Exploring The Abandoned HMP Reading
Back at the start of November, myself, Brummy Explores, MOD Dan1, MOD Ry, and that one explorer stumbled into an adventure we never expected to have — effectively “breaking into” a prison.
(For the record, we didn’t actually break in… it just sounds cooler.)
We started the day by scouting out the site and quickly noticed a dog unit had been posted on location. Instead of putting us off, it made the explore feel even more intense. We continued searching for the best point on the wall to get over.
Eventually, we found the perfect spot. With that, it was time to commit — no questions, no messing about. One by one we climbed the ladder, sitting on top of the wall while waiting for the last person to get up so we could pull the ladder over and begin exploring the abandoned HMP Reading.
This explore turned out to be one of the best — and eeriest — we’ve ever done. We spent around three hours inside during the morning, taking photos, filming, and imagining what life must have been like for the prisoners, officers, and everyone who worked within those walls.
After exploring every part of the prison we could access, we decided it was time to go, making our “great escape” back over the wall and out.
Later, while passing by again before leaving Reading, we noticed the prison was fully lit — the power was on. Obviously, we had to take advantage of that. So we sent it back inside to capture nighttime shots and experience what a prison feels like after dark.
This second explore didn’t last long. We were caught by three security officers and two dogs — and that was our cue to leave, fast.
A Bit of History: HMP Reading
HMP Reading, originally known as Reading Gaol, was built in 1844 and designed by architect George Gilbert Scott. The prison became well known for its radial design, based on the “separate system” intended to keep prisoners isolated from one another.
It housed both men and young offenders over the years and is most famously associated with Oscar Wilde, who was imprisoned there from 1895–1897. His experiences later inspired The Ballad of Reading Gaol.
The prison officially closed in 2013, and since then has remained largely unused, occasionally opening for exhibitions, events, and rare public tours. Its imposing Victorian architecture and long history make it a well-known site in UK urban exploration.
Credits
Massive credit to MOD Dan1 for providing the photos from this explore — couldn’t have captured it the same without him.
Inside Nottingham’s Abandoned Guild Hall | Police Cells, Courtrooms & Pure Chaos!
Join us as we step inside Nottingham’s massive abandoned Guild Hall complex, including the old police station, courtrooms and fire station! What should’ve been a quiet explore quickly turned into one of the craziest nights we’ve ever had…
Inside, we unexpectedly bumped into around 20 other explorers wandering the corridors, police cells and fire station bays. The atmosphere was unreal — echoing footsteps, voices through empty hallways, and that eerie feeling.
Just as we were making our way out, things got even more intense when we ran into security, turning this explore into a heart-pounding rush to the exit.
If you love UK urban exploring, forgotten history, or adrenaline-filled moments, you’re going to enjoy this one! ➡️ Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE to join us on more explores! 📸 “Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.”
Exploring Birmingham’s Abandoned PRYZM… for the 3rd Time! | Police Show Up & Dee Gets Arrested?!
Welcome back to the channel — this time, I’m diving into PRYZM Birmingham for the third time 🕺… but things don’t go quite how I expected.
About PRYZM Birmingham
PRYZM was one of the most iconic nightclubs on Broad Street in Birmingham. Originally it was the legendary Gatecrasher, but in 2016 it relaunched with a £1.4 million renovation under the Deltic Group.
The venue was huge: up to ~2,500 capacity across three floors.
Inside, there were four distinct rooms: a main arena, a more intimate R&B-style “Curve” room, a pure house “House” room, and a retro disco “Vinyl” area.
It was known for its cutting-edge light & sound tech, massive LED screens, neon lights and disco balls — definitely a proper super-club. soundvibemag.com
The club catered to a young crowd and mixed genres like electronic, hip-hop, and R&B, which made it a central hub for Birmingham’s nightlife. soundvibemag.com
Ownership & Business Background
PRYZM in Birmingham was run by Rekom UK (previously the Deltic Group).
Unfortunately, in early 2024 Rekom UK went into administration, citing major financial pressures — rising energy costs, business rates, and a drop in student night-out spending due to the cost-of-living crisis.
As a result, PRYZM Birmingham closed with immediate effect.
The closure meant more than 70 jobs were lost.
According to local business groups, there are already plans or hopes to redevelop the former club space.
Why It’s So Legendary / Why I Keep Exploring It
For years, PRYZM was the place to go in Birmingham for a big night out — massive dancefloor, big-name DJs, and a wild clubbing experience.Because of its size and layout, there are so many corners and rooms to explore; it’s a playground for urban exploration.
The contrast between how vibrant it was in its prime and how it is now (after closure) gives it a hauntingly nostalgic feel.
In This Video / Exploration
I go back in for the third time, pushing boundaries further than before — checking out parts I haven’t explored in my previous visits.
Things go wrong: this time, it escalates — the police are called, and yes, Dee gets arrested (for real).
I document every twist: the layout, the vibe, security, and the tension of being caught in real time.
I reflect on the club’s history (from Gatecrasher to PRYZM), and what its closure means in the bigger picture of Birmingham nightlife.
Why You Should Watch
If you love urban exploration, this is not just another abandoned building: it’s one of the UK’s most iconic clubs.
