Electronics Museum website.

Frontenac County Schools Museum

414 Regent Street, Kingston, ON K7K 5R1

Go back in time to the good old school days on a guided tour of Frontenac County Schools Museum. The museum is an authentic rural schoolhouse of the early 1900s, with desks and artifacts from old schools that at one time dotted the countryside. Younger visitors can even participate in a short school lesson while on the tour. Please visit their website for more details on guided tours.

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Historic Murney Tower

2 King Street West, Kingston, ON K7L 4V6

Explore the oldest operating museum in Kingston, Murney Tower Museum, on a guided tour. The museum is situated in one of the four Martello Towers of Kingston, built in the 1840s as fortifications against attacking ships. The museum connects visitors with Kingston’s military and cultural history. More information on their guided tours is available on their website.

Coming soon – Music, literary, and film walking tours

This summer Kingston will launch self-guided walking tours, highlighting Kingston’s vibrant music, literary, and film scenes:

• Music tours: Travel from the site of The Tragically Hip’s first show to other venues that have featured notable Kingston musicians, such as Miss Emily, the Mahones, and The Glorious Sons.
• Literary tours: Step into the minds of some of Canada’s most notable authors, from Robertson Davies to Bronwen Wallace, as you explore famous literary landmarks.
• Film tours: Discover Kingston’s film past and present by visiting recent film and television production locations while learning about the early history of cinemas and film productions in the city.

For more information, visit the Sightseeing + Tours webpage .

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Kingston Penitentiary Tours

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Kingston Penitentiary Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Kingston Pen Tours

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560 King Street W

Kingston, ON K7L 4V7

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I've been wanting to come for this tour since I heard about it. Not only is it the oldest reformatory prison, it's also held some pretty notable names from Canadian true crime. We booked the extended tour, to allow me to soak in as much as we could. At just over $70/pp for 2.5 hr tour, it's a steal. Our tour guide, Josh, was epic. Very upfront and knowledgable and funny! He was very honest at the beginning on the tour (and unfortunately had to reiterate and be a little firmer during the tour itself) regarding questions about current Federal inmates. Essentially a) that it is against the privacy act to discuss those inmates and b) he won't discuss them, out of respect for the victims and their families. More than fair and honourable. I'm as interested as the next person in Bernardo, McArthur, Williams and others, but knew going into this tour it wasn't a tour about serial killers and I didn't expect much, if any, info regarding them. If that's why you're going, don't waste your time. The tour is very respectful of the victims and their families. The actual tour is amazing. Josh was very knowledgeable, sharing stories in almost every area of the prison of things gone on there. He shared his own ghost story from working at the Pen. The architecture is beautiful. The roof in one of the shops is one of the most beautiful pieces I've ever seen. The Pen is getting old and it's showing it's age. But it's definitely worth the tour, if just for the history and architecture. Only con- End of season, so I wasn't able to get my size in the gift shop

We decided to do the tour on an impulse. I've wanted to go for awhile and we happened to be in Kingston this weekend on a work event. We did the morning tour on a Sunday, it was so well done. Our guide, William, was very informative. He did an amazing job and I really hope he gets some recognition. I'm looking forward to reading the Ty Conn book on my long drive home (his recommendation). Thank you!

Excellent tour of this notorious Canadian jail. Our tour guide was well versed, the retired guards who jump in during the tour was an added bonus. They unfortunately due to federal law can't talk about any prisoners that were there for the most part. It's a bit pricey $80 for two tickets. Any young offenders should do this tour, it's not where anyone would want to be for a day.

See all photos from Sheila B. for Kingston Pen Tours

This was a "must" for me for awhile, and glad I finally for around to doing it today (22OCT). Ive been on a few other prison tours, such as Alcatraz ... which was great but very much hyped up. Kingston Penn is Canada's oldest maximum state prison so the history and property tour was very interesting. A big Shout out and thanks to Patrick, who was extremely knowledgable, engaging and great at presenting Kingston as well as the former Kingston Staff whom gave their own accounts on what happened, The standard tour is 1.5 hrs and covers a lot. Instead of listing what happened, I encourage to take the tour yourself (runs until end of October) and experience 1st hand. Thank You Kingston Penn Staff and Partick for a great afternoon - and I hope you'll back next year!

First time taking a tour of a penitentiary or ever been on one lol being canadas first penitentiary, you'll be able to see all the history and stories it has to offer. The tours are only available for a little time and are regularly sold out. I high recommend this tour and see where some of Canada's not so nice people spent their lives.

See all photos from Dion G. for Kingston Pen Tours

Let me just preface this review by saying that a little birdie told me they may not be running these tours next year, so if you want to visit, book a tour and tell your friends so these tours can continue (and no, I don't work for them!) I can't imagine why they'd stop the tours. Our group was huge and the tour was really great. It took you through a large portion of the prison, had former guards talking about the prison and their experiences, and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun. A few suggestions for future consideration: I would have been great to see inside one of the conjugal visits mini-houses. Also, our guide mentioned there was a book on one prisoner who successfully escaped the prison so I'm not sure why this book isn't sold in the gift shop. Also, if there's a book about the riots, that would be great to carry, as well. Finally, I'm not sure why they haven't set up the library like it would have looked back when the prison was functioning instead of just having a couple of small photos.

Decided last year we wanted to do this tour, but it was sold out for the year. Booked early this year, and got our tickets. The tour guide was very informative and was willing to answer any questions, and find out answers to questions she didn't know. Bringing in retired correctional service employees, both guards and wardens, let to personal stories, and insight into the inner workings of a jail. Unfortunately, this is the same reason that the tour lost a star on the review. Unbeknownst to myself.....whistling is not allowed in jail. I whistle all the time. One of the former guards decided that he would not only point out this rule of jailbird etiquette, but lecture myself and the group on why he's offended by whistling inside the walls and how he's hardwired. He then told another person on the tour, to hold her question till he was done the story. Just an irritating person. The rest of the tour was excellent, and I'd highly recommend it. 90 minutes in length, with only one short flight of steps (approx 5-6).

Went here Saturday afternoon with my mom and sister. I had been wanting to go on this tour since they first opened it to the public so I was really excited about it. The tickets were not all that expensive for the regular tour, about $35 per person. The day we attended tickets were sold out so be sure to book in advance (I booked about a week in advance). Our tour guide was knowledgeable and you get to see a wide variety of the pen including: the north gate, the metal and machine shops, a typical "range", isolation/segregation ranges, rec yard, the psychiatric hospital on the grounds etc. You don't get to see the kitchen facilities, the living quarters mentioned by the tour guide where staff stayed, the administration building (previously the womens's prison), the hospital, several out "out buildings". I understand that if you upgrade your ticket you may have access to these. It was a super fun time and each of the tour guides you interact with are very informative and willing to answer any questions you may have. Would highly reccomend!

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Kingston Penitentiary Tours

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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Kingston Penitentiary Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)