Christmas in prison: what to do, and when
Three dates matter most. Each one is checked, with a link to where it comes from.
- Mon 30 NovGet on their visitor list
- Mon 21 DecLast day to send money
- Thu 24 DecRelease day if they’re due out 25 to 28 December
Every date
prisoncheckChristmas Day is a Friday. The bank holidays are Fri 25 Dec and Mon 28 Dec.
- Mon 30 NovNextGet on their visitor listAsk them to add you. It can take up to 2 weeks, and then you still need to book. This leaves time for a visit the week before Christmas.Our suggestion · GOV.UK: Visit someone in prison
- Up to 28 days beforeClaim help with travel costsIf you get certain benefits, claim before the visit or up to 28 days after it.GOV.UK: Get help with the cost of prison visits
- Not set yetLast day to post cardsRoyal Mail hasn’t set its 2026 dates yet. We’ll add them here.
- Mon 21 DecLast day to send moneyCard payments usually take less than 3 working days, and Thu 24 Dec is the last working day before Christmas.Make it last longer on callsOur suggestion · GOV.UK: Send money to someone in prison
- Tue 22 DecSome releases may come earlyIf they’re due out on Thu 24 Dec, the prison may let them out on Tue 22 Dec or Wed 23 Dec instead.HMPPS: Discretionary Friday/pre-Bank Holiday Release Scheme
- Thu 24 DecRelease day for anyone due out 25 to 28 DecemberA release date on a weekend or bank holiday moves to the working day before.House of Commons Library: day of release briefing
- Fri 25 DecChristmas DayBank holiday. Ask the prison whether there are visits.GOV.UK: UK bank holidays
- Mon 28 DecBoxing Day bank holidayBoxing Day is a Saturday this year, so the bank holiday moves to Monday.GOV.UK: UK bank holidays
- Thu 31 DecRelease day for anyone due out 1 to 3 JanuaryNew Year’s Day is a bank holiday and the weekend follows, so the date moves to the working day before.House of Commons Library: day of release briefing
What families say
Community- HMP Preston1 family · today
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Thameside1 family · today
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP/YOI Isis1 family · yesterday
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Wandsworth1 family · 2 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Lewes1 family · 2 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Stafford1 family · 2 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Hewell1 family · 2 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Ranby1 family · 3 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Lincoln1 family · 3 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
- HMP Oakwood1 family · 3 days ago
Not told anything yet (1)
Has their prison told you anything?
Visiting at Christmas
OfficialThey have to add you to their visitor list. This can take up to 2 weeks.
GOV.UK: Visit someone in prisonMost visits are booked online. Family days are booked with the prison, not online.
GOV.UK: Visit someone in prisonUsually at least two 1-hour visits every 4 weeks once sentenced, or three 1-hour visits a week on remand.
GOV.UK: Visiting someone in prisonEach prison sets its own visiting days. Check its page on GOV.UK for Christmas and the bank holidays.
GOV.UK: Visiting someone in prisonHelp with travel costs
OfficialPeople on Universal Credit (household income of £1,250 a month or less, not counting housing), Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or with an HC2 or HC3 certificate.
GOV.UK: Get help with the cost of prison visitsA partner you lived with, a husband, wife or civil partner, a child, brother or sister, a parent or grandparent (step and adoptive count), your next of kin, or anyone who has had no other visitors for 4 weeks.
GOV.UK: Get help with the cost of prison visitsThe cheapest public transport fare, or 20p a mile by car. Keep your tickets and receipts, and ask the prison to stamp your visit form.
GOV.UK: Get help with the cost of prison visitsUp to 28 days before the visit, or up to 28 days after it. Call 0300 063 2100, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
GOV.UK: Get help with the cost of prison visitsCards, gifts and money
OfficialPut their prisoner number on the envelope. There is usually no limit on letters.
GOV.UK: Staying in touch with someone in prisonThere is no national rule. Ask the prison before you send anything.
GOV.UK: Banned itemsAnything indecent, written in code or a risk to security. Sending drugs, alcohol, weapons, a camera or a phone is a crime. If you are not sure, ask the prison.
GOV.UK: Banned itemsBy debit card on GOV.UK. It is free and usually takes less than 3 working days. Bank transfers, cheques, postal orders and cash are not accepted. No card or internet? You can ask to send money by post.
GOV.UK: Send money to someone in prisonIf you can’t visit
OfficialThey can only call numbers on their approved list. The list is checked when they arrive, so it can take a few days.
GOV.UK: Staying in touch with someone in prisonOne free video call a month, up to 30 minutes, with adults on their list.
GOV.UK: Staying in touch with someone in prisonSome prisons let you email through Email a Prisoner. Check the prison’s page.
GOV.UK: Staying in touch with someone in prisonMake their Christmas credit go further
prisoncheckThe money you send also pays for their calls. On weekdays a minute costs 5.50p to a mobile and 2.48p to a landline, so the same credit buys more than twice the talk to a landline.
Any UK landline number gets the cheaper rate. Give them one, and they can call you for longer.
Will they be home for Christmas?
prisoncheckA release date on a weekend or bank holiday moves to the working day before.
- Due out Fri 25 Dec to Mon 28 Dec: usually released Thursday 24 December
- Due out Fri 1 Jan to Sun 3 Jan: usually released Thursday 31 December
If they’re due out on Thu 24 Dec, the prison may let them out up to two working days early, on Tue 22 Dec or Wed 23 Dec. That’s up to the prison, and only the prison can confirm the day.
Why we made this
prisoncheckI was 10 the first time I went on a prison visit, to see my stepdad. I don’t remember the building. I remember my mum’s face.
So this page has every date that matters, checked and dated. The next family shouldn’t have to guess.
Someone to talk to
Prisoners’ Families Helpline. Usually Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, weekends 10am to 3pm. Hours can change over Christmas, so check their website.
Checked against GOV.UK and the law on . We check again every Monday until Christmas. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us.