Let’s end with a fun fact: London’s ten prisons are roughly the same number as the city’s Michelin-starred restaurants (which is about 70, but who’s counting?). That’s a weird symmetry—detention and dining, both thriving in the capital. Another: HMP Wandsworth once held a record for the most executed prisoners in the UK, with 134 hangings between 1878 and 1961. Today, it’s known for its award-winning bakery.
And here’s a little known stat: the average sentence length in London’s prisons is 18 months. That’s shorter than a typical gym membership you’ll forget to cancel. So next time you complain about your Tube delay, remember: somewhere in the city, someone is counting down the days to freedom.
