Oxford Castle & Prison
Oxford Castle
Norman castle remains where the 11th-century St George's Tower and the castle mound still stand. Costumed actor-guides tell 900 years of the site's history, including its time as a prison.
Oxford Castle was built by the Normans in 1071. St George's Tower is one of Oxford's oldest buildings. The castle was used as a prison for a long time, closing only in 1996, and parts of it have since been converted into a boutique hotel and a dining area. A visit requires joining a guided tour of about one hour, led by guides in period costume, which takes you up the tower, into the underground crypt and an 18th-century debtors' cell, and up the castle mound for views over the city. Admission is about £16. Restaurants cluster around the castle square, about a 10-minute walk from the railway station.
Opening hours
Approx. 10:00–17:00 (tours depart on the hour)
Nearby sights
- Ashmolean Museum
- Carfax Tower
- Covered Market, Oxford
- Christ Church, Oxford
- History of Science Museum, Oxford
- Sheldonian Theatre
- Keble College, Oxford
- Bodleian Library