The Saxon Tower of St Michael at the North Gate is a free-standing church tower at 32 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, dating from around 1040 AD. This makes it the oldest surviving building in Oxford and one of the oldest surviving Saxon towers in England. Visitors can climb 97 steps for panoramic views over central Oxford. The tower is part of the working Church of St Michael at the North Gate, which is also free to enter. This guide covers opening hours, admission, directions, accessibility, what to see, and practical tips.
My personal Oxford recommendation
Oxford is a city of stories. You miss a lot of the walking around independently. This is a place where, much more than usual, it’s worth taking a walking tour.
I took the excellent Official Oxford University and City walking tour. It gave a great grounding on the city’s history, quirky university traditions and fascinating details on buildings you may otherwise miss. I recommend it, but there are other Oxford walking tours to choose from if you’d prefer a different theme.
Last updated: June 2026. Admission prices have recently increased: adults now pay £5 (not £2 as stated in many older guides). Also note that the tower refurbishment Stage 1 was completed 4 October 2025; Stage 2 is delayed into 2026/27 while fundraising continues. The tower is fully open as normal throughout this period.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | St Michael at the North Gate, 32 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3EY |
| Church hours (free) | Mon–Sat approx. 9am–5pm; Sun approx. 12pm–5pm (extended to 6pm Apr–Oct) |
| Tower first admission | Mon–Sat ~9:15am; Sun ~12:00pm |
| Tower last admission | Mon–Sat ~3:15pm (winter); ~5:30pm (Apr–Oct); Sun ~4:30pm (winter); ~5:30pm (Apr–Oct) |
| Adult admission | £5 |
| Concession (incl. students) | £4 |
| Children | £3 |
| Family | £12 |
| Groups of 10+ | £4 per person |
| Church entry | Free |
| Typical visit | 20–40 minutes |
Saxon Tower opening hours
The tower is open every day of the year. Hours vary by season:
Winter (approximately November–March):
- Monday–Saturday: first admission ~9:15am; last admission ~3:15pm; church open to ~5pm
- Sunday: first admission ~12:00pm; last admission ~4:30pm
Summer (approximately April–October):
- Monday–Saturday: first admission ~9:15am; last admission ~5:30pm; open to ~6pm
- Sunday: first admission ~12:00pm; last admission ~5:30pm
Tower and shop access is limited at lunchtimes and during church services. Check the church website or call the visitor centre (01865 255776) if your visit timing is sensitive.
Extended hours may also apply in November and December around Christmas.
Opening hours and prices were checked on the official Saxon Tower page and last updated in June 2026.
Saxon Tower ticket prices
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adults | £5 |
| Concessions (including students) | £4 |
| Children | £3 |
| Family | £12 |
| Groups of 10 or more | £4 per person |
| Church entry | Free |
Tickets are purchased at the gift shop inside the church on the day. No advance booking is required for individuals.
Note on pricing: Many widely circulated guides, booking aggregators, and travel websites still list adult admission as £2 and children as £1. These prices are significantly out of date. The current prices above are confirmed from the official church website.
The Saxon Tower is not included in any commercial city pass scheme.
5 Oxford experiences worth booking
- 🎓 Take an Oxford University walking tour led by an alumni guide.
- ⚡ Explore Oxford’s Harry Potter filming locations on a tour including New College.
- 🚣 Embark on a scenic river cruise along the University Regatta course.
- 🕵️ Discover the Oxford of Morse, Lewis and Endeavour on a themed walking tour.
- 🏰 Hear dark historic tales on a guided visit to Oxford Castle and Prison.
How to get to the Saxon Tower
The church is at 32 Cornmarket Street, in the centre of Oxford, at the junction of Cornmarket Street and Market Street — approximately 2 minutes’ walk north of the Carfax crossroads.
By bus: Cornmarket Street is the central pedestrianised shopping street. Multiple Park & Ride services drop off at or near Carfax, from which the church is a 2-minute walk north.
