Last Friday night, I headed out after dark, to enjoy the new Oxford Castle and Prison ghost tour, which is on until Halloween. What I found left me impressed, as well as chilled.

At the beginning of the tour, participants are offered the obligatory photo opportunity and then led to the manmade mound nearby outside. We scaled the mound, and then after enjoying a panoramic view of the city, we were led into the well chamber within the mound itself and regaled with a haunting story once inside. We marvelled at the depth of the well, encouraged to toss a pebble into it and hear the distance the stone fell.

The mild claustrophobia of our group huddled together in the location was the first of several nerve-inducing uses the tour makes of its remarkable building, which is explored thoroughly. Whether it’s a fear of the dark, loud noises, or heights, you can guarantee an element of this tour will ignite your fears, managably but effectively.

That the building itself was more frightening than the tour’s practical effects is not a criticism. The props were charming and added a fun, Hallowe’en vibe to the proceedings. From hanging bone mobiles to a nasty surprise dropping down from the rafters, there was a lot of thought put into set dressing. The jump scares, meanwhile, were truly effective, and elicited genuine screams from participants, including yours truly.

It’s the superb acting that brings the tour alive though, with characterful performances across the board. At one point, I asked an actor a fact about their character not included in their spiel, and they answered with historical accuracy and no drop in their performance.

The many and varied selections of stories served over the hour, from those of the prisoners and public hangings to the purported ghost sightings, and daring escapees, are all real and riveting, making the evening as educational as it is playful.

If I had one suggestion, it would be to let participants spend more time at the top of St George’s Tower. The tour takes its guests up seemingly endless steps of a tightly wound spiral staircase only to spend a few moments at the top. I would’ve loved more of a chance to luxuriate in the view before making my descent.

But that’s a small complaint for such an enchanting hour. The thought and energy put into the tour make it well worth the price of admission, and a perfect spooky season treat.