Reviews of Oxford Castle & Prison. (Museum) in Oxford (Oxfordshire).

Oxford Castle & Prison

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390 Comments

Museum

Historical place

44-46 Oxford Castle, Oxford OX1 1AY, United Kingdom

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Information of Oxford Castle & Prison, Museum in Oxford (Oxfordshire)

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Reviews of Oxford Castle & Prison

M. V.

Excellent tour, worth doing if you are I'm Oxford for a Visit! Leanne was a brilliant tour guide and made the history of the Castle and Prison come alive. The climb to the top of the tower was not as hard as expected, you do get a break half way up. I am just shy of 6'1" and only banged my head once so that's a bonus.

A. H.

A wonderful historical place with a fun and informative tour. There is a tower with many steps, its optional and I would recommend only doing so if you are able bodies and the guide does tell you this. If you do go up the view at the top is wonderful would fully recommend this place if you're into history.

R. G.

Very interesting place with and even more interesting stories told by the tour guides! I was really impressed by our guide! He managed to captivate our minds with his beautiful words. If you are in Oxford give the castle a go - you won’t be disappointed I assure you! There is a nice gift shop as well.

M. T.

This is a great historical site in the middle of Oxford and I definitely wouldn't miss it if you're planning a day trip here. I couldn't do the tour guide because I was with my dog and they're not dog friendly but I still enjoyed seeing the castle from the outside. I also visited the gift shop and was very happy with what they were offering as they also have Mead wine.

c.

Such a lovely experience. The guide was very prepared and the place helps to transcend centuries to understand what was the life of the prisoners there. Great view of the city Oxford, I highly recommend to go on top of the hill, and just feel like you are in the clouds.

D. G.

Great tour!!! We had plenty of time after the tour to look around on our own which was a nice touch. The crypt was one of our favorite places to explore. The tour guide was friendly and entertaining. Highly recommend this tour.

H. C.

The guided tour was absolutely fantastic. Our tour guide Katie made it so much fun. It starts with a lot of history (and a lot of stairs) and a tour of the tower. You climb up the long winding stairs, waves of fresh air gushing through the opening in the stonework, stopping off at a room on the way up. Reaching the top, you can see across the city from the parapet, the castle flags catching the wind. Coming back down, the stairs are just as steep, snaking around the central tower back to the main castle prison. We continued to follow stairs (there is a lift alternative available at this point) down to the crypt. A passageway leads through to the dark, atmospheric room, the old stonework carved by prisoners and a dark, cold spot lingering in a corner. While we were down there, we caught Merlin teaching some young apprentice magicians in a children's workshop. The tour includes a few cell rooms show casing the prison at different points in time. Here Katie really brought the stories to life, getting caught up in the role and bringing us all along with her to be entertained, shocked and laughing. We explored the main museum, testing out some of the hard labour the prisoners were sentenced too, and reading about the full history of the prison. All in all well worth the money and the souvenir photos were great value for 2+.

N. D.

Amazing visit and perfect place for a visit on hot summer day! Guide Helena was excellent and after guided tour you are free to spend as long as you want looking back in cells and at exhibited items

M. M.

An excellent tour with history from over 1000 years. The enthusiasm of the tour guides make it very interesting as does the trip up the 106 steps up to the top of the tower.

S. Y.

Have to buy tickets to get in and it’s totally worth it! Our guide Jordan(?) explained to us the history and some fun stories of the prison, which I’ll never get if just by myself, the guides are also dressed in what the guards used to dress. You can only check the outside of the castle if don’t pay admission. Admission was £18 I believe, and you get a 45-60 min tour.

M. T.

Excellent guided tour. Our guide Natalya was magnificent and very well prepared. Told us fascinating stories and made the whole experience very memorable

M. S.

Thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the castle and prison. The tour was reasonably priced and the tour was interesting. Stephen, our tour guide, was amazing and very knowledgeable. Any questions that you had, he was happy to answer. Our group only had 6 people so I personally found this better as it wasn’t cramped in some of the rooms. I also liked that you were free to explore at your own pace after the tour finished. Overall, it was a great tour and I would recommend if visiting Oxford!

J. H.

Had a wonderful guide today (Natalia) who was very knowledgeable and passionate. Great tour of a very historic place in Oxford. Highly recommend

J. E.

The tour guide Katie was trying really hard on such a hot day to encourage tour participation. Some was achieved! The tour was informative and showed how castle changed to a prison.

K. A.

The tour guide made this visit and I'm embarrassed not to remember his name to give credit. He was extremely enthusiastic and could answer almost every question. It is a steep and awkward climb to the top of the tower but rewarded with stunning views. Interesting history and free entry to the mound included. Ticket staff got our booking time wrong twice but again, the main guide soon sorted that for us too. Quite pricey for what it is but enjoyable

J. B.

Good experience. Tour was fun and informative. The tower is the oldest standing secular building in england.

R. K. S.

Place worth visiting. It has a historical importance. It is advised to take a guided tour , which is around one hour and one cann spend valuable time in the museum too. Unfortunately , I could not see it completely due to paucity of time. Would catch up during my next visit and lost an update. The visit is helpful in knowong the history of the nation.

O. O.

Very interesting facts about Oxford Catle and pridon and city it self, and its dark side history. Shame not all the parts of tour is accessible to everyone as the climing up the stairs to the tower is hard, stairs not for older people or for claustrophobic ones. Otherwise the gude was very good. Maybe its a script,but he had good jokes and was giving good info to us and that we are able to explore even after tour and we did.

K. P.

Fantastic experience Noe our guide was full of knowledge,energy and humour. 25% off with English Heritage membership Great piece of history

A. B.

What a great day had a tour as well got in earlier tour which was an advantage tour guide was brilliant advis and plenty of knowledge and advise we could go in the other areas to have more time well worth a visit

L. L.

Was a fantastic tour and the guide, Katie, did a wonderful job when explaining the history! Would definitely recommend a visit here

L. C.

Loved this place! Cost £15 for a very informative and interesting hour tour, of which the guide was very friendly and answered all questions the group asked him. Highly recommended 😁

L. M.

My husband and I had an excellent trip to Oxford castle. It was fascinating and fun, and Jess was an informative and entertaining guide. Very memorable, and great views from the top of the tower!

P.

Price is a bit high but the tour's fun especially if you have a nice guide. The lady who gave us a tour was called Jess and she has some pretty grisly and spooky stories of the place explaining it's history in store for you.

N. M.

Interesting guided tour. Took about an hour. You can wander freely afterwards. Our guide ‘Helena’ was great! Parking in Oxford is never easy so we booked the earliest slot at 10am and managed to park at a nearby car park.

L. H.

A really interesting tour, lead by John, documenting the history of the tower, castle and prison. They have to give a safety warning regarding the 101 steps up the tower and the steps vary in height and are steep, and the winding passage is narrow. However, please don't miss out if you can cope with the stairs as the stories and views at the top are definitely the highlight of the tour!

C. T.

50 minute guided tour with a chance explore afterwards. Our guide was funny and knowledgeable about the history. You can climb the stairs of the tower for an amazing view, learn about the prison and how it was run as one up until 1996. Part of it now has been converted into a hotel.

J. A.

Had a wonderful time and our guide Finn was lovely, diligent and articulate who made the tour and whole experience very enjoyable!

N.

Insightful tour of the castle and prison. Our guide was well versed in all the ins and outs of the place as well as the history. The motte is also a great climb and offers good views.

E. C.

It's was a fun time at the prison. It is a guided tour around the attraction. Katie are tour guide was very insightful and made the tour fun and interactive for the group.

U.

Little hill with nice view about the area. Not spectacular! 1 GBP per Person to get the code to open the gate.

K. r.

We booked a guided tour and we were not disappointed. The tour guide was fabulous and very knowledgeable ,it was well worth the drive from Bristol.

R. R.

Brilliant place. Tour was amazing and Jess our tour guild was very good. The padded cell. 😱😱😱

L. C.

Great tour - really appreciated the reduced number of people in the tour and our guide Natalia was very knowledgeable! For what we could see and the duration of the tour, I found the price a bit expensive (especially when compared to other locations).

