Oxford Castle & Prison Guided Tour

Discover 1,000 years of Oxford's history on our classic guided tour. Save 10% when pre-booking.

Discover a historic prison, hidden in the heart of Oxford…

For over a thousand years, Oxford Castle & Prison has stood watch over the city of Oxford.

Join our costumed tour guide on a journey through 1,000 years of Oxford’s history; from Viking raids and the Norman conquest to the Castle’s role in Georgian and Victorian era justice.

Uncover the origins of education in the city, and experience the stories of the Castle’s most infamous residents.

Highlights of our Guided Tour

• Climb the 101 steps of St. George’s Tower and enjoy panoramic views of Oxford.
• Descend into the candle-lit crypt and learn about the Castle’s connection with the legend of King Arthur.
• Explore 18th Century prison cells, home to poisoners, miscreants and desperate criminals.
• Follow the story of the Castle & Prison right up to its closure in 1996.
• Browse through our carefully curated collection of gifts and treats in our gift shop.

From daring escapes to deadly curses, step inside and do 1,000 years of time. Oxford starts here!

How to find us

Nestled in Oxford’s Castle Quarter, Oxford Castle & Prison is a short walk from Oxford Station.

View map

Important Information

The experience lasts around 1-1.5 hours

Under 5’s go free with a paying adult, please note that due to steep steps, under 5’s are not able to climb St. George’s Tower.

Knight School - May Half Term

Our wildly popular Knight's School returns this summer! This summer, King Arthur is preparing for his next quest and has enlisted us at Oxford Castle to train his latest recruits for medieval battle.. Do you have what it takes?

JOIN OUR KNIGHT SCHOOL THIS SUMMER

Our wildly popular Knight’s School returns this summer! Don your armour, sharpen your sword and prepare to set out on a quest. Join us in the Castleyard for medieval weapons training, jousting and archery – all under the supervision of the Castle’s knights!

Once you’ve been trained, you will be knighted and presented with your own sword to take home!

Please note that this is an outdoor activity; tickets do not include entry to the Castle & Prison.

Do I need to book tickets to the Castle?

This is a separate event outside in the Castleyard. You don’t need to book tickets for our standard tour.

Potion Making - 27-31 Oct

Join us in the castle crypt for a delightfully disgusting potion-making session - our witches and warlocks will teach you to make three magical concoctions! £14 per child

MERLIN’S APPRENTICE NEEDS YOUR HELP!

As the nights draw in and Halloween draws closer, it’s time to brew up some fantastic potions! Join us in the crypt this October Half term to discover Merlin’s lost recipe book and help his apprentice create some magical potions.

In this hour long session your little ones will make 2 drinkable potions, create their very own wand to take home, help merlin find the recipe book and learn some magic spells!

*Each child ticket includes entry for one accompanying adult. Additional adult spaces are not available. This event does not include the Oxford Castle and Prison Guided Tour.

Important Information

Recommended for ages between 5 and 11 years.

Length: Approx. 1 hour.

Additional adults can be added in the booking journey at £2pp.

The Siege of Oxford - June 21/22

Travel back to the year 1646, a time when Oxford was caught in the heart of the English Civil War!

The city is under siege, will you join the Royalists or the Parliamentarians?

Join The Earl of Manchester’s Regiment of Foote for an action-packed reenactment day of living history at Oxford Castle & Prison. Explore the 17th-century encampment in the Castleyard and discover what life was really like during the Siege of Oxford — from the battlefield to behind-the-scenes spying!

What’s happening all day?

⛺ Walk through a 17th-century military encampment in the Castleyard
🪖 Meet soldiers and civilians and learn about daily life in wartime Oxford
🏹 Explore civil war weaponry, spy gear, and historic reenactments
🥁 Hear the drums of war and watch regimental drills
🍻 Recharge with hearty refreshments fit for any soldier
⚔️ Choose your side and find out who will be victorious!

Ticketed Experiences for Kids

Are you a royalist soldier?

Join the recruitment and defend Oxford!

You’ll learn the skills to become a pikeman or a musketeer in the King’s army. Handle a real musket and see it fired up close, and be put through your paces by the drill sergeant!

