This Ontario hotel used to be a prison and you can sleep behind bars

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be behind bars, but aren't in a rush to break the law? The King George Inn is the perfect place in Ontario to do time, without committing a crime. 

This jail-turned-hotel in Cobourg housed inmates from 1906 to 1998, until it was privately acquired the following year and turned into a heritage inn. 

At the time it was sold, the jail was one of the largest in the area, capable of holding up to 100 inmates at once. Those inmates would have struggled to imagine their cells reborn into what is now a boutique hotel, featuring 20 guest rooms that include elements reminiscent of traditional jail cells.

The former Cobourg County Jail could accommodate up to 100 inmates at a time. 

There are bars, bunk beds and grey concrete walls, pretty standard for any jail cell, but quite the novelty for those of us who have never served time.

If you're more into ghostly encounters than living out your inner prisoner, legend has it that some of the jail's long-gone inmates still haunt the premises today. 

If you visit the inn, get ready to experience everything a cell has to offer, like bars and bunk beds. 

Notable inmates who called this building home include Larry Huren and Merv Blaker, members of a biker gang called the Port Hope 8, which had connections to a murder in the 1970s. 

If you really want to get spooked, though, you can try out the inn's Jail Escape Hotel, an escape room game which includes a live ghost hunt.

You can even experience what it was like having your last meal before a date with the gallows.

But, don't worry; a criminal record won't be necessary for any of the experiences offered. 

Even those not interested in ghosts and prison lore can enjoy the inn, which also features regular guest rooms lacking prison bars if you want to avoid the goosebumps.

You can also visit their British-themed pub called The Cat & Fiddle, or admire the courtyard just outside the inn.  

Not into spending the night in a former jail cell? The inn also offers regular rooms for hotel guests. 

If you're not planning to stay the night but are interested in visiting, no problem. The inn also features a museum in the basement, where you can learn about the site's history as a former jail. 

The Inn is a two-hour drive from Toronto in the heart of downtown Cobourg. You can pair your visit with a stroll through town and enjoy shops, restaurants, cafes and even a bowling alley all down the street. 

Plus, Cobourg Beach is a few minutes' walk away if you're looking to get some sun that day. 

Rates start at $149 a night, so book your cell and serve some time living out this unique adventure in an old jailhouse.