Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour

Recommended by 96% of travelers

Badge of Excellence

Oxford, England

High interest

Booked 2 times today.

1 hour (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Feel like you’ve gone back in time on this 1-hour tour of Oxford Castle. Led by a costumed guide who plays a real-life character from history, you’ll explore the Norman castle’s medieval remains, from the prison to the 900-year-old crypt. Climb up the steps to the top of St. George’s Tower, discover the Debtors’ Tower and the prison’s D-Wing, and make your way to the mound of the 11th-century motte-and-bailey castle.

1-hour tour of Oxford Castle led by a costumed character guide
Climb St. George’s Tower for stunning views of the city's skyline
Discover the history behind the mound of the 11th-century castle
Venture underground to the castle’s 900-year-old crypt, the only remains left of St. George’s Chapel
See the Debtors’ Tower and prison's D-Wing, then explore the prison and larger site at your own leisure
Choose your own tour time (tour runs every 20 minutes between 10am and 4:20pm)
Tour is wheelchair accessible

What's Included

Guided Tour
Costumed Character Guide

Souvenir photos (available to purchase)

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

45 Oxford Castle, Oxford OX1 1BY, UK
The entrance to the tour is to the left of the cafe. You will enter through the gift shop.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Your tour begins at the time you chose at checkout. Remember to meet at Oxford Castle Quarter, and bring a paper or electronic voucher with you.

Travel back in time as your costumed guide tells of what it was like when their character was around. Walk up 30 feet (9 meters) of steps at St. George’s Tower. When you make it to the top, bust out your camera and snap some photos of Oxford's so-called dreaming spires.

Now it’s underground you go as you head down to the 900-year-old crypt, the only remains left of St. George’s Chapel. It’s said that St. George’s Chapel is where the education of Oxford started. Plus, some even believe this area is haunted by a ghost or two.

Feel the eerie aura when you explore the 18th-century Debtors’ Tower and prison’s D-Wing. Then, take a look at the castle mound before you set off to explore the prison and larger site at your own leisure.

Oxford Castle & Prison

Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
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.
Stroller accessible
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).

Near public transportation
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
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 4 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.8

based on 1,447 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

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An hour well spent.

Ali_C, Jan 2026

Joe was a great tour guide, interesting and informative. Great to look back st history. An hour well spent.

Bad experience

Andrew_W, Oct 2024

We had the 4.40 visit. The prison was closing and it felt very much like the tour was rushed. As we was leaving each area staff members was waiting for us and closing and turning lights off.

Great guide, basic tour

Jacqueline_N, Oct 2024

We had an brilliant guide, Emily, who articulated stories of the castle and prison excellently. The tour itself however, is very average.

Fun history.

Karen_R, Oct 2024

Learning about the prisons history. The little details given. The view from the top of the tower. Then definitely dressing up and taking photos. I brought a friend from Australia and she enjoyed it very much. The cafe does a lovely chai latte too. Thank you. ☺️

Good fun & interesting

Colin_S, Oct 2024

Great experience. Joe our guide was interesting, informative and great fun. We went with friends and had a very enjoyable time. Highly recommend

Interesting expo

Elly_N, Sep 2024

Good tour guide. After the tour, there was an opportunity to walk around on my own to take some extra pictures in the castle and to read all the other information on the displays in the museum. Very interesting to learn more about the daily life in the prison.

Fascinating 1000 years of history

Louisa_B, Jul 2024

I've lived in and around Oxford for 40 years and had no idea about the prison or, later, the great historical/archaeological finds. This visit was much more than I expected and I learnt a huge amount. The tour itself was good. Natalia our guide had some excellent tales to tell. The exhibition at the end was well done and explained the history of the Castle and then its incarnation as a prison. The Victorians were a dreadful punitive lot. Let's hope Mr Timpson at last manages to do something about our outdated and disastrous prison system. My favourite part was seeing St George's Crypt. A wonder. I'd go again.

Great tour

Duygu_E, Jun 2024

Anne was a great guide, she told us many interesting stories that made our trip to the Oxford castle and prisons enjoyable.

Nice tour

Noemi_S, Oct 2020

Great tour. The guide was helpful, informative and funny. Highly recommended if you would like to know more about the history of Oxford.

Castle Tour

Allison_S, Oct 2020

I enjoyed the castle experience, one of the smaller castles I have visited but still full of history. The tour guide was great and explained everything well, and we enjoyed learning the varied history of the nearly 1000 year castle

Good

Colin_H, Sep 2020

A good visit led by a young lady with a different sounding first name. She was very good enthusiastic and engaging.

Great tour with stories to bring it to life

N_K, Aug 2020

Great tour of the prison and Castle with Freya. They've managed to do a great job of social distancing and hygiene measures and still keep the tour interesting and informative.

Average Day Out

Lindsey_G, Aug 2020

The Castle and Prison Guided Tour passed an hour whilst in Oxford but, overall, was rather uneventful. Good Covid-19 health and safety precautions in place and friendly tour guide/presenter.

Perfect social distancing experience!!

Leanne_W, Aug 2020

Fantastic time spent at the castle and prison, our tour guide was very funny, professional and knowledgable and made social distancing a lot less harrowing than expected. Definitely recommended and a lovely break from reality.

Great site in Oxford

Brett S, Jul 2019

The Oxford Castle & prison is a hidden gem. the city has so much on the educational side with the colleges that this medical prospective is a nice complement to the other sites. Highly advise this be on your list!

Very interesting and well presented...

Rob H, Nov 2017

Very interesting and well presented by character in costume. I would have loved a bit more time than one hour and a tour of the old prison in the hotel would have been a bonus

Even though you have bought a ticket...

Adele T, Aug 2017

Even though you have bought a ticket on viator, you have to go there or ring ahead and book a session. I arrived at 11 thinking I would just be on the next tour, but I had to wait until 1pm. The tour was good and the guide was really but not one of the best castles in the U.K. Better for kids I reckon.

I would highly recommend this trip...

Donna B, May 2017

I would highly recommend this trip. The tour guard was brilliant and the castle has a lot of history to it. The city of Oxford is also amazing with all the historic buildings.