£10 per ticket (Pre-booking recommended)

Or are you a Parliamentarian spy?

Learn spy craft and become a Parliamentarian spy during the siege of Oxford.

You will discover cypher codes from the civil wars, learn about invisible ink and how to write your own secret messages. Will you be able to smuggle information out to the Parliamentarian besiegers?

£10 per ticket (Pre-booking recommended)

Times available

• 12:30
• 16:00

Important Information

Activities are recommended for ages 7+.

Spectre Ghost Tour - Friday's

You are hereby cordially invited to discover the ghosts of Oxford city!

Explore the city on an outdoor walking guided tour and let our paranormal enthusiast, Ms. Morgana McGhoul bring to light what you may not be able to see.

Whilst the nature of the tour is spooky, it has also been designed to be family-friendly with humour throughout!

Take in Oxford’s history from a different perspective with this outside walking tour every Friday.

Important Notes

• The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Under 5s go free with a paying adult.
• The tours are accessible to wheelchair and pushchair users. However, please note that there are uneven pavements and kerb stones to be negotiated throughout Oxford.

A Midsummer Nightmare - 5/6 June

Get ready for an unforgettable evening under the stars, where the supernatural comes to life and anything can happen.

A MIDSUMMER N̶I̶G̶H̶T̶’S̶ ̶D̶R̶E̶A̶M̶ NIGHTMARE | OXFORD CASTLE & PRISON

Important Information

Suitable for ages 14+

BMH Productions Presents: Twelfth Night

The Oxford Shakespeare Festival 2025 is back and BMH Productions will be performing a sharp and sexy take on Twelfth Night.

A SHARP, SEXY, AND STYLISH REIMAGINING OF ONE OF SHAKESPEARE’S MOST BELOVED COMEDIES

Viola, a stranger in this strange land – shipwrecked, heartbroken, and alone – disguises herself as her lost-at-sea brother to serve in the court of Duke Orsino, setting off a storm of mischief, mistaken identities, and barely disguised longing.

Be transported to the fantastical land of Illyria, where larger-than-life characters and their tangled emotions reign in a golden-age world of decadence and indulgence.

Played out in a fast-paced 90-minute production (plus interval), this show captures the timeless magic of Twelfth Night, inviting audiences to fall in love with it all over again.

Wild Goose Theatre Presents: Much Ado About Nothing

The Oxford Shakespeare Festival 2025 is back and Wild Goose Theatre will be performing the classic, Much Ado About Nothing

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING IS A PASSIONATE, TENDER AND TIMELESS STORY OF LOVE AND CONFLICT.

While young lovers Claudio and Hero have their forthcoming nuptials threatened by the resentful scheming of a Prince, marriage seems even further away for reluctant lovers Beatrice and Benedick in this raucous, comic masterpiece about the never-ending search for happiness.

This is an outdoor theatre performance so please come prepared. In case of the performance being cancelled or abandoned due to bad weather, we will move to our indoor venue at the New Rd Baptist Church on Bonn Square.

Weather warning

In case of wet weather, our Wet Weather Policy will apply.

Siege Theatre Presents: The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Oxford Shakespeare Festival 2025 is back and Siege Theatre will be performing a nostalgic take on The Merry Wives of Windsor

Shakespeare comes to Oxford Castle & Prison as Siege Theatre presents: The Merry Wives of Windsor

In this unashamedly comic production of Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, we transport the action to the vibrant world of the 1950’s. Hidden behind this nostalgic backdrop of seemingly perfect suburban life, a world of mischief and mayhem awaits.

This riotous production celebrates not only the silliness of some of Shakespeare’s best comic characters, but also the timeless themes of female friendship, marital trust, and the art of turning societal norms upside down.

Which means it’s no surprise that when the outrageous and opportunistic Sir John Falstaff sets his sights on conning two clever housewives, he discovers he’s bitten off more than he can chew. Mistresses Ford and Page, far from being the demure homemakers our antagonist expects, orchestrate an elaborate series of tricks that turn the tables on their would-be seducer.

So come join us for an evening that proves that behind every perfectly maintained lawn and spotless kitchen lurks a masterclass in wit and wisdom.

Gift Voucher

Knight School Gift Voucher