Luxury prison hotels: channel your inner Orange is the New Black

Het Arresthuis is located in the quiet Dutch town of Roermond, close to the German border. The building served as a house of detention and later a state prison until recent years, with the luxury prison hotel opening in 2011.

Guests can choose between comfort cells, made up of three former prison cells, and deluxe cells, which are housed in former recreation rooms. Although the original bars still line the windows, the cells have been transformed into comfortable havens complete with flat screen televisions, tea and coffee making facilities, rain showers and dressing gowns and slippers.

Staff are happy to arrange flowers, chocolate or Rituals beauty products for special occasions – a far cry from life in prison.

The Malmaison Oxford is housed inside the former HM Prison Oxford, which is part of a Grade I listed medieval castle. The prison closed in 1996 and was reimagined as a boutique hotel, incorporating the original castle walls and many features from the prison.

The luxury prison hotel offers a range of 95 rooms and suites, including the cell double, cell superior double and rooms located in the adjacent House of Correction building. Malmaison prides itself on its unique concept and high standards, with each room boasting power showers, mood lighting, 24-hour room service and exclusive toiletries. Inmates won’t have to worry about sub-standard food here: the stylish Brasseries serves generous portions of fresh, local and classic food.

This luxury prison hotel is found in a century-old neoclassical Turkish prison in Istanbul’s Old City, with the 6th century Haghia Sophia and the 17th century Blue Mosque a few steps away. The hotel’s A’YA Rooftop lounge offers sweeping views of the city’s most famous landmarks, as well as specialising in wines from different regions of Turkey.

The prison operated between 1919 and 1969, located adjacent to the courthouse and housing inmates awaiting trial or serving brief sentences. Today, the inner courtyard houses a lush garden and alfresco dining area. The spacious rooms and suites bear little resemblance to the former prison cells, boasting private bars, large plasma televisions and marble bathrooms complete with deep soaking tubs.

Found on an island in the Stockholm archipelago, Långholmen incorporates a hotel, hostel, conference centre, restaurant and prison museum. The prison, which operated between 1725 and 1975, was one of the largest in Sweden at the time, housing over 500 cells. Guests can visit the museum to see how former inmates used to live, or alternatively check into one of the hotel rooms – which are housed in former prison cells.

The original windows remain in this luxury prison hotel, although the cells have been updated with contemporary design solutions to include flat screen televisions and other amenities. Guests can choose between single cells, double cells, family cells and even romantic cells, offering sparkling wine, chocolate, dressing gowns and slippers.

This luxury prison hotel is housed in the former Charles Street Jail, constructed in 1851 and formerly home to inmates such as Malcolm X and World War II prisoners of war. Today, this architectural gem has been redesigned as a luxury hotel, featuring six different bars and restaurants.

While the former prison cells were just 80 square feet, the 298 rooms and suites range from 400 to 800 square feet. Guests can expect advanced technology and contemporary style, including mahogany woods and touches of stainless steel.

Those wishing to see the original prison should head to CLINK restaurant, where guests can sit in parts of the original cells while enjoying modern American cuisine.

Not only is Lloyd Hotel located in a former prison, but it’s also the world’s first one-to-five star design hotel. This means the rooms range in comfort and price, from cosy one-star rooms to deluxe five-star suites, featuring grand pianos, swings, hammocks, milk bottle chandeliers and much more.

Each room is unique, created using the inspiration of over 50 designers and artists, making the hotel an icon of Dutch design. A prison is just one of the hotel’s former functions: it was primarily used to house immigrants before becoming a prison, a collection of artist’s studios and finally Lloyd Hotel in 2004.

Today, this luxury prison hotel strives to bring travellers and locals together by hosting cultural events ranging from design exhibitions to percussion performances and Japanese markets.

This luxury prison hotel was previously the Helsinki Country Prison, serving pre-trial criminals from Southern Finland between 1837 and 2002. Extensive renovations (reportedly costing €15 million|) were undertaken in order to create the hotel, although thanks to strict guidelines concerning historic buildings, the exterior remains largely unchanged.

Sets of two or three cells were combined to create spacious and comfortable four-star hotel rooms, ranging from queen rooms to junior suites, accessible by the original prison corridor. Restaurant Jailbird also has a prison theme, complete with exposed brick walls, barred windows and medieval-style chairs. Here guests can sample Scandinavian specialties, including the acclaimed President Ryti’s beef.

Not technically a luxury hotel, but certainly a posh hostel, Clink78 is found in a 200-year-old courthouse. The Clerkenwell Magistrates’ Court previously housed punk rock band The Clash, who were fined for shooting expensive racing pigeons and inspired the name of the hostel’s late-night bar: ClashBAR.

The former courtrooms in this luxury prison hotel now serve as a TV and film lounge and a computer room, complete with the judge’s podium and witness and usher stands. Guests can also choose to sleep in one of the original prison cells, which accommodate one or two people in bunk beds. Original features such as the heavy metal door, barred windows and steel toilet (no longer in use) remain, but the cells have been refurbished to add colour, warmth and humour.

Located in the heart of Ljubljana’s alternative Metelkova district, this luxury prison hotel is now an arts centre and innovative accommodation provider. Located in a former Yugoslav military barracks, the building was saved from demolition by a dedicated community and turned into a hostel in 2001.

Today, guests can choose between airy dorm rooms or the former prison cells. The cells were renovated by different artists and now feature different quirks and motifs, including circular beds, upcycled furniture and even suspended furniture. The hostel also features an art gallery, museum and a popular bar.