# British Columbia Penitentiary, Canada: what it is and when to go > British Columbia Penitentiary is a prison in British Columbia, Canada 1979–1980 (Vancouver). Interests: History. The best time to visit is February and May to October. In June there are 16 h of daylight, and in December, 8 h. It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Canada: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/governor-s-castle/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-02 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Prison in British Columbia, Canada 1979–1980 · History - **Where:** Canada · Governors Court 319, New Westminster - **Best time:** February and May to October. - **Nearest airport:** YVR Vancouver, 21 km as the crow flies - **Website:** [patch.com](https://patch.com/washington/seattle/classifieds/other/257523/historic-prison-named-governors-castle-in-new-westminster) - **Protection:** Protected heritage - **Coordinates:** 49.21818, -122.89461 ## What it is and where British Columbia Penitentiary is a prison in British Columbia, Canada 1979–1980 (Vancouver). It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Canada: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. The British Columbia Penitentiary Gatehouse is a two-storey battlemented structure with distinctive bartizans, turrets and a crenellated parapet, with octagonal towers flanking the main entrance. The building faces the Fraser River and is approached from It is in [Vancouver](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/vancouver/), where this site lists 154 more places to see, 18 km from the centre. Its coordinates are 49.21818, -122.89461; the nearest main airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR, Vancouver), 21 km as the crow flies. How to get around Canada (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=49.218182%2C-122.894613) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=49.218182%2C-122.894613) - **Protection:** Protected heritage It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/historia/) places in Canada. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit British Columbia Penitentiary is **February and May to October**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 8 h 26 | | February | Best time | 9 h 53 | | March | Possible | 11 h 34 | | April | Possible | 13 h 29 | | May | Best time | 15 h 06 | | June | Best time | 16 h | | July | Best time | 15 h 37 | | August | Best time | 14 h 12 | | September | Best time | 12 h 21 | | October | Best time | 10 h 30 | | November | Possible | 8 h 50 | | December | Possible | 8 h | In June there are 16 h of daylight, and in December, 8 h. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to Canada in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to Canada To enter Canada there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “National parks and accommodation, booked”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Canada checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD); plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter, and check that your device takes 120 V); emergencies: 911. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [New Westminster Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/new-westminster-bridge/): Railway bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia · 1.2 km - [Pattullo Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/pattullo-bridge/): Bridge across the Fraser River in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia · 1.2 km - [Irving House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/irving-house/): Historical house in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada · 1.4 km - [SkyBridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/skybridge/): Cable-stayed bridge in Metro Vancouver, Canada · 1.5 km - [Holy Eucharist Cathedral](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/holy-eucharist-cathedral/): Church in British Columbia, Canada · 1.8 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Canada guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/). ## More in Canada: History - [L'Anse aux Meadows](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/sitio-historico-nacional-de-l-anse-aux-meadows/): archaeological site on the island of Newfoundland, Canada - [Nahanni National Park Reserve](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/parque-nacional-del-nahanni/): national park in Canada - [Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/parque-internacional-de-la-paz-waterton-glacier/): international park in the United States of America and Canada - [Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/head-smashed-in-buffalo-jump/): buffalo jump located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Canada - [Miguasha National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/parc-national-de-miguasha/): national park of Quebec - [Old Quebec](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/distrito-historico-del-antiguo-quebec/): historic neighborhood in Quebec City, Canada, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site Every Canada place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/historia/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is British Columbia Penitentiary? It is a prison in British Columbia, Canada 1979–1980. It has articles in 2 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Canada: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit British Columbia Penitentiary? February and May to October. In June there are 16 h of daylight, and in December, 8 h. ### How do you get to British Columbia Penitentiary? The nearest main airport is Vancouver International Airport (YVR), 21 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=49.218182%2C-122.894613) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Canada is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Canada map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [New Westminster Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/new-westminster-bridge/), [Pattullo Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/pattullo-bridge/), [Irving House](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/irving-house/). The rest is in [the Canada guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/canada/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/86736846), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4969743), CC0. More about British Columbia Penitentiary on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Penitentiary). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).