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+.

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.

Pleasantly surprised. This site it ancient. It's really the culmination of several different generations of things being built, rebuilt, lost and rediscovered over the centuries. I would usually be annoyed by being forced into a guided tour but it's very necessary here, especially in the tower. Our guide was great fun.

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.

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.

Love this place. Have been a couple of times now and have learnt something new each time. The tours guides are brilliant, with loads of story's and history of the castle through the ages. Also had the change to do one of the ghost nights - the castle at night is even better than in the day. Spooky and exciting - I defiantly recommend it.

Our tour guide Emily was brilliant. Very enthusiastic and funny. Definitely earning her wages traipsing up and down those steps all day! The tour was interesting, and I thought, well priced too. Would definitely recommend for an activity to accompany exploring Oxford for the day.

Nice place to visit. Pity about the weather. As we didn't go up the mound. But we climb the narrow steps. Interesting to see the cell of the black panther.

The best tour ever!! Huge thanks to Emily for making it so interesting, and accounting for the abilities of our group (especially with climbing St George's Tower), really appreciated. 100% recommend a tour!

Very nice place in this beautiful town. You can also visit a hill, but you have to buy tickets for it.

I've been to Oxford many times, but never as a proper tourist!! This was an excellent tour. Our guide, James, was very funny and knowledgeable which made the tour really engaging aswell as interesting with all the stories. There's a lovely atmosphere in the courtyard and the walk up the mound to take in those views! Once paid and booked in, the tour starts up the steep narrow steps all the way up the tower.... the views are worth it from the top. Those with mobility issues can sit this bit out though. The rest of the tour is all over a one way system, flat and has disabled access. Highly recommended couple of hours. Plenty of places to grab a coffee, breakfast or lunch too.

Excellent tour. Our guide, Oliver, was very knowledgeable and made the tour really interesting with lots of stories. Lots of narrow steps though so be warned. Booked in advance for 10am on a Sunday and it was quiet but when we came out about an hour later it was very busy. Highly recommend.

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

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.

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.

Oh my goodness, what a lesson in England's brutal past. Aiden ours guide was a wealth of information, with a touch of humour. We learned a lot about the life of the castle and how it became a prison, in use right up until 1996. I'd recommend a visit, something different than colleges and churches. I'd recommend booking an earlier tour before the coach loads of tourist arrive. 👌 You will enjoy the experience more if you can handle some stairs.

Brilliant hotel, full of history and quirkiness Had a lovely stay in superior cell room in the main block Had dinner and breakfast I'm the hotel restaurant and both were exceptional 👌 Staff were all so good Special mention to the barman and restaurant servers TOP QUALITY STAFF / AMAZING STAY 10/10 👏

The Oxford Castle and Prison, which was previously a prison until going derelict and then in 2006 it was aquired by Malmaison hotels. It is a very nice upmarket venue. For last night, rooms started at around £240 per night, which is 4-5 times more than the usual Travelodge / Premier Inn budget. There were four of us staying in two rooms. Our room was originally 3 separate cells, 2 cells making up the now bedroom and the other cell being the bathroom. The original metal plated door was still there, complete with a serving hatch, and there were visible remnants of the metal bars outside the windows. Amongst other complimentary stuff, the room was equipped with a nespresso machine, a bottle of champagne, mulled wine, and a mince pie. You don't get that in a Travelodge. Honestly, the 'rainfall' shower was the best shower I've ever experienced. The large bath looked very enticing. The food was amazing, and so was the staff in particular Adrian, which was very nice and friendly. This was a brilliant experience.

We booked for Knight School. It was the people who made this trip for us. Sir David the Knight who handled many excited kids (and some parents!) and the team in the gift shop were so friendly and helpful. We had to reschedule due to illness and even by email I was impressed. Beautiful location and a great kids activity.

We had a great time there. We had a tour around the Prison with a guy named James. He told us many interesting fact caring about every bit of experience we had during his tour. Really advice going there not only for historical experience but also for the great views from the top of the tower.

We had a lovely guided tour at Oxford Castle & Prison. Our tour guide Aiden did a great job by explaining all the history of the buildings in a very humorous and pleasant way. We definitely would recommend this tourist attraction!!

We had a great day here! We did the tour, Bryony was our tour guide. She was very informative and made it fun! We also spoke to David (we think his name was) lovely guy who also gave us some extra information as we were walking around. 100% recommend checking this place out! 😊

We bought our tickets there, and the tour started ten minutes later. The tour guide was amazing! He was so knowledgeable and kept me interested. After the tour was over, we were given time to wander around by ourselves, which I really appreciated. I learnt a lot.

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.

Max was a nice, friendly and knowledgeable guide showing around the castle. It was good to be able to go all the way to the top of the tower and all the way down to the catacombs and also to visit the prison. We learned so many interesting facts about the history of the place and stories of the people who were put into the prison. We booked in for the tour in advance but it wasn’t that busy in the afternoon but worth checking before you go.

A brilliant little place. Bryony our tour guide was very knowledgeable & the tour was excellent: my six year old said she was "funny & creepy" so job well done & a great day was had by all.

Interesting location that used to be a prison up till recently in 1996 (not really a castle you might be familiar with). Tour guide Rebecca was really friendly and interesting, making the visit alot more insightful. Tour was slightly under an hour I believe, but visitors can continue to hang around after. Recommended if you're interested in learning about a different kind of castle/prison.

Amazing place. Had an absolutely brilliant time. Staff are friendly. Matthew and Dom from the bar/restaurant were great. Rooms are clean and comfortable and surprisingly quiet. I would most definitely visit again.

Noe’, our guide, was well prepared, nice and funny at the same time! I would highly recommend a visit! The castle tower and the prison are super interesting!!!

The Oxford Castle & Prison, steeped in a rich tapestry of history, provides a uniquely immersive experience for any history buff or curious visitor. The architecture itself, both robust and austere, acts as a silent testament to the centuries that have passed since its construction in the 11th century. Tours are led by knowledgeable guides dressed in period costume, painting vivid pictures of life in the castle through different eras. The experience is not just about understanding the historical aspects, but also about getting a glimpse of the human struggles, dreams, and resilience that have unfolded within these walls. A highlight is the haunting story of Mary Blandy, a figure infamous for poisoning her father in the 18th century. Her tragic tale offers an insightful, albeit chilling, glimpse into the darker side of Oxford's history, truly encapsulating the harsh realities of life within the prison's walls. Moreover, the castle's fame extends beyond history books into popular culture, with several films shot on location. The grim ambiance of the castle and its poignant narrative have inspired filmmakers and have been effectively utilized to create some truly gripping cinema. However, accessibility can be improved as some areas are challenging to navigate, especially for people with mobility issues. The information boards are mostly text-heavy which might make it difficult for younger audiences to engage with the content. In conclusion, the Oxford Castle & Prison is not just a historical landmark but a storytelling hub that narrates tales from an era gone by. Despite minor issues, it is a must-visit location for anyone interested in the captivating history of Oxford, memorable tales of its inhabitants, and its cinematic impact.

Absolutely brilliant Natalie was so knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. The place is pretty mind blowing! Completely reccomend this as part of your trip!. Such kind happy staff all round and super helpful!

Had a great experience. Thanks to my guide Melissa for what was an amazing tour. Her explanation was very clear and I would recommend this tour to everyone visiting Oxford who is curious to know about the vast history. I was exploring a bit after the tour and I saw my tour guide had already gone in for the next batch and I can see they all work tirelessly. If you take a tour after seeing this review, please leave a 'Thank you' to your tour guide of the day, I'm sure it will make them happy.

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.