Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour
- 1 hour
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
Highlights
Explore the 1,000-year history of Oxford Castle and Prison. Step back in time with our costumed guided tours and see fascinating stories come to life. Hear the great tales of Empress Matilda, the fate of Mary Blandy and step inside our padded jail cell. Find gorgeous views atop of St. Georges' Tower and then descend into the atmospheric crypt of St. Georges’ Chapel. Here you can touch the stones where Oxford University was rumoured to begin and stand in the birthplace of Geofrey of Monmouths’ King Arthur. Wander the austere confines of the prisons’ D-Wing and learn about our youngest inmates. After your guided tour, you can explore the prison cells at your own leisure and dress up like a prisoner in our exhibition space. Head outside and climb the mound, the remains of our motte and bailey castle.
Inclusions
What's included
- Costumed Character Guide
- Guided Tour
What's not
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Itinerary
Take a guided tour today and let the characters reveal their fascinating stories entrenched in the building’s 1,000 year history. When William the Conqueror invaded England and won the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Oxford Castle was marked by the Normans as the ideal place for a motte-and-bailey castle. Today, after almost one millennia, Oxford Castle & Prison is a visitor attraction with a past stretching far beyond your imagination. Guided tours last approx. an hour and run every 20 minutes and are led by one of the castle's costumed character guides. The rich history of Oxford and the castle is revealed as you climb the Saxon St George’s Tower, one of the oldest buildings in Oxford, and enjoy its stunning 360° panoramic views over the historic city of Oxford. Then, descend deep underground into the dark atmosphere of the 900 year old crypt, the only surviving remains of St. George’s Chapel where it is said, began the education for which Oxford is famed, and where Geoffrey of Monmouth penned the Legends of King Arthur. Explore the austere confines of the 18th century Debtors’ Tower and Prison D-Wing and scale the Mound of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle. After your tour, you will be inducted into the castle’s prison and wider site where you will be able to explore at your own leisure. Admission to the castle is by guided tour only.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.8
- 51,381
- 4181
- 332
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Ratings come from 1,621 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Excellent tour with Excellent guide Edward
The tour was excellent. Lots of history the guide Edward was very knowledgeable and very funny. Really made it fun
5Great for all ages
Amazing! Our guide Edward was knowledgeable & funny!
5Great tour
Edward was a great guide and made this beautiful but scary place truly fascinating.
5Best tour in Oxford
Had a wonderful tour at Oxford Castle and prison. The history and connections really surprised us and the tour guide Grace delivered the information professionally and enthusiastically, immersing us in the history we were hearing about. Favourite part of the castle was seeing the worn floor and the groove caused by the elbows of the men who turned the wheel as pointless punishment. Also enjoyed the tales of the prison inmates. The views from the top of the tower were excellent. The steps were uneven and the doorways low but we were warned about this first. Loved the opportunity to have our photo taken and receive our mugshot and crime at the end. The self guided exhibition was also really interesting. Shocking that the prison was only closed 30 years ago. Highly recommended, one of the best tours we have had the pleasure of doing.
5An interesting tour...
An interesting tour around information about the castle and jail. Possibly get cheaper tickets at the door but we really enjoyed the experience. The guide was very informative and a great story teller
5Tour of prison
Well presented, not rushed, plenty of information and visually good to see into the past
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The entrance to the tour is to the left of the cafe. You will enter through the gift shop.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 4 travellers
- Operated by
- Oxford Castle & Prison
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children under 5 years of age will not be permitted access to St George’s Tower due to health and safety regulations.
- Visitors unable to climb the tower may wait at the bottom with a guardian and watch our “Story of Oxford Castle” video. Once the tour group returns from the Tower, you are then able to rejoin your group as the tour continues. To find out more about this policy, click here to view our access information.
- Due to the historical nature of the building Prams & Pushchairs do not fit through our doors, so they need to be left in the reception area where they will be looked after from a member of our team.
How it compares in Oxford
- Its from-price is 74% below the median of the 267 experiences we list in Oxford.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 267.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Oxford
Oxford is England's famous university city, with honey-coloured colleges, libraries, museums and river meadows beside the Thames and the Cherwell.
Oxford has been a university town since the 12th century, and its dreaming spires belong to colleges that stand shoulder to shoulder around quadrangles and gardens. The Radcliffe Camera, a round domed library, the Bodleian Library, the Sheldonian Theatre and Christ Church, whose dining hall inspired scenes in the Harry Potter films, are the best known. The Hertford Bridge, a covered footbridge nicknamed the Bridge of Sighs, links two parts of one college.
Top-ranked sights in Oxford: Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Camera, Trinity College .
Special offers in Oxford
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