A. X.

It’s historical and has some interesting stories! Guided tour is recommended! And definitely check out the hotel next to it, who used to be the prison cells!

M. M.

Beautiful and very charming.. it presents numerous possibilities to loose yourself in its history, architecture and charm.

C. S.

What a cool way of going back in time and doing “1000 years of time.” Our tour guide henry did a fabulous job narrating the ghastly treatment of prisoners and guiding us up the “dead man steps.” If you are coming to see Oxford this may be a good place to start before some of the museums.

S. M.

The castle itself is small, and very turistic. But we enjoyed our visit. Nice view from the top after climbing 100 steps! Our guide was Natalie and she made our visit very interesting and fun.

M.

Rebecca the tour guide was second to none. Friendly, welcoming, and a seemingly never-ending stamina for the number of stairs involved in her day! Despite surely having told the prisoner's stories hundreds of times, she still does so with passion and delight, that really brought the stories to life. All the reception / shop staff we met were lovely too, and went out of their way to be helpful. We would definitely recommend a visit here.

c. p.

Great guided tour by Helena Very interesting and informative. Would recommend. Be aware lots of stairs going up to tower then stairs going down to prison. But not rushed as I took time to go up. Guide was a great story teller bringing History to life with great enthusiasm and humour.

J. H.

We had Lydia as our tour guide and had tremendous fun touring the castle! Lots of cool history and folklore that gets explained very well. There are some interactive bits at the end, too. There are a lot of stairs which one needs to take one's time with, but I think it just adds to the experience. Great way to spend 1 to 1.5 hours. Thanks to Lydia for such a fun and educational experience!

M. D.

Excellent experience, well worth the fee, tour guide was informative and friendly.

J. N.

It's OK but a bit expensive for what there is to see. Guided tour was interesting.

V. K.

Awesome tour, would recommend. Runs every 20 minutes for 45 mins.

S. D.

A very enjoyable experience. Our guide was Fin she was very knowledgeable and made it fun. Definitely would visit again.

K. S.

Fantastic experience, my partner and I always enjoy castles and didn't particularly want to have a tour but it was the only way to see the castle and prison. It completely changed us, we loved the tour! And are going to be booking tours more often. We had Jordan as a tour guide and he was brilliant, very knowledgeable and a very good sense of humour. The prison and castle itself was bigger than I expected and it was brilliant to get an insight into the history. I also liked the having the tour and then they enabled you to wander around parts on your own after the tour. Definitely an enjoyable couple of hours out 😊

M. P.

Very cool visit. The guides are funny, witty and very helpful.

P. S.

It's a pretty cool place to visit. The two tour guides spoke fluently and were friendly. I wish the tour had been a little longer. I'm only giving 4 starts because to me, 15 pounds is too much money for a cultural visit. I took a 10 am tour and had a small group. I saw that later group which was a lot bigger.

H. K.

Fantastic experience, very nice place to visit.

j. m.

Well worth a visit. Our guide was Oliver and he was full of information and great fun. Really enjoyed the experience and found it interesting. Note. You'll get better value if you are doing this and the hop on hop off bus by buying the combo ticket.

E. W.

We took a tour around the castle and prison, thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the stories

S. Y.

Very nice view, literally just an excellent experience

S. S.

Really good experience, very interesting and well preserved history. Our tour guide Becca was fantastic, very knowledgeable and bubbly - she really added to our visit. There was lots of information, some interactive experiences and just a really nice spot. For £15 per adult it was well worth it.

L. K.

Great guide and going through this person was a much better experience than reading about it.

S. D.

Fantastic visit, really enjoyed the guided tour, great way to absorb the history, very informative. Well worth a visit.

O. S.

The place is great and unusual, good experience to take a look at old prisons. Thanks to the great tour guide Natalia from the 12th century, I hope she can read this review when she comes back from the past.

J. O.

We booked to visit the castle and prison tour as something a little different to what we would normally do as we normally like to stroll round places we visit at our own pace. We were greeted by our tour guide, Oliver, in the reception area and taken to begin our tour. It was clear straight away how good Oliver was at his job. He was very informative and knowledgeable and answered any questions that the group had for him. We really enjoyed the experience and will definitely be looking to book more guided experiences going forward. Definitely a place for the history buffs to check out! Be prepared for 106 (I think) narrow steps on a spiral stairway to get to the top of the tower!

S. B.

June 2022. A great tour, well worth the admission price. Our tour guide John was very informative, lots of information without being boring. He was cheerful, humorous and gave a great presentation. Do it, you know it makes sense.

L. J.

Mid Summer Nights Dream, a theatre , play by Wild Goose Theatre. Absolutely excellent, quality production of William Shakespeare play at its very best. You have to see it, excellent entertainment for the whole family. Absolutely brilliant actors and actresses. Great fun, magical, captivating and enchanting

O. W.

A really excellent tour from our guide Natalia. Lots of interesting things to learn and see, and plenty for the kids to participate in. She was friendly and informative and happy to answer any and all questions we may have had. Be warned, the tour is up a steep spiral staircase but the view at the top is well worth it, really recommend this tour.

W. L.

Had a really good visit, John our guide gave a great tour and brought the stories to life. You need to go here if visiting Oxford!

A. L.

Loads of history. Only had time to walk around but next time we visut, I'll definitely be going in. The new owners who have turned it into a hotel have done a really great and sympathetic job.

J. F.

A really great tour!! After wanting to go for ages! I have finally been and finally been to Oxford, I didn't book in advance but it weren't too late to book at last minute! Although I was scared of the narrow steps..I watched where I was going and I took my time! It was great and I would come back to do it again!! I didn't think I liked it at first but I did. Kesia did our tour and she was great! She did an awesome job. Loved it!

N. V.

We really enjoy the tour, Jess was really funny and professional at the same time😊I love the idea of the pictures and the end as prisoners, it really made my day! And you can turn it into a magnet or a key holder😁🔑😜. Really cool! Money well spent

C.

Becca was our tour guide, she was brilliant very enthusiastic and she made it a very interesting experience. We had our 2 children with us 7 and 9 and they had a great time. Would definitely come again and recommend family and friends to.

E. E.

Loved this place, the amount of castle left to explore is quite small but they do an amazing job of making it appealing and insightful. The amount of historical content is varied and exciting, the staff were incredible and knowledgeable, would highly reccomend visiting when visiting Oxford. Watch out for Ghosts though.....

G. K.

Very entertaining day out in Oxford. We found this to stay out of the forcast rain. Great guided tour and our guide Robert, was hilarious, knowledgeable and entertaining. Making an hour long tour, interesting is no easy feat, but he kept it going brilliantly. The views from the top were more gorgeous than my pictures could capture, and well worth the 101steps to get there!

K. L.

Really good visit to Oxford Castle and Prison! Excellent tour by John. He is very informative and brings the castle and prisons to life! Thanks for the tour John ! I would recommend this if in Oxford.

C. P.

Great visit to Oxford. Stayed at the Malmaison. Very central and convenient.

M. W.

The best experience I've ever had here. Totally fantastic place and history going back a thousand years with all the story's told by the guide,s . I was amazed by the place and found it so interesting. A place I will never forget.

E. S.

This is a very interesting place to learn about, making the tour worthwhile. Definitely recommend as part of a day trip. Thank you to Leanne for being an amazing guide!

A. R.

Spent a night here in one of the cells recently. Was a great experience.location of the hotel is ideal for exploring Oxford. Are in the restaurant which was fantastic.

D. D.

We went for an outdoors performance of Shakespeare play. Lots of fun.

A. C. P.

I never would have thougth there's so much history to that castle & prison! Noel, our tour guide, made our visit as interesting as funny with his charming narration of facts and stories about the place. Also, the staff is very helpful and nice, making definitely worth the visit to this historical place.

D. R.

Natalia was an incredible tour guide! I wasn't expecting the tour but I'm so glad I got to go on it. The tower and crypt were my favourite parts (esspecially because it was 27°C and the crypt was nice and cold). Honestly though, the Norman pillars were fascinating. Make sure you take photos in the dark corner, you might find a ghost in the background later. My single negative comment would be that I couldn't get a postcard of the castle itself! I would have loved to have one to send to my relatives but I had to settle for a generic Oxford postcard instead.

