Bodmin Jail, a former prison steeped in history, has been transformed into a leading historical experience following an £8.5 million redevelopment.

It welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually, and while it offers thrilling experiences like its immersive Dark Walk, its core mission is to bring Cornwall's dark and captivating past to life within the authentic walls of this expansive jail.

It truly blends compelling storytelling with a rich museum experience, making it a must-visit for anyone eager to explore the depths of history.

Challenges

Bodmin Jail needed a new website to address several key issues.

Their existing site's CMS lacked user-friendliness and features, making updates difficult. A significant hurdle was coordinating the new site's design with their ongoing internal rebranding efforts.

The old website also suffered from challenging navigation, making content hard to find. A primary objective was to clearly re-categorise visitor offerings into distinct Self-Guided, Guided Experiences, and Ghost Experiences sections, alongside general What's On information.

Ultimately, they aimed for a visually engaging, modern aesthetic with mobile-first elements to create a strong first impression.

The LOOP Solution

The new website for Bodmin Jail is visually impressive, featuring high-quality videos and images that bring its unique stories to life. It's built for speed, reliability, and security, ensuring a seamless user experience.

The site provides the Bodmin Jail team with dynamic scheduling for show times, events, and opening hours, alongside features designed to enhance the guest journey from planning to post-visit.

Through vivid storytelling and amazing galleries, visitors can easily plan their day, discover seasonal events, or explore options like group visits.

"Semantic were incredibly helpful throughout the development of our new website via LOOP. The platform's user-friendly interface makes it easy for us to customise the site exactly how we want it. A special shout-out to Dan and Mollie, who were both fantastic to work with – always responsive, supportive, and full of great advice during the build and update process. We’d definitely recommend Semantic if you’re looking for a simple, flexible, and efficient website solution!"

Will Hedgecock, Social Media Coordinator, Bodmin Jail