H
Great for all ages
Amazing! Our guide Edward was knowledgeable & funny!
Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour
+6 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Price from
- $28 / person
- Location
- Oxford, United Kingdom
- Rating
- 4.8 / 5 · 1,624 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 4
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Oxford Castle & Prison
- Meeting point
- The entrance to the tour is to the left of the cafe. You will enter through the gift shop.
Description
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.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 31 times a day, 10:00 AM–4:45 PM
- Next available
- Thu, Oct 15
- Adult (ages 18–59)
- $28
- Child (ages 6–15)
- $19
Out at sunset: the 4:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 4:47 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 622 of the next 930 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 14.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Oxford Castle Prison
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.
What's included
Included
Costumed Character Guide
Guided Tour
Not included
Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.8
1,624 reviews
How it compares in Oxford
- No. 2 by number of reviews among 261 tours in Oxford
- Starting price $28 is 47% below the typical $54 for tours of similar length in Oxford
Excurgo comparison of 261 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- 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.
- Payment must be made at the time of booking by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, Switch or Delta).
- No dogs are allowed in the attraction, the mound, Castleyard Cafe or the gift shop except for guide dogs.
- Opening times may be subject to change; for up-to-date information on admission prices and opening times, please telephone our information line on +44(0)1865 260666
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour take?
Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour lasts about 1 hour. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour cost?
Prices start at $28 per person for this Oxford experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 31 departures a day between 10:00 AM and 4:45 PM.
How much does Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour cost for children?
Children aged 6–15 pay from $19, adults from $28.
Does Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour sell out?
It can: 622 of the next 930 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The entrance to the tour is to the left of the cafe. You will enter through the gift shop. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 4 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children under 5 years of age will not be permitted access to St George’s Tower due to health and safety regulations.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible
Reviews(1,624)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
W
Great tour
Edward was a great guide and made this beautiful but scary place truly fascinating.
F
Best 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.
K
An 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
A
Tour of prison
Well presented, not rushed, plenty of information and visually good to see into the past
Y
Definitely do this your!
This tour was great! Will was our tour guide and kept us engaged and interested the whole time. I found it fascinating and amusing and would highly recommend the tour.
H
Excellent place, full of history
Visited yesterday, 3 Oct, with friends and we had a marvellous time. Will, our guide, was full of information, spoke clearly and took care of everyone’s mobility needs. I also had a strange experience in the crypt; tingling in both feet in a certain corner which stopped as soon as I stepped away. Repeated the action four times as I thought I’d imagined it the first time. Very strange. I’m not one to have paranormal experiences so just thought I’d log it here. A memorable visit. Highly recommended.
C
Oxford castle and Prison is worth a visit
Using the 2FOR1 Days Out offers excellent value for money. I signed up, received our QR code and paid at the door on our chosen day. We joined a largish group but our guide, Joe, had a loud clear voice, was amusing, enthusiastic and knowledgeable and we all enjoyed the tour. There are 100 steps to climb to the top of the tower but if you are unable to do this you can watch a video at the bottom. We spent an hour enjoying the castle prison and walked up the mote straight after. I would recommend this tour.
1
History and a tower climb
What a fun experience! Natalia was a wonderful guide. Her expressiveness and knowledge brought the past to life. The entire staff was so friendly. The climb was do- able for 66-75 year olds, and the view was spectacular. An altogether satisfying excursion!
N
the bell rings to tell a 1000 years of oxford castle and prison ...
staff were welcoming as we entered, also needed to leave cases in the lock up lockers provided at the entrance for a small extra charge of a pound for the token, admission fee was reasonable, perhaps consideration in future for over 65 or 60 years admission reduction.. the tour guide was very good and knowledgeable she was dressed in attire for the period of the tour and made it very atmospheric.. the tour was just the right length and a small group which made it a better experience ... we were there for about 2 and a half hours as it was a nice day we walked around the prison site and the castle views and tower view was a bonus.. for those that wanted to climb the steps or could stay downstairs and watch a video..as well as revisiting the inside after the tour.. we had a coffee and cake in the cafe... on that day we had a coffee that was on offer so very reasonable as well.. would recommend this experience to adults and perhaps families with children over 10 years plus and a great shop at the end full of interesting things for all ages..
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from$28
4.8(1,624) Free cancellation