- 1996 - Oxford Prison closes for the last time
- 1997 - Oxfordshire County Council buys back the site from the Home Office
- 1997 to 2001 - Oxfordshire County Council funds the upkeep of the empty prison by renting it out to film and television companies. Many feature films and television series have been filmed on the site including 101 Dalmatians and Bad Girls
- 1997 to present day - Archaeological investigation, reveals much about the city's history
- 1998 to 2000 - Partnerships between the County Council, Oxford Castle Ltd and OPT put in place. Plans put out for public consultation
- 1999 – The County Council and OPT jointly commission a Conservation Plan.
- 2001 - Planning permission and grant-funding from SEEDA, Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England and Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment are secured; demolition and restoration starts
- 2004 - the site receives a blessing from the Right Reverend Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, to commemorate the site's history and celebrate the progress and future of this prestigious scheme
- September 2005 - Last intensive phase of construction commences
- November 2005 - First businesses open, including restaurants and the Malmaison Hotel
- OPT appoints Continuum as operators of the heritage attraction, and a partnership with the County Council to provide an education officer is agreed.
- May 2006, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II performs the official opening ceremony for the Oxford Castle Heritage Site
- May 2006 – "Unlocked" the heritage visitor attraction opens its doors to customers
- September 2006 – the Oxford Castle Education Centre opens
- February 2016 – Oxford Castle Limited sells its interest to the Westgate Alliance
