Tai Kwun

I stopped by Tai Kwun while exploring Central and really enjoyed it. The mix of old colonial buildings and modern glass structures is super cool, and the place feels open and relaxed despite being in the middle of the city. There were some art exhibits going on, plus a few cafés and shops to check out. The courtyard is a nice spot to take a break, and the best part is that it’s free to enter. The weather was hot and humid that day, but thankfully the indoor areas were well air-conditioned, which made the visit much more comfortable. Definitely worth a quick visit if you’re nearby.

Tai Kwun offers a perfect blend of history, culture, architecture, events, exhibitions and food. To me, it is a wonderful place to relax in the midst of a bustling city. The recent Undercover Underworld Exhibition is particularly interesting, showcasing installations reproduced from undercover films, with plenty of photo opportunities for visitors and recorded interviews from undercover officers sharing insights into real-life undercover missions. Admission is $25 per adult. The Jockey Club also runs free heritage tours in both English and Cantonese. However, the staff members and volunteers sometimes provide conflicting information about events, opening hours, and the history of Tai Kwun. I hope they receive better training to provide more accurate information.

This declared monument, with over a century of history, showcases the conditions of the Hong Kong prison during the British colonial era. Revitalized in 2018, it now serves as a great tourist spot with various art displays and occasional themed exhibitions. Walking around is quite pleasant, and there are several restaurants inside worth trying.

Tai Kwun is a beautifully restored heritage site that seamlessly blends history with modern art and culture, and great for photography. The former Central Police Station and prison complex now houses galleries, boutique shops, and stylish dining venues, all set within a striking architectural space. Walking through its courtyards and exhibition halls feels like stepping into Hong Kong’s colonial past while engaging with contemporary creativity. The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed, making it perfect for both solo exploration and group outings. The free exhibitions and well-preserved prison cells add an educational touch, while the bars and restaurants (like Dragonfly) offer refined refreshment. The only drawback is its popularity—weekends can get crowded, and some exhibits require timed tickets. Tip: Visit on weekday evenings if you want a quieter experience

A vibrant and significant cultural and heritage destination located in the heart of Central, Hong Kong. It is much more than just a collection of old buildings; it's a testament to successful heritage conservation and a dynamic hub for arts and culture. - No admission fee required - Educational - Clean washrooms - Wish there was a souvenir shop and more dining options

A very nice museum. There were many buildings and it can be confusing as there was no clear direction on which block to go. One has to keep track otherwise easily miss out the buildings. One of the attractions in Hong Kong that has the most number of toilets and very clean too 😂 I particularly enjoyed the documentaries in one of the block. If you are into understanding the past of this prison then I highly recommend you to complete the documentary series.

Tai Kwun is a brilliant blend of heritage and contemporary culture. Once a colonial-era police station, now it’s a vibrant space filled with art, design, and quiet courtyards that feel like a hidden world within the city. You come for the exhibitions, but stay for the atmosphere — thoughtful, creative, and full of character. Hong Kong at its most refined and unexpected.

Highly recommend! Staff are nice. We had beer at the court yard. So nice and chill. Exhibition was well displayed. Not much crowd. Visit before 11am. I saw many tourists coming around noon.

Tai Kwun was the Former Central Police Station Compound, which includes three declared monuments in Central, the former Central Police Station, the Former Central Magistracy, and the Victoria Prison. It's surrounded by Hollywood Road, Arbuthnot Road, Chancery Lane and Old Bailey Street, and the compound now became a heritage revitalization, serves ad a popular venue for music performance, bars and restaurants.

Museum 100 faces of Tai Kwun. In nut shell it talks about the history and the tight-nit community of Central located in the heart of Hong Kong. Each individual story is a pice of a large story that made this community so great and unique among the rest of China as a whole. It not only has endless narrative stories but amazing resturants at different floors. You can easily lose yourself here eith the endless corridors and buildings that have been renovated to the patrons. I recommend this resume to our history museum baths as well is a great spot to just lose yourself in the end crowd.