By train: Oxford station is approximately 10–15 minutes’ walk. Head east along George Street or Hythe Bridge Street into the city centre, then into Cornmarket Street.
On foot: The church is prominently positioned on Cornmarket Street with the Saxon Tower visible above the surrounding buildings.
Parking
There is no parking at the church. Cornmarket Street is fully pedestrianised. Use the Park & Ride (five sites on Oxford’s main approach roads) or the city-centre car parks at Westgate, Gloucester Green, or Oxford Castle. The Market Street public car park is immediately adjacent to the church.
Public toilets are available in Market Street, adjacent to the church — convenient before or after your visit.
How long to spend at the Saxon Tower
Allow 20 to 40 minutes for the tower climb and a brief look around the church interior. The 97 steps are wider than typical spiral stairs and include landings where displays give you a reason to pause. The church itself — including medieval stained glass, the Bocardo Prison Door, and the church treasury — adds another 15–20 minutes if explored carefully.
Accessibility at the Saxon Tower
The church is wheelchair accessible via a ramped entrance to the main door from Cornmarket Street, avoiding the steps.
The Saxon Tower is not accessible to wheelchair users — it involves 97 steps with no lift or step-free alternative. The landings provide resting points en route, making the climb manageable for most able-bodied visitors of varying fitness levels.
Public toilets with disability facilities are available at Market Street (immediately adjacent), Gloucester Green, and Oxpens.
What to see at the Saxon Tower and Church
The tower exterior and age
The Saxon Tower dates from approximately 1040 AD — pre-dating the Norman Conquest of 1066. Built in the pre-Conquest tradition using rubble and ashlar stonework, it originally formed part of Oxford’s city defences, standing immediately above the North Gate of the medieval town. The gate and the Bocardo Prison that stood above it were demolished in 1771; only the tower survives.
At ground level, the Tower Room is described as possibly the oldest room in Oxford still in regular use, serving as the entrance lobby to the tower climb.
The Bocardo Prison Door
Displayed in the tower is the door of the cell from Bocardo Prison, in which Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was held for most of his imprisonment before his execution in 1556. The Bocardo Prison occupied the space above the North Gate immediately adjoining the tower. Cranmer, along with Bishops Latimer and Ridley, was imprisoned here before being burned at the stake on Broad Street — approximately half a mile east. The door is one of the most historically significant objects in Oxford and is rarely highlighted in general city guides.
The view from the top
The tower offers panoramic 360-degree views over central Oxford from 97 steps up. The views take in Carfax Tower, the spires of the university churches, the Bodleian dome, and on clear days the surrounding countryside. This is one of three public tower climbs in central Oxford (the others being Carfax Tower and the Sheldonian Cupola).
The 19th-century clock mechanism
On the way up, visitors pass a Victorian clock mechanism, still in working order and described on the church website as both fascinating and “great fun to watch in action.”
The church interior
The Church of St Michael at the North Gate is free to enter during opening hours. Key features include:
13th-century stained glass in the East Window — the oldest stained glass in Oxford, depicting the Tree of Jesse and the Virgin and Child. The glass dates from around 1290 and is a remarkable survival.
The 14th-century font from the demolished St Martin’s Church at Carfax. William Shakespeare stood godparent at this font during his visits to Oxford to see his friend John Davenant — a claim documented in contemporary accounts.
The 15th-century pulpit from which John Wesley preached the Michaelmas Day sermon on 29 September 1726, before he founded Methodism.
