Accessibility Information
At Oxford Castle Prison, we are committed to providing a warm welcome and ensuring a safe, unforgettable experience for all of our guests.
If you have any accessibility requirements, please review the information below and contact us on 01865 260 663 if you have any questions or would like to make a booking.
As a historic site with over 1000 years of history, we are unable to make the site fully accessible. But we’ll do everything we can to help.
People with reduced mobility
St George’s Tower is only accessible by a spiral staircase of 101 uneven steps. This forms approximately 15 minutes of the tour. A video is played for those who are not able to climb St George’s Tower.
D Wing has a lift with tactile and braille controls, which allows access to the Crypt and the Exhibition. Please note our lift has a weight capacity of 300kg and can only be operated with the support of a member of staff.
The Crypt floor is uneven cobbles, so guests with mobility concerns should take care when entering the crypt and wear sturdy shoes.
You can also visit our castle mound on your visit. The paths can be steep in places, so guests with mobility concerns may find it difficult to get up and back down the mound.
Wheelchair users
Some of the prison cells in D Wing have a doorway width ranging from 620-640mm, which may not be wide enough for some wheelchairs.
Throughout the year, we hold many events in the Castle yard, which are all accessible to wheelchair users.
Access to the mound is by steps only. Paths up to the mound are also narrow and uneven, so it is not accessible for wheelchair users.
Prams and guests with children under 5
Prams & Pushchairs do not fit through all our doors, so they need to be left in the reception area where a member of the team will look after them.
Children under 5 cannot enter St George’s tower for health and safety reasons, so an adult from your party must remain with them at the base for the first 15 minutes of the tour.
Prams and pushchairs cannot fit up the paths on the mound. You are welcome to leave them in the gift shop where our team will keep an eye on them.
Guests sensitive to lighting conditions
Many areas are dimly lit, and some guests may experience disorientation or claustrophobia.
On the tour, you also have the chance to have a photo taken in the style of a mugshot. The camera produces a bright flash, so if you have a condition such as photosensitive epilepsy, please inform us before your visit or upon arrival so that we can make your tour guide aware.
Accessible toilets are located in the Key Learning Centre opposite the attraction. There is a lift with tactile and braille controls, which allows access to the ground floor where the toilets are situated. This lift can only be operated with the support of a member of staff.
Please note that these toilets are managed by the Oxford Preservation Trust. If, for any reason, the lift is not operational, you may use the Kelpie café’s accessible toilets.
Dogs are not allowed in the attraction or on the Castle Mound unless they are assistance or support dogs. No dogs are allowed up St George’s Tower due to health and safety concerns.
We welcome one carer free per paying visitor. Kindly bring your carer status ID when visiting. Please be aware that we do not have the available staff resources for physical support during your visit.
Carer tickets are only available if a member of your booking party requires care during their visit.
For Carer entry, we accept any of the following forms of ID/Documentation:
- Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance for children under 16 or DLA.
- Personal Independent Payments (PIP) for those aged 16-64, either in the form of a letter stating that the benefit has been awarded or the allowance book.
- Attendance or Carer’s Allowance letter of award.
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
- A Valid Blue Badge or Credibility Access Card.
- BD8 or a Certificate of Visual Impairment (CVI).
- Proof of Entitlement to Child Disability Payment.
- An Access card, Young Scot card or disabled bus pass indicating that the individual requires a carer.
If you are an international visitor or have any other documentation that has not been listed here, we can accept other forms of identification. Please call us directly on 01865 260663 to reserve a carer spot in advance of your tour.
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