See & Do

Oxford Castle and Prison

££

Attraction

Hightlight

City Centre
Family Friendly

Oxford Castle and Prison is one of the best attractions found in Oxford city centre. Fun for all the family, the tours are a wealth of historical knowledge. Learn about past occupants and the characters involved and dwelt in these historic thick walls. Experience how the convicted felt and how they lives through these times.

From Private Guided Tours to our Escape Room: Jailbreak, they have a great range of experiences that go beyond the daily guided tours. Please note, that all experiences listed are subject to availability.

Book the family into one of their tours or try the Evening Tours. During a private evening tour, you can feel the full historic atmosphere of the 1,000-year building all to yourself. Accompanied by a costumed guide, you will be able to enjoy an extended tour.

Your tour guide will lead you to the top of St. George’s Tower to view the dreaming spires, then head to the underground candle-lit crypt and visit the historic prison cells. The private evening tours are a perfect after work social, or a great experience for groups of friends looking for something different to do in the evenings.

Why not enjoy the history in style with a prosecco upgrade!

At just a short 10 minute walk away from Oxford Train Station, you and your family will be able to enjoy Oxford’s best attraction.

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Opening Hours

Monday: 10:00 - 17:00

Tuesday: 10:00 - 17:00

Wednesday: 10:00 - 17:00

Thursday: 10:00 - 17:00

Friday: 10:00 - 17:00

Saturday: 10:00 - 17:00

Open now

Sunday: 10:00 - 17:00

Google Reviews

Oxford Castle & Prison

4.46994 reviews

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Thomas Mackay

2 months ago

Very fun and interesting tour. It's a building that dates right back so is steeped in history. Great way to spend a few hours in Oxford.

Richard Sharp

2 months ago

Mostly prison as most of the castle was demolished. The tour guide (in full period costume) was excellent, and all the staff I encountered were similar. 101 stairs in a tight spiral to the top of the tower might be a challenge for some. Its an interesting tour but an eclectic collection of themes.

Thomas Budge

a month ago

We visited today and had a positive experience. The guided tour brought the history to life in an engaging way, and the information was conveyed very clearly by the guide. However, they did struggle to answer some basic questions from other group members, which we managed to figure out ourselves in the end. The tour itself took around an hour and included a climb to the top of St. George’s Tower (great views from the top!), the crypt below, and the prison cells. After the guided portion, we were free to explore on our own. There was no rush. We parked at Westgate Car Park, which was on the pricey side, around £11 for three hours, but it was very convenient, just a 3 minute walk from the castle. Ideal if you are not familiar with the area, which we are not.

Martyn Williams

2 months ago

not a bad way to spend an hour, the tour covers some history, a trip up the tower and cells. you will need to be mobile to navigate the twisty stairs. the view from tower is great, the mound isnt worth the entry fee alone, but as part of the package it's worth a wander up

Sindu Kailash

in the last week

A tad bit disappointed as it was mostly just a prison and not a castle. However, the guide was in full victorian costume and had a great sense of storytelling, which contributed to a positive experience. After being inside great castles of Wales and Scotland, this one seemed to miss the kick. The pricing seemed steep as the toilets weren't clean, no toilet paper in the ladies, and the bin was full. A good thing about it, though, is they have enough slots for everyone even if you book on the same day as we visited on a Sunday during peak summer and it wasn't busy.