S. D.

A must visit. Our tour guide was the best and we enjoyed every second. The way the history is told is so entertaining. I was sad the tour ended.

M. M.

The castle itself doesn't really exist apart from a tower and an old Norman mound. The tour they offer is pretty cool and offers some insight into the history of the castle from the beginning up to recent history of it being a prison and now a tourist attraction. Od recommend visiting however of you're looking for just a castle walk around there isn't one. Picture taken on top of the tower.

A. O.

Really enjoyed. Finn was brilliant and bought the period to life. Very reasonabley priced. Not for those who don't like or struggle with steep staircases/heights but website clearly states this. There is a video to watch if you wished as an alternative to one steep area.

C. M.

An excellent guided tour led by Helena. Lots of narrow winding steps up to the top of the tower for great views of Oxford. Fascinating recent history.

d. a.

We visted on Friday 26.8.22. We enjoyed the highly informative guided tour. Becca was an excellent guide who portrayed the past with several interesting facts and legends. We would definitely recommend the tour to anyone visiting Oxford.

P. H.

John was a magnificent tour guide. The entire experience was a delight. Learned so much in the hour-long tour. And, no, we didn't see any ghosts! Highly recommend.

O. B.

Loved it! We had Alex as a tour guide, very professional and polite. He made the tour a fun and interesting experience. Thank you!

L. M.

Amazing hotel spot on lots history too

C.

Absolutely love the grounds here - full of history! Informative plaques that give you an idea of what used to happen years ago on these grounds. Tour is pricey but next time we visit we are definitely going to give it a go! A great place for all different kinds of groups - fun for the family (especially the gift shop). It’s worth checking out, even for a walk!

S. S.

It is very unique experience with valuable information form the guide

S. O.

If you’re visiting Oxford, definitely visit…

D. f.

Well worth the experience. Our your guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. A fascinating place with a macabre but interesting history

D. O.

Had a lovely time on our tour here, very interesting history and our tour guide certainly brought it all to life. Well worth a visit, but book your tickets in advance!

W. G.

A really nice experience we had a guided tour with a professional staff member who I forgot the name of but she where dressed in periods clothes and she had a lot to tell and knew her stuff we were lucky to be the only two on the tour but we had fun

C. U.

Really nice to see attractions like this open again. The guided tour was limited to 4 to 5 groups which I didn’t mind as it meant there was plenty of space to see and hear. The tour guide was really good, informative and a good story teller. The tour isn’t that long, which again wasn’t a bad thing as we had two young kids with us. Once the tour is over you’re then left to explore the exhibition at your own pace. Worth a visit if your in Oxford. Parts of it are over 1,000 years old and I was surprised that it only shut in 1996.

T. L.

A must visit if you are in Oxford. Very interesting guided tour worth every penny. Then walk round at your leisure. Worth the climb of 110 steps up the tower.

H. T.

Such a good tour really nice guide called natalia who was very knowledgeable and made it interesting, thoroughly enjoyed it and the exhibits were well displayed and interesting too

J. A.

A lot of interesting, gruseme, dark, and possibly supernatural history. I commend Rebecca for being a well informed guide on the history and crazy persistence on taking the long flight of stairs during each guided tour.

A. V.

Had a lovely walking tour of Oxford, our tour guide Bacca was fantastic explaining the history. Our tour guide for the castle was Katie and she was also amazing with her storytelling

L. H.

Such an interesting and historical experience! Anna and Jordan our tour guides were friendly and professional knowing absolutely everything about the history of this ancient structure. The mug shots were a nice and amusing touch, I even loved the gift shop and bought a bottle of mead lol :)

P. O.

A lovely experience, Natalia our guide was very knowledgeable, explaining everything about the castle which later became a prison .Would recommend anyone visiting Oxford to take time out to visit,well worth it.

v. f.

Brilliant tour of the castle and prison. Worth a visit if in Oxford . Our tour guide John was fantastic and made the whole experience ! 🙂

G. D. W.

For the most part, the tour was educational and interesting. You get a magnificent panoramic view over Oxford but be warned: the stairs were extremely steep, so watch out for that. The only let down was the final part, which fell a little flat. A half empty room with some dolls and some old text panels.

M. A.

Such a fun tour, Oliver our guide explained so much history in a witty way, worth doing if you're into gory stuff.

M. A.

Great visit. The guide was fantastic at bringing all to life. Well worth the time.

A. R.

Very fun tour, pricey but worth it! The guide tour is really informative. Please be aware that to get up the tower it is a steep climb of over 100 steps. The view from the top is amazing though.

R. P.

Very good guide, and stooped in historic knowledge. Extensive details which were very interesting. Brilliant.

J. R.

Very neat way to explore the history of Oxford castle. Robin was our guide and he was very expressive and made the tour very interesting and enjoyable! With your ticket you get access to the mound, prison, and castle. You also get 1£ off a coffee or drink at the cafe next door! Will definitely visit again. These photos are from the top of the castle view point and the top of the mound.

K. H.

Great fun, so much information and tour guide ( Oliver) was so much fun! Great day out folks, thank you! 😊

A.

-Great experience -Guided tour was awesome, Catherine was a lovely guide -Fun -So much history -Reasonably priced -Nice staff at gift shop

J. D.

was really good. the guide knew a lot and was very informal, then after the tour you get to spend time taking pictures as you wish

s. c.

Less of a castle than an old prison. The tour though is a must, the guy we had was awesome. He made the whole visit worth while. I would go again for the tour guide's humor but not for the castle. Update- Went again different guide but just as good, there was more accent on the historical side this time. I will still go again.

S. C.

Great to see and hear all the history. Tour guide Keeva was really good as well.

M. M.

This place can only be visited by guided tour which is actually very good and lasts 50 mins. Thanks Jordan (Guide), you were very informative. You're taken up St George's Tower, the Crypt and the Prison block where you're regaled with stories of the misdeeds of several inmates. At the end of the tour you are allowed to spend time in the museum rooms which provide you with further insights into the history of the Castle and life in the Prison. The notorious so called "Black Panther" was imprisoned here whilst awaiting trial.

B. B.

We took the Halloween tour of the castle at 8pm. It was very good but clearly restrained due to Covid restrictions. Would recommend for active people as there are a lot of steps up and down.

M. N.

Fantastic castle /prison guided tours at the moment due to the covid outbreak so you need to book in advance as this will prevent dissapointment. The tour guides are very informative and helps you get a true feel for the prison and how the people suffered during there time there. The castle tower is 170ish steps and is a bit of a climb however it is worth the effort as the view over Oxford is splendid on a clear day. There is a well stocked gift shop selling all the normal gifts and the toilets are open which is a bonus. Wear sensible shoes and you will be fine 10/10 well done Oxford castle and prison. Would love to go ghost hunting there.

C. D.

The castle is average but the tour guide lady is the true gem as she brought the history alive and you are the witness in the dramma back to hundreds years ago. The guide with Oxford university standard, with passion, with imaginations, with the beautiful narrative skill, she is the 5 stars of all. Most impressive girl!

J. T.

Splendid visit, wonderful castle & prison, perfect for a hot summer day. Katie was an excellent guide!

C. a. C.

We visited on a moderate winter’s day and had fun exploring the castle and prison with an excellent guide. There was something interesting for everyone. The entrance is tucked around near the large mound, so look for that to find the entrance! After the guided part of the tour you can read through and explore the exhibits in the upper section at your own pace. On the way out you can have another peek in the crypt... if you are game! A great place for kids as they get to hear some fascinating stories (including about kids who were in the prison) and do lots of climbing and looking around on the tour. The gift shop also has a booklet which was useful to read through with our child later to review and discuss what we had experienced.

Y. A.

Great historical place

F. B.

It's a good place to visit for its history, depends on your tour guide. Mine was a young man talented like an actor, he create a good atmosphere. Not really impressed for what I have seen and the worth of money paid.

L.

Great experience. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and engaging, an asset for the castle. He made it all much more interesting and exciting. The views from the top were breathtaking! There is a cafe on the grounds as well. The food was decent and inexpensive. The staff at the cafe not very attentive though. They were pretty loud, joking around, while we awkwardly waited to be served.

