I toured the Oxford Castle today with the Newcomer's Club. I tried to sign up for this tour last term, but it was cancelled. So was fun to check out the local castle. Now really, it's not a castle in terms of a romantic, beautiful, royal castle. It's just the remains of a Saxon castle tower built in like the 1100s and then a jail was built hundreds of years later. The interesting fact is that this jail was used for prisoners right up until 1996. Talk about a medieval punishment! Now, the entire area of castle, prison, and mound has been turned into a modern-day tourist attraction and entertainment center with posh restaurants, bars and a 5-star hotel. The prison was actually turned into a 5-star hotel, with a "prison" feeling. A night costs about 230 pounds ($460 a night) so it's a "destination/experience" type hotel. To be honest, I'd rather spend $460 a night to spend in a true romantic Victorian English castle or something. 
We climbed to the top of the tour for a great view of Oxford and the spires. 
Picture of the crypt below.
A section of the prison cells they have left to show on the tour.
A bit morbid, the actual pull handle used in the hanging executions at the Oxford Castle Prison in the 1800s. The pull handle opened the drop floor, pulling the floor out from underneath the person being hanged. Yikes!
Had coffee after the tour with a few of the ladies at the cafe to chat. Another successful Newcomer's tour!
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