How to Receive Calls From HMP Liverpool (Walton)
HMP Liverpool — widely known as Walton Prison or Walton Jail — is the main local prison for Merseyside, holding around 1,100 prisoners in the Walton area of north Liverpool. Opened in 1855, it is the principal prison for Liverpool Crown Court and surrounding courts. This guide explains how to receive calls from HMP Liverpool at the cheapest rate, wherever you are.
About HMP Liverpool
HMP Liverpool opened in 1855 as Liverpool Borough Gaol, serving the rapidly growing port city of Liverpool at the height of the Victorian era. The prison on Hornby Road in Walton has been in continuous operation for over 170 years, making it one of England's longest-serving functioning prisons. It is managed by HMPPS as a public-sector establishment.
Locally known as Walton Prison, HMP Liverpool serves as the main remand prison for the Merseyside court area. It holds prisoners from Liverpool Crown Court, as well as from Knowsley and Sefton magistrates courts. The prison population reflects the diversity of Liverpool — a port city with strong Irish, West African, Caribbean, and Chinese communities — and a significant proportion of prisoners have family based abroad.
The prison is in the Walton area of north Liverpool, approximately 3.5 miles from Liverpool city centre. Walton Lane railway station provides connections to Liverpool Central and beyond. For families travelling from outside Merseyside, Liverpool Lime Street station offers mainline rail connections to Manchester, London, and beyond.
Call Rates From HMP Liverpool
HMP Liverpool operates the national ITS phone system under HMPPS. The rate depends on the type of number called:
| Number type | Weekday rate | Weekend rate |
|---|---|---|
| UK mobile (07…) | 5.5p / min | 3.6p / min |
| UK geographic landline (01… / 02…) | 2.48p / min | 2.2p / min |
Minimum charge: 10p per call. Switching to a UK geographic landline number saves 55% per minute on weekday calls.
HMPPS rates effective 1 April 2025 · valid until 31 May 2027 · Source: Ministry of Justice, letter to the Justice Committee, 1 July 2025
Getting Your Number on the PIN List
Before your loved one can call you, your number must be approved by prison staff and added to their PIN list. The prisoner submits the request — families cannot add numbers directly.
Receiving Calls From Outside the UK
Liverpool's historic port connections mean many prisoner families are based overseas — particularly in Ireland, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Prison phones at HMP Liverpool cannot dial international numbers, and non-UK numbers cannot be added to PIN lists. A UK virtual landline number delivers calls over the internet to your smartphone wherever you are, at UK landline rates, with no international charges on your end.
Receive calls from HMP Liverpool — anywhere in the world
BluePhone · UK geographic landline number · delivered to your smartphone · £15/month
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