D. P.

Great experience overall. We thought it will be bigger though. The queen was a great host and made this a unique experience. Not suitable for under 5yo for sure.

N. W.

Such a great tour had by all with Keeva as our guide, highly recommended.

M. L.

A must-see in Oxford! The costumed tour guide was very interesting, telling us all those creepy stories in history as if we were all experiencing history again. Make sure to linger in Mary Blandy's cell for a few minutes and feel the energy of the murderer!

C. S.

Fantastic tour given by a lovely tour guide whose name I wish I could remember. I highly recommend others check this out while they're in Oxford.

R. E.

Good place to visit. You could take a nice view on the top of the hill and the tower. The guides have good knowledge of the history of the place and lots of information. But the facts are almost exclusively about the period in which the castle functioned as a prison.

S. M. I. H. S.

Awesome historic place to be witness. History of 1000 years. Great view of the place. Presence on the place took me to my Imagination of 1000 years ago.

L. M. A.

Really good tour and enjoyed our climb of 'The Mount' at twilight where we were treated to the beautiful Oxford skyline at dusk. Staff were very friendly and informative. Gift shop on site with souvenirs.

T. C.

The Oxford city around the University can be viewed from the top of the mound and the St. George's tower. The staff was really friendly. The tour guides were very enthusiastic and the exhibitions were very informative.

S. P.

Beautiful spot. View from the top of the mound was beautiful. It was a warm summer day. Lots of tourists. You have to pay a small amount to gain access to the gate that lets you up the hill. Worth visiting.

A. D.

Good tour of the castle and prison. Everyone required to wear a masks throughout. There are 100 steep steps to get to the top of St George's tower, some steps were a little tricky. Don't forget you also have to go back down them too!

b. c.

A truly amazing place to visit, with lots of interesting stories too! Also I would just like to say that Jordan was the best tour guide we could have wished for! 😀😆

J. B.

The tour guide (I think she was German) was excellent and made the whole visit very pleasant and enjoyable. A very interesting experience and a great insight to 19th Century Prison life.

C. B.

Enjoyed our visit, we had a very good tour guide who bought the place to life with stories of the people and events throughout the life of the castle. Great view from the tower which is accessed via a narrow winding staircase with approximately 100 steps. Gift shop with good variety of goods, clean toilets on site.

T. W.

A truly magical tour of the castle and the adjacent prison, full of history. Our deligjtful tour guide, Becca, gave an interesting talk on all facets of its history and answer questions. Need to be fairly fit to climb up and down steps, duck lintels, etc. Well worth the hour to visit.

T. A.

Good, but we would have preferred to look around on our own, without a guide.

N. P.

This is an amazing trip through the Saxon, medieval and Victorian times leading right up to 1994 when the prison was closed for good. You pay for an hour's tour, which is worth it on its own, but are then free to wander round at your own leisure. There is so much information. We thoroughly enjoyed it.

l. d.

Very medival Castle with prisons and dungeons. It is the tour guides stories and interesting narration that makes this place come alive. A hotel is adjoining to the prison. Shopping is nearby once u get released from prison. :0

D. P.

Well worth a visit. Not much of the castle left but the tower was good (if rather steep so beware). Prison interesting. My only small gripe was the guide, all very nice but she was obviously following a script - and it showed. Still overall a pleasant hour or two.

b.

Great guides make it interesting. Katy is awesome btw. If not the mentioned guides (included in your entry ticket), it would be much overpriced. Great panorama/view from the top of the tower is an additional bonus. If money focused- museums in other parts of Oxford are free and much more informative and interesting.

J. S.

Our Tour Guide Natalia made the experience so worth it.. The way she tells the stories and history of the Prison Place makes you feel the horror or sufferings of the prisoners, and the chaos of the monarch.. it was a short and quick tour of the castle as I expected, maybe because it was cold, but the stories of Natalia made our minds busy.. Yeah, my husband prepared us a costume which was surprisingly perfect with Natalia..

E. M.

We had a wonderful time on the tour! Our guide Natalia did a great job. It’s a really interesting site and a great view from the top of the tower!

R.

We only went up the mound (£1 per person) because you can't see the castle without taking a guided tour. It's not a fantastic view, but it's quite pleasant.

M. K.

We purchased the castle and prison tour which took 90mins with many steps both up and down and we were guided by Jordan who was excellent. Had a chat with Bernard the brewer and this experience is highly recommended Our guide new his stuff.

B. B.

We went a tour, was very good, informative. The lady was very kind, high recommended.

m. p.

Brilliant interesting tour and great place to visit.

K. H.

Amazing views of Oxford from a top of historic prison, with soo much information of the place and the tour guide Jordan was really good

A.

A different place to visit in Oxford and worth the price you pay. The tour gide was very nice throughout the visit and we definitely enjoyed finding out all about the history of the prison. It also offers a fantastic view of the city so be ready to climb a lot of stairs! 😜

C. S. -. C.

Magnificent history! Excellent tour guide and an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend seeing.

D. B.

Interesting and historic former Castle and Jail brought vividly to life by our guide Alistair for an hour with some great quips and interaction ...Well worth a visit if you're in the city of dreaming Spires

g. m.

A really interesting place. Well organized tour. And if your tour guide is Rebecca she will make your visiting experience even better.

M. T.

Nice historic place. Well looked after. Was a little late to go through the attraction but will certainly be doing so at some point.

N. R.

Did the castle guide tour, enjoyed the history lesson, and the view at the top of the tower was worth seeing

M. S.

Didn't see any ghosts but was fun and informative nonetheless:)

M. H.

John was a wonderful guide to the castle's history, and while there were a few too many stairs for my liking, it was still an enjoyable experience. I would not recommend this unless you are comfortable with climbing a lot of stairs and enclosed spaces.

K. H.

Be prepared to climb lots of stairs... Fun photo opportunity at the end with option to buy. Would recommend the tour guide.

M. C.

Very interesting if you like history, and a bit disturbing given how prisoners were treated hundreds of years ago. The 1 hour guided tour costs £12.95 (as of Feb 2020) which includes the tower, the views of Oxford are good, prison cells, the haunted cript and you also get access to the mound etc. There are cells and artifacts and boards about the prisons history. The tour guide we had was knowledgeable and funny. (If you need science lessons please Google search "Barclayfox tes" and the subject you want). Apparently part of the prison is the oldest none religious building in England. So, if you like history and want an interesting view over Oxford this might be for you !

P. M.

Really fun informative tour. On a good day great views from the tower.

S. M.

Very interesting and the tour guide Helena made the experience fun.

I. W.

Originally the castle, then a Crown Court and prison before becoming a good place for visitors with many attractions. Charles I stayed here during the English Civil War before being handed over to the forces of Oliver Cromwell and the Parliamentarians. The prison was home to many infamous inmates and is now a hotel. There are guided tours, great places to eat, a fabulous view from the tower or from the Norman Motte, and some really good places for refreshment. A must for all visitors!

A. B.

The tour guide was very friendly and explained everything with a pinch of humour. He kept the tour interesting with facts as well.

l. S.

Entrance fee for adult £14.45, children under 5 years is free. The size of the castle is not big.

V. K.

Learned a lot on incarceration in medieval Britain, had a wonderful time. The tour guide Natalia told the stories with such flair which was fun.

C. S.

This tour was especially good thanks to Jordan the guide. It's not the place to have been locked up though.

R. M.

Our tour guide, Esther, gave a fantastic tour of the castle and prison. The stories were very interesting and I enjoyed learning about everything dating back 1000 years. Would definitely recommend taking a tour of this place, it’s a memorable one for sure.

D. D.

My husband and I really enjoyed the tour we were the only ones and the guide was amazing great stories well worth a visit

S. I.

Its was not that big. Just a tower and a prison. But the tour guide shares some interesting stories and tries his best ko keep us entertained.

T. Z.

A very interesting place full of history! The guided tour is a must! Our guide was fantastic, I got to play Rowland Jenkins for a bit and the tour was very engaging! If you are going to Oxford, do not miss Oxford Castle!

h.

We didn't see inside the castle. Because tour fees for visiting the castle were expensive.

C. A.

Had a great guided tour lots of information.

