Oxford Castle Prison
ENTRY
from £10.50
WHERE
Oxford
What it’s like
Climb an Anglo-Saxon tower, poke round Victorian cells and drop into a candle-lit crypt on a guided tour with 1000 years of Oxford's grimmer history.
The tour does the heavy lifting here: about 50 minutes to an hour with a guide, then you're free to wander the exhibitions at your own pace. You climb 101 steps up St George's Tower for a proper view over Oxford, step into 18th-century prison cells, and end up in a crypt lit by candles, which is the bit most people will still be talking about on the drive home. It covers Vikings, Normans and Victorian justice, so there's more going on than the "prison" name suggests.
The tower climb is the catch, and it's a real one. It's a spiral staircase, 101 uneven steps, about 15 minutes each way, and under-fives aren't allowed up it at all for safety reasons, though they still go free on the ghost tour if registered. If you've got a buggy, it has to be left at reception since it won't fit through some of the doors, and the building generally has uneven floors and steep steps that make some areas tricky.
Standard adult entry is £18, £12 for a child, or £37.50 for two adults and two children, which works out kinder than paying separately. Beyond the standard tour there's a 60-minute escape room where you crack codes and try to outsmart the warden, a potion-making experience, and evening ghost tours if you fancy the place with the lights down. Tours run daily from around 10am, and booking ahead is worth it since each tour only takes 20 people, though walk-ups sometimes get in.
There's no parking on site.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- School-age kids; under-fives miss the tower climb
- Booking
- Pre-booking recommended due to limited capacity (20 people per tour)
- Parking
- No on-site parking. Nearby city car parks at Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxpens, Worcester Street, Gloucester Green
- How long to allow
- Around 50 minutes to 1 hour for the core tour, with time to explore exhibitions
- Pushchairs
- Prams and pushchairs must be left in reception area where staff will look after them
- Wheelchairs
- D Wing accessible by lift with tactile/braille controls
- Dogs
- Guide and assistance dogs allowed in prison and mound, but not allowed to climb St
- Getting there by bus or train
- 10 minute walk from Oxford Train Station
- Worth knowing
- Children under 5 go free with paying adult (for Spectre Ghost Tour)
- It's card only, credit or debit, no American Express.
- The tower climb alone takes about 15 minutes each way on uneven steps.
- Some cell doorways are only 620-640mm wide, so wheelchair access varies by area.
- Family admission for two adults and two children works out cheaper than buying separately.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£18 for an adult, £12 for a child, or £37.50 for a family of two adults and two children. Under-fives go free on the ghost tour if they're registered.
How long does the tour take?
The guided part runs 50 minutes to an hour, then you can explore the exhibitions at your own pace afterwards.
Do we need to book ahead?
It's recommended since each tour only takes 20 people. Walk-up tickets are sometimes available on the day.
Can toddlers do the tower climb?
No, under-fives aren't allowed up St George's Tower for safety reasons, though they can still join the rest of the visit.
What happens with the pushchair?
It gets left at reception with a member of staff, since it won't fit through some of the doors inside.
Is there parking on site?
None on site. Nearby options are the city car parks at Westgate, Oxpens, Worcester Street or Gloucester Green, plus the Seacourt and Redbridge Park and Ride sites.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
D Wing has lift access with tactile and braille controls, but this is a historic building with narrow doorways in places and the tower is only reachable by a 101-step spiral staircase. Carer tickets are free per paying visitor.
What can we see on the tour?
St George's Tower, the candle-lit crypt, and 18th-century prison cells, with over 1000 years of history from Vikings and Normans through to Victorian justice.
Are there other things to do besides the main tour?
There's a 60-minute escape room where you crack codes to outsmart the warden, a potion-making experience, and Spectre ghost tours in the evening.
Where do we check in?
Head to the gift shop when you arrive and a member of the guest services team will check you in. Aim to get there about 10 minutes before your tour.
Can guide dogs come in?
Guide and assistance dogs are allowed in the prison and on the mound, but they can't climb St George's Tower.
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