Where was The Shawshank Redemption filmed?

Regularly named among the most cherished films ever made, this prison-set drama draws travellers for a single, surprising reason: its forbidding penitentiary is a real building you can walk into. Few movie locations carry such an instantly familiar atmosphere, and stepping through the gates is a genuine thrill for anyone who knows the story by heart.

Shawshank is the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. This vast, Gothic former prison, with its soaring central guard room and tiered iron cell blocks, was used throughout the film, from the cells to the warden's office. Decommissioned long ago, it now stands as a preserved landmark, its weathered stone facade looking exactly as menacing on the approach as it does on screen.

The Reformatory runs regular tours, so this is one of the easier set-jetting trips to plan around a confirmed, ticketed visit. Mansfield sits in north-central Ohio, an easy drive from Cleveland or Columbus, making it a natural day trip. Check opening times before you go, and allow a couple of hours to take in the cell blocks at the heart of the film.