K. S.

Nice place to visit with family and friends...it takes you back to incredible journey during medieval period...a must visit to people who love exploring old castles and ancient history.

W. J.

Missed the final tour of the castle and prison but intend going back soon, great to just walk around and see the gardens and prison

j. s.

Very informative tour. Rebecca made it engaging and funny. I'm not into history but she made it one of the best tours I have been on highly recommend

J. L.

It served as a castle and remained as a prison until 1996. It is not very big place but it offers a grimple of the early prison life and the tough sentences for the criminals. A person who stole a load of bread could be sentenced to 21 days in prison as a deterrent, for example. Anyone who want to tour the castle and prison must follow the guide that the museum provide, and it will last between 50 mins and 1 hour.

N. K.

A great place to visit. We had a great guide, which made the tour this much better. Even though history of the castle is pretty grim.

A. Z.

Informative and good value for money. Our guide wasn't "in character" like we thought he was going to be but this didn't detract from the experience and he knew his stuff. Length of the tour was just right, and at no point felt rushed.

B. S.

Beautiful castle ruins and prison with some very interesting history dating back more than a 1000 years old . Well worth a visit though.

D. B.

Amazing place, the history was well brought out and the atmosphere preserved.

F. P.

Probably the most fun and informative visit to any castle I've ever had . Alex our tour guide made the whole experience far more entertaining than usual stuffy tour guides who just give the facts and that's it alex wanted to make the whole experience feel more real and alive and succeeded incredibly well if there were a possibility of eating individuals then he would get a straight 10 stars

p. f.

Great organised tour of castle and old prison. Pre book to avoid disappointment

A. K.

Definitely worth taking the tour. It tells the old history of the place and makes it appreciate it even more

C. S.

Fair experience compared to the price, but tour giude was friendly and nice with excellent explanations in all detail and history of the castle.

r. r. r. s. t. (. s.

Very informative, entertaining tour. great fun. Guides knew their stuff.

C. W.

Very good and interesting and informative tour of this place by Alastair who added to the experience no end. Great views of the city from the top of the castle.

E. C.

I didn't get to look inside as I went at night, but the castle is quite striking medieval architecture.

A. M.

A Great experience whilst visiting Oxford. We chose the Unlocked Tour where a guide dressed in period clothes entertainingly takes you around areas of the castle and provides historical context and stories. We did have an under 5 year old with us so not all could go up the tower (health and safety gone mad?) But an enjoyable 1 hour experience and reasonably priced. Free Pumpkin carving and access to the adjacent mound a bonus.

s. d.

A great and peaceful place! I loved to be there. We are spending quality time behind the walls.

J. R.

Beautiful castle and great history behind it. My wife and I paid for the tour and we were disappointed at all. Loved hearing the history of the jail, along with the battles that took place there.

D. h.

Tours book up quick, we arrived around half 11 and next available tour was 3pm but code provided so you could still go around mound whilst waiting, we went elsewhere and came back. Tour informative but area covered is quite short as most of the area is now taken up with the Malmaison Hotel. Tour consists of St Georges Tower (101 steps), crypt from the old (now demolished) Chapel and a few cells from old prison. Details of treatment of prisoners and some examples of prisoners held at prison discussed by tour guides, following tour you have chance to explore some of the areas passed through at your own leisure, prices quite high compared with similar venues.

S. D.

As Oxford's oldest 'building', this is naturally a must visit place. Our tour guide was amazing. This was the first time I took a guide and it was certainly right decision. She told us lots of interesting stories. View was top of the city was simply beautiful.

T. H.

Was a bit disappointing as I paid more than £10 for a tour but didn't really know what I was going to see and in fact the castle wasn't really a castle...just a tower and some underground tombs and prison. Not sure if it was worth the money.

S. P.

We attended a ghost hunt and we had a lot of unexplained incidents Had a great evening

P. T.

Great experience, fantastic tour guide very informative, staff at front of house also very knowledgeable and very polite and fantastic with children. Very patient with our child who has autism. Highly recommend a visit.

C. M.

Our tour guide was incredible, and made this tour the highlight of our weekend visit!

J. W.

Very good tour. Worth the price

A. B.

So much gruesome history here, its a must see if you're in Oxford. Our tour guide Kesia was amazing - thanks.

S. F.

We had a great tour, hosted by Rob "The Prisoner" and heard lots of interesting stories about the castle and prison. Thoroughly recommended.

T. B. &. T. B. P.

We loved our experience, especially our tour guide Jordan ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

J. T.

Very interesting building and tour. I recommend the prison tour as it was informative and entertaining.

W.

Got a tour around Oxford. Really worth to pay a bit extra few pounds to visit inside the college. Even better if you were to have a friend who study in Oxford uni. In that case, you could enter for free !. Each dinner room, cathedeal and the garden around each college among all 38 in oxford has its own little secret and long lasting background. It only takes me about a day to visit most important place around Oxford city center. Oxford castle aollowed me to see the bird eyes view of the whole town which make it is much easier to visualise the whole layout of the city.

P. K.

Interesting mystery place for one-time visit. A lot of interesting informations, althought only disadvantage is that the tour MUST be with guide, which makes it unnecessary longer and more expensive.

G. H.

The tourguide alone made it worth the visit. The tower itself was only resently closed as a prison. Wondering around the tower and cells is a funny experience you get to see which people been locked up there, ages and crimes they commited.

V. B.

Nothing much to look at but the story told by guide and the way it was told is very entertaining. I enjoyed the tour.

N. A.

Excellent guided tour by Lea, great for adults and children, informative and interactive. Highly recommend

D. J.

If you see from outside there is not much to see, and i didn't go in, but as per other reviews, people totally enjoyed the tours provided.

S. F.

Great tour guide, interesting story, beautiful views from the top! But lot of narrow stairs...

R. B.

Fun, educational, with tour guides in period costumes. Good storytellers!

R. K.

Very interesting live stories maybe not the best and lucky but it's good to know a little bit more about UK hostory

J. R.

Impressive! "Prisoner Smith" gave the tour, he knew many details about how horrible life was at the prison. Very interesting. The castle itself dates from different times, and clearly shows its different stages. I spent around an hour and a half there.

K. B.

Really enjoyed the visit took the tour with my mother today who is hard of hearing and Lydia our tour guide was really considerate switched her face mask to a visor so she was better understood. Excellent knowledge given throughout the tour.

N. W.

This was a great place to visit, the tour was great, very interesting and informative. Our tour guide katie was very interesting and informative. Katie was very captivating. Staff were helpful and friendly. The visit was very enjoyable.

M. K.

Did the tour and loved it, staff were child friendly and organised. Very informative with fun bits to break up the information. Fairly priced and extremely interesting, makes for a good day out for family and friends

R. H.

Amazing experience, amazing tour guide and amazing history. Definitely worth it if you’re in oxford!

E. G.

We really enjoyed out tour at the Oxford Castle &Prison. Kate was well prepared and a great host...looking after us. We raccomand to visit the Prison very informative Thank you

N. G.

Our tour guide Rebecca was brilliant! Well worth a visit, the contrast of old and new is beautiful! Last minute decision to visit and I'm so glad we did. The views from the top are breath taking- and not just because of the stairs! Questioning all Ive learnt about our history- how have we never heard of Matilda??

T. H.

Really lovely tour by Oliver! He had mountains of knowledge in his head!

E. S.

Me and my friend had a great time awesome tour. I love the prison photos highly recommended for that reason alone and the view from the top of the castle is amazing you can see the whole of Oxford

R. M.

Lovely area, clean and well preserved. Nice range of eateries close by and £1 to climb the hill..

a. t.

Quite expensive but very nice tour, the lady who took us through the castle and its stories - Helena - made a great job keeping everyone interested and entertained.

j. r.

Great tour guide and fascinating storys will come again!

I. S.

I absolutely enjoyed our guided tour let by John. It was very informative and fun. 10 out of 10, would climb the 100+ stair tower again.

G. H.

Great little place worth a visit are guided tour was great I unfortunately have forgotten his name .

K. L.

Fascinating history, brought to life by our lovely guide Lydia.

F. L.

Excellent tour guide, knew lots of information and facts about the castle.

