| General Details | Inspections |
| Regimes | Visits and getting there |
| Work and Education | Local News |
Key Contact Details
| Name of Prison | HMP Northumberland |
| Address: | Morpeth Northumberland NE65 9XG |
| Other contact details: | |
| Web Site: | Click here |
| Email: | |
| Main switchboard: | 01670 762300 |
| At Risk hotline: | |
| Fax: | 01670 762301 |
| Visits booking number: | 01670 382173 |
| Visits centre number: | 01670 383736 |
| Visits centre web site: | Click here |
| Special bus for visitors: | No Longer Operated as low uptake |
| Special bus number: | 0191 2659267 |
| Type of Prison: | Male Cat C |
HMP Northumberland was formed in 2011 by merging two neighbouring prisons, Acklington and Castington, both built on former RAF airfield sites, and it is now one of the largest Category C training and resettlement prisons in the country, with an operational capacity of around 1,236. The prison has been privately run by Sodexo since 2013.
HM Inspectorate of Prisons visited in August and September 2025 and rated Northumberland “reasonably good” across all four healthy prison tests, a marked improvement on a more critical 2022 inspection that found the prison had “lost its way” on rehabilitation. Inspectors praised strong staff-prisoner relationships, education rated “good” by Ofsted, and decent time out of cell for most prisoners, while also noting the prison had managed structural problems from RAAC concrete found on site without major disruption. The main concerns raised were rising violence linked to drug availability, weak incentives for good behaviour, limited support for the most vulnerable prisoners, and some of the lowest employment rates among comparable prisons.
For families staying in touch with someone at Northumberland, the contact details above — including the special visitor bus number where still available — are the best starting point for arranging a visit.