The Church Treasury, including an Elizabethan chalice dated 1562 and a copy of the Geneva Bible printed in 1606 — a pre-King James Bible with extensive marginal notes, used by Puritan settlers in America.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Admission is now £5 for adults | Many guides and review sites still state £2. The current price, confirmed on the official website, is £5 (adults), £4 (concessions), £3 (children), £12 (family). |
| Tower and shop close at lunchtime and during services | Access may be restricted for short periods at lunchtime and when services are taking place. If timing is critical, call 01865 255776 before visiting. |
| Tower refurbishment Stage 2 is pending | Stage 1 of the tower refurbishment was completed in October 2025. Stage 2 is delayed into 2026/27 while funds are raised. The tower is fully open as normal. |
| The church is free | You can visit the church interior, medieval stained glass, and font at no charge. Only the tower climb requires a ticket. |
| Last admission is earlier than you might expect in winter | From November to March, last tower admission on weekdays is approximately 3:15pm — significantly earlier than summer. Don’t arrive in the late afternoon in winter expecting to climb. |
Frequently asked questions about the Saxon Tower
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How old is the Saxon Tower? | The tower dates from approximately 1040 AD, making it the oldest surviving building in Oxford and one of the oldest standing Saxon towers in England. |
| How much does it cost to climb the Saxon Tower? | Adults £5, concessions (including students) £4, children £3, families £12, groups of 10+ £4 per person. Entry to the church itself is free. |
| Is the tower suitable for children? | Yes, for most children. The 97 steps are wide with landings, described as similar to household stairs. Very young children should be assessed by parents before attempting the climb. |
| Is the tower wheelchair accessible? | No. The church has ramped level access, but the tower involves 97 stairs with no alternative. |
| Is the Saxon Tower open every day? | Yes, every day of the year. Hours vary by season and may be briefly interrupted by lunchtimes and services. |
Things to do near the Saxon Tower
- Oxford Covered Market (~1 minute, Market Street) — A Victorian covered market with independent food stalls, cafés, and shops, directly adjacent to the church. Free to enter; open Monday–Saturday.
- Carfax Tower (~2 minutes south, Queen Street) — The 14th-century tower at the Carfax crossroads, offering comparable city views via 99 steps. Adults £4.
- The Martyrs’ Memorial (~8 minutes’ walk north, St Giles’) — The Victorian Gothic monument commemorating the Oxford Martyrs whose Bocardo Prison door is displayed in the Saxon Tower.
- Museum of Oxford (~5 minutes’ walk south, Oxford Town Hall) — The only museum dedicated entirely to Oxford’s history.
- Broad Street and the Bodleian complex (~5 minutes’ walk east) — The Sheldonian Theatre, History of Science Museum, and Bodleian Library are a short walk from the church.
What to visit tomorrow: similar Saxon and early medieval buildings within two hours
- St George’s Tower, Oxford Castle (~10 minutes’ walk) — An 11th-century Norman tower, broadly contemporary with the Saxon Tower, now part of the Oxford Castle & Prison visitor attraction.
- Brixworth Church, Brixworth, Northamptonshire (~45 miles north) — One of the largest surviving Saxon churches in England, with substantial original fabric dating from the 7th century. Free; open most days.
- Wing Church, Buckinghamshire (~30 miles east) — One of the most complete surviving Saxon churches in England, with an intact 10th-century apse. Free to enter.
- St Mary the Virgin, Iffley, Oxford (~2 miles) — One of the finest Norman churches in England, built c.1170, with outstanding carved stonework on its west front.
- All Saints’ Church, Earls Barton, Northamptonshire (~45 miles north) — The most ornate surviving Saxon tower in England, dating from around 970 AD, still serving as the church tower.
More Oxfordshire travel
Other Oxfordshire travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Enjoy Oxford University’s top museums, including the Ashmolean Museum, the Pitt Rivers Museum, the Museum of Natural History and the History of Science Museum,
- Admire Oxford University’s architecture at the Tower of the Five Orders, the Clarendon Building, the Bridge of Sighs, the Narnia Door and the Sheldonian Theatre.
- What to see at Oxford’s Bodleian Library: Guides to Convocation House, the Divinity School and Radcliffe Camera.
- 9 reasons to visit Oxford, England.
- Shudder at dark tales of incarceration at Oxford Castle and Prison.