I. P.

The climb up the tower is well worth it. Views are great. Then down below in the cellar there is mischief a foot with the ghosts. Back up to the middle level there is a small museum well worth a peak. Out side you then climb the mount and take in the great views. A very enjoyable 2/3 hours.

J. W.

Entertaining guide, some interesting history, friendly reception staff.

L. M.

Good insight into the history of Oxford and the area. The stories told with lots of lovely humour and attention to the detail. Great fun for the fans of Horrible Histories :)

L. S.

A great tour covering a lot more than just the history of the castle. The insights into English culture and society through the centuries was quite fascinating, the casual brutality of ages gone by was eye opening too. I highly recommend that you don't just stop for photos outside and that you take the opportunity to experience the tour. We particularly enjoyed the commentary and humour of our guide, Fergus.

L. W.

Fantastic sightseeing on the top, interesting exhibitions and the ticket worths.

R. S.

Historical place. With a great view after an awesome guide tour.

C. A.

Great! A fabulous tour and guide, thanks Becca.

B. B.

The excibit was great, but the tour was amazing, our guide was Emily, it was clear throughout that she was extremely passionate about this topic. Her performance elevated the experience to another level, I highly recommend the tour!

D. G.

Love visiting here. Excellent guided tour with a bit of humour (Robin) Always made to feel welcome and the history and how it’s told does justice to the place as a historical site and the people who have suffered here. So much history in this town. And this is an important part of it. Great work by the Oxford preservation trust and many others

S. S.

An experience which will have a lasting effect on anyone, old and young. Take the park and ride and it's just a walk down the road from the centre of Oxford.

S. T.

Thanks to our guide Sarah! We really enjoyed our time there. She is giving us peaces of history with a lot of fun!

J. A.

Had a great time at Oxford Castle. The guide was informative and really fun. Great Interactions and fantastic afternoon. Highly Recommend - a worth while visit when in Oxford. Jean

M. M.

Appreciated the live tour guide Becca (a rarity these days) as she was good storyteller and did a good job keeping the kids engaged on the tour. The big drawback was the age limit to climb the tower. We've brought our kids to plenty of similarly challenging staircases (Newcastle Castle, Tower of London, Dover Castle and more), and they've been fine. The attraction should let parents decide if their kids can handle it.

M. V.

Our guide Natalia made it a real great experience!

F. P. B.

I liked very much the idea of the theatrical guiding, it captures more the attention and is more enjoyable for children as well. Robin was a great guide. We even had pictures as "prisoners" however I have no idea where these pictures could be found. I hoped to see more though, but remains are remains.

J. S.

St. George's Tower and the crypt alone are worth the price of admission. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly.

H. G.

I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised with our stay. The staff were very helpful and the room was a good size, although the bed was quite small. Breakfast was well stocked, with lots of choice and all very fresh. Great place to stay for a break in your journey and excellent value for money.

W. V. O.

Fascinating place to visit. Guided tour took about 1 hour and well worth it. Our tour guide John was great.

R. P.

Nice experience, but the presentation and stories are better than the actual castle (historical remains)

S. D.

Interesting facts tour. Stairs to the views are steep and lots of them if you not so good on your legs! Overall enjoyed

S. P.

Nice location to watch Midsummer Night's Dream on a sunny, warm evening 🎭

E. O. R.

Book your entrance in advance, beautiful castle, great views from the mound.

A. C. C.

It was nice to visit, and the guide was very entertaining.

M. T.

Interesting place, guides are funny and tell stories the way people want to listen. Sure point of anyone's visiting Oxford.

A. C.

Though tickets are on the higher side (there's a small discounts on the ticket for students), I liked the tour of Oxford castle and prison. We had a very good and knowledgeable guide who really told us amazing facts about the place along with its history.

A. K.

A great place with an amazing history! The man made hill beside the castle provides breathtaking views too!

R.

We did the tour and wow! It was very thrilling they could tell one heck of a story!

E. S. M.

Wonderful history telling

D. C. (.

A fun day out. The guides know thier stuff & make the tour fun. Nice gift shop with some unique items

N. G.

Great experience, wonderful tour guide who was extremely knowledgeable and interesting to listen to!

B. L. (.

The castle itself is stunning. Those stories are so interesting. Thanks to our prisoner tour guide~ Highly recommended!

X. E.

It has some canals near by and there is plenty to see. There is a hotel in the place and lots of options for eating out.

E. C.

Natalie was a super tour guide! All the staff there are super nice and very welcoming

D. P.

Good for family trip. Prices are not the cheapest but still affordable. But there is a lot of castle in the UK, this is not the best to visit. A lot of pubs and restaurants around the castle.

P. R.

It's old and historic, but there's not really much to see. The tour starts in the base of the tower, then proceeds up a narrow stairwell to a mid holding room, and finally the roof of the tower which is open, and has a viewing platform. The views are okay, but nothing special. WARNING, the total climb is over 100 steps! Next, back down to the lowest floor, where there is a small catacomb (haunted, naturally). From there, you are invited to view some of the cells used during the various times the castle was used as a prison. Finally, there is an exhibition on the way out with a timeline of events and facts related to the site. Highlight of visit was the tour guide, who was in costume, and did a brilliant job relating the history and stories generated over the centuries. So, it's worth a visit, it's overpriced ( compared to the Colloseum, Rome), and the climb makes a good workout. Enjoy.

R. V.

Brilliant place well presented by guides in costume. Fascinating history well told.

J. O.

Very interesting museum about the remaining part of the Oxford castle. Serving as a prison for many hundreds of years it has lots of stories to tell about the grim and cruel treatment of prisoners. Make sure you get Molly as a guide, she's very passionate about the stories she tells.

I. S.

Amazing tour, guide was called Fergus if I remember well and was exceptional. Definitely recommend as it was fun and informative. I enjoyed having my prison shots taken as well 😂

T. C.

V interesting place to visit. 14.95 well worth the money with tour guide. Last about an hour then free to look around by yourself. Our guide Rebecca was excellent, made it real fun.

d. d.

Been there on 8 February 2020, tour by Becca. She was great, knew a lot and was funny as well. I loved all of it!

A. A.

The tour was amazing, especially the tour giver named molly, she was funny, interesting and managed not to bore us for 50 minutes, would visit again, also climbing the tour really puts what the situation was like back in the old times

H. R.

John who led our tour was amazing ! We can such a good day, very informative and definitely a recommended thing to do whilst in Oxford !

M.

This is really a great place to learn more about the history of Oxford and how cruel people were in the past. This castle provides a wonderful view as well. A must-see. Entrance fee is a bit high, though.

K. K.

Our tour guide Jess did a fantastic job leading us through the prison. She knew a greT balance of historical facts and spooky legends. It was the most fun I've had on one of these tours in a while!

A. C.

I really enjoyed the tour with Robbin today and I learnt many things that occurred during the time of the prison and castle. Thanks bed much for a great evening xxx

H. P.

A nice tour while listening to tradegic historical stories related to the place

E. S.

Great tour, really interesting, and Becca was the most fantastic tour guide, so knowledgable, engaging, funny, and a fantastic story teller. We had a great trip!

T. L.

The prison to was really nice. The tour guide was really interesting too

S. B.

Fascinating victorian prison. Great history and insight to what life would have been like. Padded cell used hy Donaled Neilson.

M. M.

Jess was a fantastic tour guide, it was nice to go back in time and experience the history. Highly recommended to able body people as there is a lot of stairs.

R. M.

There is a guide tour for £11.95 if you want to see inside the castle/prison.

S. W.

Oxfordshire is such a beautiful place to visit and the Castle was very interesting. Our guide was knowledgeable and interacted with the younger visitors in the group. Really enjoyed the day

V. S.

We had Henry as our guide on Thursday. Very funny and interesting visit 😊

D. A.

Visiting the Oxford Castle & Prison was certainly an experience to remember thanks to our tour guide Freya. We climbed St. George's Tower and enjoyed the stunning view of Oxford before descending into the "haunted" crypt, along the 18th century prison wing and archaic man-made mound. Definitely recommended!

s. t.

Today me and my partner visited Oxford and luckily while walking around we came across the Oxford castle prison. We went inside to see what's going on. The outside view was beautiful so we decided to take the tickets for the tour inside the castle. The tour was really enjoyable, the guide was so friendly and made us feel really comfortable. If you are passing from Oxford it's worth visiting this place!

