Old Police Cells Museum : info and guided tour

Overview of Old Police Cells Museum

Located in Brighton and Hove Town Hall, the Old Police Cells Museum occupies the former police cells beneath the building. The site reveals the administrative and judicial side of the city, in a preserved space that shows how local detention once operated. The atmosphere is austere, narrow, and closely tied to Brighton’s urban history.

The museum lets visitors see small cells, metal doors, and fittings designed for surveillance and security. It offers a very concrete setting, shaped by underground architecture and by the building’s former police use. The whole experience gives a clear idea of the conditions in which people were held.

Old Police Cells Museum is located in the Town Hall at Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1JA, in the heart of the city. Its setting inside a civic building adds to its appeal, as it connects the history of policing with that of local government. Visitors encounter heritage that is both institutional and everyday.

In Brighton, this small museum stands out above all for its authenticity and for the way it preserves a historic detention space in its original context. It enriches any visit to the city by revealing a less visible side of its past, linked to law enforcement and the public use of the Town Hall.

Discover Brighton with a private guide

A private guide can help place the Old Police Cells Museum within Brighton’s history and the functioning of the Town Hall. They can also explain the architectural details, the use of the cells, and the role of this site in the city’s civic heritage, helping you better understand what you see on site.