There’s real stakes — the risk of getting caught, plus a lot of emotional weight because of the club’s legacy. It’s a story about change: the nightlife boom, the decline, and how places like PRYZM have shaped our memories.
Sneaking Around The Abandoned Square Shopping Centre | Caught By Security… Then Back In!
We went sneaking and creeping through the abandoned Square Shopping Centre in Birmingham, exploring hidden corners and forgotten spots. Things got intense when security caught us—but that didn’t stop us from sneaking back in for more!
About the Square Shopping Centre:
Once a busy hub in the heart of Birmingham, the Square Shopping Centre is now abandoned, giving urban explorers the chance to discover hidden spaces, forgotten details, and the quiet remnants of its past.
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#UrbanExploration #Urbex #AbandonedPlaces #Birmingham #SneakingAdventure #TheSquare
Inside the Abandoned HMP Reading | Haunting Remains of a Historic Prison
Join us on a rare urban-exploration journey into the haunting corridors of the former HMP Reading – a historic Victorian prison in the heart of Reading, Berkshire. Built in 1844 on the site of the old county gaol and partly over the remains of Reading Abbey, this imposing red-brick structure was one of the earliest examples of the “separate system” of prison design, with a hub-and-spoke layout by architects Sir George Gilbert Scott and William Bonython Moffatt.
Over the decades, HMP Reading witnessed public executions in its forecourt (the first in 1845 before a crowd of 10,000), internment of Irish rebels after the 1916 Easter Rising, internment of foreign nationals in the world wars, use as a borstal for young offenders, and finally a remand centre and Young Offenders Institution until its closure in December 2013.
On this two-stage exploration, we’ll wander through the shadowy wings, inspect the peeling cell walls, trace the footsteps of literary legend Oscar Wilde (who penned The Ballad of Reading Gaol during his 18-month sentence here), and reflect on the layers of heritage — from abbey infirmary to gaol to derelict ruin.
Expect to document the architecture, the deterioration, and the stories that echo off the cold stones — twice in one day, to see how the light changes, how the atmosphere shifts, and to capture both surface-and-shadow. Whether you’re a history buff, an urban explorer, or simply someone drawn to abandoned places, this visit promises a deep dive into one of Britain’s most evocative former prison sites.
⚠️ Important Note: This exploration is undertaken as part of the ‘Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints’ ethos. Access should be legal, safe and respectful of the heritage building’s status (the prison is Grade II listed).
Exploring Birmingham City Hospital | Forgotten Tunnels, Wards & Maternity Wing
Join us on an immersive journey through nearly 140 years of medical history at the Dudley Road / City Hospital site in Birmingham.
Beginning in the late 19th century as the infirmary of the Birmingham Union Workhouse, this landmark hospital evolved over decades—expanding its wards, maternity facilities, and even secret tunnels beneath its corridors.
The original building opened around 1887-89, designed with a remarkable layout: a quarter-mile long main corridor with ward blocks radiating out in a configuration inspired by Florence Nightingale’s ward-design principles.
Over the decades the hospital adapted to changing healthcare needs—maternity services, major expansions, innovations in nursing and infection control all marked its legacy.
In November 2024, the final acute services moved to the new Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, bringing to an end a long era of inpatient care on the Dudley Road site.
Now you’ll descend into the hidden corners: the tunnels beneath the wards, the maternity block frozen in time, the wards where countless births and recoveries took place—and reflect on the wider story of a hospital that served a changing city, generation after generation.
Whether you’re drawn in by urban exploration, medical history, or the quiet fascination of abandoned spaces, this full-length video takes you behind the scenes of one of Birmingham’s most storied healthcare institutions.
⚠️ Explore respectfully: what lies behind those doors is history, not just decay. Please observe safety and legacy when filming or viewing such places.
Exploring an Abandoned HMRC Evidence Lock-Up & Offices| Vehicle Keys, Vault’s & Secrets Left Behind!
In this episode, we explore a once-secure HMRC office and evidence lock-up, now left to decay. Most of the building has been cleared out, but we still found fascinating remnants of its past — vehicle keys, vault log books, and signs of its former operations.
Join us as we step inside the abandoned corridors of this government facility, uncover what’s been left behind, and document another forgotten piece of the UK’s history.
👣 Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.
🕵️♂️ Location: Undisclosed (UK)
📸 Exploration by: Dee Explores
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Abandoned Haden Hill Leisure Centre | Inside Sandwell’s Forgotten Swimming Pool!
Join me as I explore the abandoned Haden Hill Leisure Centre in Sandwell — once a busy community hub, now left to decay. From the drained swimming pool to the dark changing rooms, this place is frozen in time. What really happened here, and why was it left to rot?
👣 Take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints.
#Abandoned #UrbanExploration #HadenHill #Sandwell #DeeExplores #UrbexUK
Sneaking Around Security Exploring The Abandoned Citrus
Once a bustling guesthouse, more recently making headlines as a former migrant hotel, this empty shell now sits shrouded in mystery. We slipped inside under the radar, moving quietly through silent corridors while security patrolled just meters away. Every creak and shadow felt like it could give us away. The tension built until our night ended with an unexpected encounter we never saw coming. This explore had it all — history, headlines, and heart-pounding suspense.