Tai Kwun

Tai Kwun occupies a compound in Central that combined a police headquarters, a magistracy and Victoria Prison, buildings dating from the 1840s onward, decommissioned in 2006 and reopened in 2018 after a long restoration. Sixteen historic buildings were conserved around two courtyards, and two new blocks by Herzog and de Meuron, clad in cast aluminium and standing on the old walls, hold a contemporary art gallery and a performance cube. Visitors can walk the prison yard, enter cells and see the laundry steps, alongside exhibitions on the site's history. Entry is free, restaurants and bars fill the ground floors, and the whole compound is one of the most used public spaces in Central.

What you actually see

• Sixteen conserved buildings - police headquarters, magistracy and prison.
• The prison yard and cells - the interiors kept open to walk through.
• Herzog and de Meuron's aluminium blocks - the new galleries on the old walls.
• Free contemporary art exhibitions - the programme in JC Contemporary.

When to go

Year round. Half a day. Some exhibitions require timed booking. Evenings are busy with the bars and restaurants rather than the galleries.

Honest expectations

The food and drink operations dominate the ground level and the atmosphere is more lifestyle complex than heritage site. Some buildings are closed or used privately. Popular exhibitions require booking that fills quickly. It is very busy at weekends.

Nearby

PMQ is a short walk west; Hollywood Road runs past the gate.