Contract prison in West Lothian
HMP Addiewell (EH55 8QF) is operated by a private contractor under SPS oversight. It holds sentenced men in medium-security conditions. Families sometimes confuse it with Edinburgh Saughton because both sit in the Lothians belt.
Locating someone at Addiewell
SPS remains the public-facing authority for Scottish custody information routes. Addiewell does not publish who is inside.
Transfers from Edinburgh or Perth locals arrive with little family notice until the prisoner can add visitors.
Visits under SPS rules
Visitor procedures follow SPS policy applied at Addiewell — see sps.gov.uk for the establishment. Contract prisons use the same visitor-list discipline as SPS-run sites.
Confirm session availability on official pages before driving from Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Addiewell Road
West Calder is off the A71 between Edinburgh and Livingston. Livingstone North station plus taxi is an option; most visitors drive and follow on-site parking rules from SPS.
Questions about HMP Addiewell
- Is Addiewell part of the Scottish Prison Service?
- It is privately operated under an SPS contract. Visit and custody enquiries still go through Scottish official channels on sps.gov.uk.
- Do I book Addiewell like an English private prison?
- No. Use Scottish Prison Service guidance for HMP Addiewell, not GOV.UK England/Wales visit booking.