P. O.

Interesting guides on site who took on the different possible roles of people who once stayed in the castle. Check out the Mound at the end of the tour! Recommended.

A. c.

Beautiful day in Oxford, passed through while doing a murder mystery hunt with friends. Sadly happened to pass through the castle when there was a gas boiler explosion in the basement quite a fiasco with the emergency services. Lucky not be involved

A. R.

Really interesting tour of Oxford castle and prison. So much history to learn about and see.

R. W.

A guided tour of the prison and only surviving part of the castle, also included a code to get you up the mound at the side of it. Lots to see and interesting stories about the area, small gift shop and cafe too.

S. c.

Great place! Very interesting. Worth a trip.

A. A.

Great place .very historic. Worth visiting

G.

The mound is rather high and there are good views across Oxford, if you go into the castle you will get that bit higher and there are better views from here, the steps may not be suitable for everyone, but the top is worth it, the guide was brilliant full if information, I think the entrance price is a bit much considering how much there is to see, but then this had to be maintained, the mould and the top of the castle are not accessible for wheelchair users.

E. T.

Easy to book a ticket online. You have to have a guide tour as park if your ticket but this was well worth it. Our tour guide John was informative and gave a really clear insight into the history of the castle and prison.

L.

Quite entertaining tour guides but overall there is not much to see for the price. I'd recommend visiting Oxford colleges instead.

T. G.

Such an interesting tour led by John. He described the history of the castle and prison. The stories were amazing as the view. Totally recommend it.

S. C.

Fantastic historical tour with lots of interesting facts.

J. C.

Would absolutely recommend a visit here! It was well worth climbing up the 110 steps to the top of the tower! You get amazing views over oxford. Rebecca our tour guide was amazing and told some wonderful stories about the castle and the prisoners who stayed there.

M. R.

A must see when visiting Oxford! Our tour guide Rebecca was great!

D. F.

Of most tours I've taken of historical location, ours was above the rest. Rebecca was second to none, ensuring the tour was constantly engaging and highly entertaining. Being this good takes more than a distinctly devoted interest in history.

C. C.

Nice historical place which was superbly redevloped, definitely worth a visit in Oxford, a visit is highly recommended esp. the nice restaurants

V. W.

Great place for spending a couple of hours. The place has a rich history and the guide told us some interesting facts about the dungeons. Do visit.

t.

Fergus was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and was really good with my 2 boys. The interaction was good and the overall experience was good. The only issue I would say I have was that my 3yr couldn't go up the tower. After going to other castle like Warwick which have more steps and just as high and dangerous yet they let any age go up. ( Food for thought maybe) Thank you

M. (.

Katie very good guide. Very interesting. Should tell people before you buy tickets about the steep steps, over hundred and very narrow

M. R. B.

Outstanding experience with our tour guide Rebecca. My partner and I went to Castle & Prison on the earliest slot in the morning and was fortunate to experience the tour with just the two of us. The tour was immersive and together with Becca’s fantastic story telling we were able to re-live different historical moments and connect with the prison’s habitants. The Castle has a tall tower which we climbed through a set of narrow stairs, from the top we got a great view of Oxford. Finally at the end of the tour we were allowed to explore alone and take pictures!

M. M.

Really enjoyed our tour. Peter was great. Really informative. Fantastic views across the city and a few gory stories of the prisoners throughout time (child friendly)

D. P.

Very fascinating experience, our tour guide Fergus (think that's how to spell it) was very useful. Full of all the facts and made it very interesting and enjoyable for all. Didn't see the ghost in the crypt when we went back down which was hugely disappointing but we'll be back again and hopefully they'll make an appearance for us.

J. D.

Great views from The Mound on Oxford Open Doors.

G. S.

Great and informative tour, fantastic panoramic view of Oxford

A. K.

Pleasant place with a mound to climb for some nice views of the neighbourhood..

D. B.

This was a great visit. The guided tour made the most of the facilities and really explained the castle and prison. An hour tour which covers the castle tower, crypt and prison. The prison gives a good insight into the development of prisons through the ages.

S. T.

The tour was informative but too long time. In the castle was not well ventilated.

J. M.

Had a good day out at the castle lots to see and explore

M. C.

Amazing to think the prison was still operational until 1996.

N. J. (.

Booked in a guided tour which we really enjoyed. The tour guide Rebecca was really friendly and engaging. I bought the prison mugshot package online and really like the photos we got (I did buy two packages for me and my partner thinking they'd be individual, they do partners and groups together so we only needed one, but they refunded me for the second one really easily so it wasn't an issue!) The tower gave a really good view of Oxford, though it was a steep climb and probably wouldn't be possible for anyone with any mobility issues. There was an option to stay on the ground floor to avoid the climb.

A. D.

It was very interesting. The guide was good so was the social distancing. Photos looking over oxford from the tower. 101 steps I believe.

U. R.

Overall enjoyable. Unfortunately due to the number of stairs, I was only able to go half way. I was told if I made my way back down, a film would be put on for my husband & I. This wasn't possible due to another tour starting where we were. The staff were knowledgeable & very friendly.

M. R.

Absolutely stunning. Natalia's tour was spectacular and so knowledgeable.

J. K.

Thanks Natalia for the lovely tour and your sparkling sense of humour!

m.

It's nice! Nothing fantastic, like the colleges of Oxford University, but definitely worth a walk around. It's a bit of a walk in a pleasant park!

L. N.

A really fun day out! Great tour guide.

A. S.

If you like history this is for you ,very interesting place ,if a bit pricey.

K.

Our visit today was fab our guide John really bought the story's to life I would never remember all the information he told us, the cript was pretty eerie but fascinating as we're the cell block, great place to kill a few hours and the gift shop was reasonably priced with friendly helpful staff and to top it off even had a penny press machine my actual addiction!

C. W.

Great place, a lot of history behind them walls

S. A.

Very nice experience. I payed around £12 as a student which is a bit pricey. The tour lasted about an hour and some areas were restricted due to covid which is understandable. Our tour guide (Alex) was really nice and quick to answer any questions I had (small or big). Would definitely check it out if you’re in town. Walking up the tower with is a bit of a workout, but the view is pretty good

S. C.

Really informative tour

R. A.

Jordan did a good job as our guide. The tour was very interesting. My family enjoyed it a lot. Would be better if they have discounted family ticket category.

M. A.

Fourth visit on the tour, well worth it as each visit is a different experience

T. A.

Awesome tour! Thanks Becca, you're the best!

G. 8.

It's ok

L. P.

Visited here with my girlfriend a few days ago and the tour was brilliant. The guide (Natalia I think her name is), was fantastic. Very informative and funny aswell. I'd definitely recommend going here while visiting Oxford!

L. G.

Very nice history beside the scenes

J. L.

Very informative guided tour of the tower and prison cells.

K. S.

We had a enjoyable guided tour.

M. S.

Enjoyable 90 minutes spent at Oxford Castle. Well organised tours, each overlapping seamlessly. Enthusiast guide that set the tone.

P. S.

Glad we went after many years living nearby, really fun start to an evening. Top tip: have a drink or two before so the stories come alive!

B. T.

Interesting guided tour around the prison. The covid precautions were amazing everything was wiped down and cleaned all the time. One thing they don't mention when you're buying the ticket is that there are 100 + steep spiral stairs to go up. You do get a break half way up. The guides wear very good. After the guided tour you were allowed some time to walk around and have a look on your own , just not backup the tower due to covid precautions. If you're in Oxford and fancy doing something a little bit different not a bad couple of hours.

J. S.

Interesting tour by Helena who was very entertaining and knowledgeable. The stairs are quite a challenge if you don't like heights or if getting on a bit...like us! Granddaughter loved it!

L. P.

Fantastic tour. A must visit if in Oxford

G. W.

Saw Much Ado About Nothing. What a venue and what a setup. Truly amazing evening

S. P.

Had a wonderful guided tour of the castle/prison. Very informative & the tour guide was brilliant! Learnt so much and would highly recommend

D. B.

Well this was an unexpected delight. The tour was wonderful and the guide was knowledgeable, funny and well worth the money. Look out for the ghosts in the crypt! 👻

S. H.

I'm biased as I love medieval castles. Cool vantage point if you climb the hill.

