The guided tour lasts approx. 50 minutes. After your tour, you will be able to explore the exhibition and prison at your own leisure. We would recommend 1 – 2 hours to enjoy your visit.

Mon – Thurs: First tour – 10:30am / Last tour – 4.30pm (Tours every 30 minutes) Fri – Sun: First tour – 10am / Last tour 5pm (Tours every 20 minutes)

Yes – admission to the castle is by guided tour only.

Please make your way to the Gift Shop where our Guest Services team will be able to check you in for your tour. We ask that you arrive 10 minutes before your tour time starts so you don’t miss out on your timed booked slot.

Children under 5 years of age will not be permitted access to St George’s Tower due to health and safety regulations. Visitors unable to climb the tower may wait at the bottom with a guardian and watch our “Story of Oxford Castle” video. Once the tour group returns from the Tower, you are then able to re-join your group as the tour continues

Under 5s are free, but still need to be registered and have their tickets ‘purchased’ for health and safety reasons.

Tours are conducted in English however if you speak French, German, Italian, Spanish, Czech, or Chinese (Mandarin) we offer translation sheets.

Yes we do!  If you are bringing 15 people or more you are entitled to a group discount, which must be booked at least 7 days prior. Visit our groups page for more information.

Regrettably, due to the historic nature of the building not all areas of the attraction are accessible by wheelchair:

• St George’s Tower (which has 101 steps on a steep, narrow and winding staircase).
• The Mound which has some steep steps and gradients.
• Some of the prison cells which have 620-640mm wide doorways.

Please see our Access Information page for further information.

Due to the historical nature of the building Prams & Pushchairs do not fit through our doors, so they need to be left in the reception area where they will be looked after by a member of our team.

St George’s Tower has 101 steps on a steep, narrow and winding staircase. Visitors unable to climb St. George’s Tower may wait at the bottom of the tower in the seating area. A short film will be put on to show you the views and stories you may have missed. You will then be able to rejoin your group and continue with your tour throughout the castle.

Yes guide dogs and assistance dogs are allowed within the prison and the Mound. However, for health and safety reasons, no dogs are allowed to climb St. George’s Tower.

No parking is available on site. We recommend using one of 5 Oxford Park and Rides which have frequent bus links into the city centre. Seacourt Park and Ride is the closest to the city, however, as that can often get busy (especially on weekends), Redbridge Park and Ride is our preferred car park. Car parks can be found at Oxpens, Worcester Street, Gloucester Green and Westgate Shopping Centre. All are a short walking distance from Oxford Castle. Coach parking is available at Redbridge Park and Ride. For more details and a map of Oxford’s car parks please visit the Oxford City Council website.