After living in Hong Kong for several years, I was familiar with walking by this central police station/prison that was closed for many years for conservation and restoration. I always wondered what was behind those walls. Upon a recent trip returning to Hong Kong since my departure as an expat, I wanted to swing by to see if the restoration was complete. I was thrilled that I did, for not only is it open to the public, it is a sparkling cultural gem smack in the middle of Hong Kong for all to visit and see. There is such limited space in Hong Kong, I love that they preserved this historic treasure as a historical entertainment venue including art, food venues, contemporary art museum and performing arts. Tai Kwun is a place to visit when you are in the mood to meander, contemplate, learn, look, explore...and eat! Start at the visitor center. It helps give you an understanding and a broad brush stroke of what the central police station is and the role it played in Hong Kong history since 1841. Although I am not certain it will always be the case, there is no entry fee at all to enter the grounds and explore. There is no fee to visit the contemporary art museum either. This venue is so well done and really one of the most impressive museums I have seen in all of Hong Kong (short of the M+ Contemporary Museum temporary structure in the West Kowloon Cultural District and maybe Art Asia too). They did really a spectacular job in preserving prison cells, with the signage explaining what everything is and directional signage, with providing wide open spaces for people to explore and giving a complete understanding of the significance of this project. From a dance studio to performing arts and expansive programming including movies and lectures, there is a lot going on at Tai Kwun. They have an on-line presence and also have an app you can download. They unrolled this great new venue sparing no expense and it looks great! Most impressive to me is the Tai Kwun Contemporary Art Museum. Yes, there is now a contemporary art museum on Hong Kong island. This is not a typo. With the role of the galleries really caring the weight of this load for so many years (let me not forget Art Asia too!), what a great complementary partner in showcasing Hong Kong residents and visitors all that is cool and emerging in the contemporary art world. There was an impressive installation by Cao Fei on display during my visit. Job well done. I would encourage others to visit and explore for themselves, regardless if you are a history buff or an art junkie or a foodie, there is something for everyone. I will absolutely be back the next time I am in Hong Kong.

The former police station and prison, a glance at Hong Kong's rich and varied history. It seems they've done a fantastic job of restoring the original buildings, thought it's mostly shops and restaurants now. Still, the museum was informative in a way that is very interesting, and you get to see the evolution of the city. If nothing else, it's a peaceful, brief retreat from a city that's constantly on the move. I didn't even know about this place until a friend and local mentioned it, and I'm so glad I didn't miss it!

Tai Kwun is a nice addition to HK's collection of museums and cultural/art centers! As the former central police station/prison, Tai Kwun is now a large musuem and heritage center with multiple exhibitions, restaurants, bars, and instagrammable spots. The main buildings are the police station museum, in which you can learn about the history of the HK police, and the prison where its remodeled to showcase former cells and daily activities of a typical inmate. In the police station museum, I especially enjoyed how they made it very interactive: you can choose from 5 characters (police, prisoner, correction officer, etc) and "follow" their daily life throughout the exhibition to get a feel of their roles' responsibilities. Besides these two buildings, there are other exhibitions as you walk through the entire area as you hop from building to building. In particular the JC CUBE and the JC Contemporary buildings have a lot of cool art exhibitions. Between buildings, there are also many sites where you can get quality IG pics, admire the colonial HK architecture, or ask staff to help navigate your visit. I would definitely recommend looking at the map and doing a bit of research for the exhibitions you want to hit up before you go. The Tai Kwun area is easily accessible via the MTR subway and it will probably take at 3 hours and more if you want to actually read/explore everything!

Great place to visit if you're ever in Central. It's an interesting piece of architecture since it is home to not only jail cells but also the luxury side of the police force. Being able to see what prisoners were exposed to and that side of living back in the days isn't something you can see on a regular basis. I'm glad my cousin brought me out here and experience this spot. Also, the museum has intriguing artwork to witness and take in because it's not for everyone.

A good place for culture heritage For sightseeing, dancing or singing along with all the Hall exhibition, Photo taking, selfieing or keep up with your memories all alongside with the exhibit Feel the vibe And be chilled out And get learning

Our local friend recommended this new attraction that's conveniently located in Central mid-hill fronting Hollywood Road. Instead of using the escalators we chose to ascend on the stone steps on Pottinger Road flanked by small shops hawking souvenirs. Thankfully the incline wasn't too demanding. It's great to see these significant historical landmarks repurposed to offer a peaceful respite for citizens and visitors alike to learn about the city's past. The buildings are well kept. The exhibits are informative, interesting and well illustrated. A walk/through of the prison section allowed a glimpse of the cramped cells and law enforcement in a bygone era. The parade ground open square offers a place to rest, relax and people watch (so many visitors posting). There are several eateries. Definitely worth a visit; the self-guided tour is free!