O. D.

Interesting site and visit. Tour guide was very good informative and witty.

M. W.

I love history, so only natural I think it's great....very informative too.

R. Q.

Really worth a visit. There is a bit of a climb up some stairs but there is the option to miss that bit. Really lovely informative guided tour

I. S.

Brilliant tour! Helena told us many things about the castle’s and Oxford’s history and she has a flair for storytelling! After the tour, you can go around the site at your leisure. And… you get to go to jail!!

D. R.

Staff were well knowledged and very enthusiastic. Care taken re covid at all times. Lots of history to learn about and the guided tour was well paced. Worth doing if you have an hour or two.

M. W.

Great tour. Worth the time. Molly was an awesome guide!

R. F.

We had and fantastic 1h tour with Alex wher we got many information about the Oxford Castle & prison .

S. G.

Great tour guide Jordan, energetic and well versed in the castle and prison. However, very pricey for what was there! Being generous as a four as the price really let it down.

D. B.

Wonderful place to visit in Oxford, old castle, prison, many interesting facts of history to know.

S. w.

A good place to visit. Maybe it would benefit from more plaques and information on the walls early in the tour, but a pleasant hour to spend getting to know Oxford better.

M. E.

It's ok but is a guided tour rather then allowing people to look round

H. H.

Tour was excellent very fun & educational even during covid procedures.

S. G.

Lovely experience where our guide Katie, made it even more interesting with her stories about the prisoners and the jail rooms

J. H.

Just visited, had an early 10am tour so it wasn't during the evening (which I imagine is much more atmospheric) but still extremely intriguing. Since its coming to their Christmas period, our lovely tour guide lead us through the castle & prison by lantern, all dressed in period clothing. Nice touch. Overall, the tour itself lasted about 45 minutes, which felt longer ofcourse. There was plenty to see and to read, and the museum section at the end kept me entertained until I left the tour. I'm especially pleased with the way the staff acted towards myself and the other guests on the tour; very pleasant, clear and informative. Everything was set out clear and clean to accommodate covid restrictions; sanitising stations dotted around and social distancing at all points of the tour. Really enjoyed learning a bit of history and I am definitely going to come back in future, hopefully when covid isn't so restrictive to the tourist business.

L. T. (.

Good experience with a knowledgeable tour guide. Make sure you are not claustrophobic before going though. Saw a few people complaining about tight spaces.

T. F. C. C. O. S.

Great place to visit very interesting history

B. G.

Friendly staff good food excellent service well worth a visit

F. C.

There's nothing much to see but full of history and the tour guides are all dressed up.

M. S.

Very interesting guided tour through history.

N. B.

Very interesting history with a fun guided tour!

L. J.

Haven’t got the chance to enter it, looks good and interesting from outside

B. B.

Sunday afternoon we were very lucky to get a personal tour hubby myself and Robin.(not many people about) A great character, knowledgeable and perfect for this tour. Fascinating history and an amazing view from the top of the tower. Good to see handrails etc being cleaned after each tour. Lovely coffee shop. Small souvenir shop with items we wanted to buy were display only. Well worth a visit though.

E. H.

Fantastic tour with a brilliant guide. Molly was amazing

L. W.

Great place to visit very informative would recommend the tour would also warn anyone you need to be fit to get up and down the towers, stairs and turrets as this takes alot of energy😁

L. H.

Well worth a visit and great value for money.

R. B.

Natalia was a great tour guide, she was very knowledgeable and funny. Well worth a visit when in Oxford. Great view from the top of the tower.

M. R.

Did a tour but mostly it's about the prison. Still interesting though, complete with dodgy character actors.

K. A. P.

Very enjoyable tour, we went as a family with our 7 year old daughter, we really enjoyed it!

I. S.

Happy cheerful guide with excellent information. Worth a visit

P. R.

very interesting tour. The young lady costumed guide was excellent. A good way to spend an hour in Oxford!

S. E.

Ghost night. Great fun with activity

R. D.

Very informative tour guide.

B. H.

What a great piece of History and our guide, Helena, was very knowledgeable and made the tour really interesting. We'll worth a visit.

O. U.

I very much liked the guided tour; our guide Robin managed to make it fun! It's my first museum visit in the time of social distancing and disinfection measures, and I think they are doing a great job!

F. G.

Beautiful view! Great tour!!

E. B.

The children (5 yrs) enjoyed going up the tower but otherwise not much of interest for them so I felt £8.50 was a bit much just for the tower. Spent most of the tour trying to keep them quiet so I missed most of it too which was a shame as the guide was good.

N. L.

I loved the castle and prison and our guide was entertaining and informed. Her name was Becky I think .

A. T.

An excellent tour. Rebecca the guide was brilliant. Clear, consise, very funny. The tour was very very good. From the top of the tower to the depths of the crypt. It is a must when you visit Oxford

C. D.

Really enjoyed this, not one for guided tours normally but the guide Helena really brought the history to life, entertaining and interesting. Worth a visit.

W. B.

Looks great from the outside. Maybe I will go inside next time

M. P. T.

Great tours in authentic costume. Very interesting

E.

We took a guided tour, and I highly recommend it. The guide was great, the tour was informative and we had a good time. Good to know: there is a stair of 101 steps that you need to climb as a part of the tour, but you can choose to skip it.

d. c.

Great visit - Becca very knowledgeable and engaging...

P. A.

Really interesting. It's such a shame that, way back when, they decided to demolish the majority of the castle, for political reasons, but what's left is still a great experience. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the castle/prison, but also about English history

C. B.

Very well organized and the guides were very helpful and friendly; disadvantage if you have a kid that is under 5, they won't let the child climb the tower stairs (that was what our 3 year old wanted to do especially). Very interesting stories and amazing history!

a. m.

Really good tour and the history is amazing. Probably need half a day here. Good views from the tower.

H. M.

Excellent day out here. The tour guide was very informative and all in our party enjoyed it, even my 6 year old son. I would recommend the tour as opposed to going around yourself

A. H.

What an amazing place! Our guide was so pleasant and told us some very interesting facts ! the girls from the ticket office were so friendly and helpful, especially when my daughter lost her little purse. They went out of their way to help us find it.

D. G.

An amazing tour! Great value.

J. r.

The tour was great, very informative and entertaining. The views from the Tower are fantastic. Our guide Emily was very enthusiastic with some great humour along the way too.

M. S.

Nice guided tour with some interesting facts about the castle/prison (thanks to Jordan, I think this is the correct name). A good place to visit in Oxford.However, still find it a bit expensive for what it is.

S. G.

I still haven't done the whole visit... interesting that coin metal mechanical fortune press... worth a second one... maybe, with more stamps designs? Sewell or Dungeons?

G. W.

Very interesting, informative, interesting guide.

M. P.

The tour was nice. Our guide was a young man who's studying in one of the universities around Oxford. His telling of the castle's history was light and lively though the castle was anything but. And the tower steps was quite a climb but once you reach the top, the view was fantastic. Got our picture taken for the crimes we did ;) if we had lived back a century or three, it wouldn't have been this entertaining. Awesomely good experience!

K.

Worthy he time to at least stop and enjoy the sites.

S. D.

The tour is about 20 minutes. It is interesting. Just a shame its very small.

K. B.

With the Ashmolean right beside it and a city full of ancient colleges and rich culture, the Oxford Castle really didn't seem like a smart investment when we booked a tour there. However, the excellent tour guide and the well planned tour itself (including interesting reading material at almost every stage!) made this quite worthwhile, in my opinion. Much more fun with kids in tow, and a fun bit of culture and history for any tourist in Oxford. Don't pay for the photos though, that's daylight robbery for a printout. I really wish this pay for printout trend would die, everyone would win if I could just get a digital copy to share on Twitter or Instagram, I'd be more than happy to pay a bit and give them a shout out on social media for that...

I. M.

Excellent. Guided tour is really fun. Admission is not bad £36 for a family of four. Just over two and half hours spent here. £1 to walk up the mound. If you didn't get a tour ticket. Views of the whole city and beyond. Would recommend.

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