A new "visitor attraction" due to open at Oxford Castle will offer a virtual reality experience, a wine bar and more.
Oxford Unwrapped is a new venture which has been planned for the Oxfordshire Gateway in Oxford Castle Quarter, just off New Road in the city centre.
It promises to bring a new "cluster" of world-class visitor attractions to maximise what Oxford offers to tourists to the city.
READ MORE: Oxford: New mural is reminder of aparthotel at cinema site
The project is set to include a "Future Zone", described as a "virtual reality playground" as part of the historic castle setting to show both the city's heritage and its current innovation.
Phil Pike, one of the team who created the project, said it's an "amazing investment opportunity" in the castle quarter.
"Oxford Unwrapped is our flagship facility, featuring innovation on the ground floor and virtual reality on the first floor," he said.
Help support trusted local news
Sign up for a digital subscription now: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe/
As a digital subscriber you will get:
- Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website
- Advert-light access
- Reader rewards
- Full access to our app
A statement from Oxford Unwrapped said: "Evidence exists that the 'town and gown' have a confused appearance for visitors.
"With limited or no access to the University of Oxford, a poor welcome with no central tourist information centre, attractions that operate today are poor and don't deliver.
"Tourists are looking for somewhere to see its rich history, tradition and architecture explained."
The answer, the business claims, is a new venture offering a mix of food, drink, entertainment, history, music and more.
READ MORE: Homeless shoplifter who targeted Oxford Co-op gets jail time
The "cluster" of buildings involved in the project will consist of three separate entertainment venues which are a motorsport centre, a hospitality area, and a virtual reality space.
A spokesman for Continuum Attractions, operator of Oxford Castle & Prison, said: “We are aware of the proposed new attraction in the Oxford Castle Quarter, which has been in development for some time, but it is not connected to Oxford Castle & Prison.
“We welcome investment in the city’s tourism offer and look forward to seeing how the plans continue to progress.”
Described as "the future of entertainment and tourism", the first of the co-located visitor attractions is called "Fuel", dedicated to the history of Oxfordshire's five F1 teams.
In addition to a ground-floor Pitstop Cafe, the top floor will offer pay-to-play motorsport simulators, with 10 individual F1 simulators giving visitors the change to race each other on tracks like Silverstone and Monaco.
The company said it will "delivers the thrill, adrenaline rush and excitement of real top-flight motor racing."
Next, the "Spirit of Oxfordshire" is a wine bar which also serves as a breakfast cafe, provides classic afternoon tea, and morphs into an evening venue to reflect every need over the clientele over 16 hours.
The third element of Oxford Unwrapped is "Oxfordshire 360".
READ MORE: Oxford nature reserve area cordoned off after arson attack
This is an immersive experience of virtual reality on a panoramic screen, for "multimedia escapism", which takes visitors through the history of the city on weekdays, while transforming into a planetarium, focusing on the stars, in the evenings.
At the weekend, Oxfordshire 360 would become a music venue, featuring local bands enhanced by virtual laser shows and special effects for an "awe-inspiring" view.
Oxford Unwrapped is positioning itself as "the future of entertainment and tourism" which the city has been missing: "The creation of a unique world where technology meets spectacle."
Share