Oxford Castle Unlocked

"Unlocked: Oxford Castle". Visitors see the castle/prison (D-Wing), the Debtors' Tower, the St George's Tower - the only remaining defensive tower of an original five - and the crypt underneath both, have been preserved and set up as an educational/historical attraction.

Oxford Castle was designed to keep people out and Oxford Prison was designed to keep them in.. For over nearly 1,000 years, the huge walled enclosure which dominates the west end of the city has been opened up and made fully accessible to explore this hitherto secret place.

To tour you are give a handheld multimedia player 'Explorers' to guide you through the Castle and reveal thousands of years of secrets.The Explorers deliver crystal-clear video on a four-inch LCD screen, accompanied by stereo sound commentary, as you walk through the small cells and prison corridors. A virtual guide appears on screen, introducing the stories and history connected to Oxford Castle.

St George's Tower is the climax of tours. The new viewing gallery on the roof offers a fresh perspective on how the development of Oxford has been wonderfully constrained by its river setting and the embrace of its surrounding green hills. It's possible to get a different perspective by climbing to the top of the mound.