Holywell Music Room
Music at Oxford hires the Holywell Music Room for concerts; if you wish to find out more about hiring the venue, please see the venue information section and contact the venue directly.
The Holywell Music Room is close to the heart of many a concert-goer in Oxford. Designed by the Vice-Principal of St Edmund Hall, Thomas Caplin, the venue is thought to be the first custom-built concert hall in Europe.
The venue first opened its doors in 1748 and continued to operate as a concert hall until 1836. The venue returned to its original use after its refitting in 1960 and has since held hundreds of recitals.
Thought to be the brainchild of Prof. William Haynes, the hall has a beautiful acoustic for chamber music and boasts an exceptional history. This concert hall has been thought responsible for the popularisation of Haydn who was the most performed composer at the hall between 1788–1791.
Today, Music at Oxford enjoy hosting a number of our concerts in this venue.
Venue Information
Holywell Music Room
Wadham College
Holywell Street
Oxford
OX1 3SD
HOLYWELL MUSIC ROOM
Email: holywellmusicroom@wadham.ox.ac.uk
Tel: 01865 277579
Get directions
How to get here
By Car
Please note that parking is extremely difficult anywhere in the city centre and there is no parking available at the College. Many roads in the centre are barred to vehicles. Visitors travelling by car are encouraged to use the Park and Ride buses. There is further information about car parking in Oxford on the City Council website. Please be aware that the Oxford Zero Emissions Zone is in force, you can find out more by clicking on the link.
By Bus/Coach
There are a number of local buses connecting various parts of Oxford and the surrounding towns and villages to the city centre. Please check the Stagecoach and Oxford Bus Company’s journey planners to find a route that serves your travel needs. Oxford is also easy to reach from London by coach. The Oxford Tube runs up to every 10 minutes and National Express buses leave Marylebone every 20 minutes (approx.) to Oxford bus station.
By Train
A direct service operates between both London Marylebone and London Paddington to Oxford station. Oxford station has direct rail services from many locations including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Hereford, Worcester, Newcastle and York. For details and to plan your journey, see the National Rail Enquiries website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the venue have a bar?
No, this venue does not have a bar.
Where is the Box Office located?
Our pop-up box office is located just inside the main doors of the Holywell Music Room.
When will the box office at the venue be open?
We open our pop-up box office half-an-hour before the start of the concert. The box office is open for collections of pre-bought tickets, ticket enquiries and purchasing tickets on the door. If you have chosen to have your tickets delivered to your email or postal address, please make sure you bring your ticket with you. We are happy to accept tickets shown on a mobile phone.
Where can I find the toilets?
The toilets can be found to the left-hand side of the entrance to the Music Room.
I have additional access needs, which entrance should I use?
Wheelchair and step-free access can be gained on the left-hand side, with a ramp from the street via the small side door.
Where can I find more access information about the venue?
You can always call the box office with any access questions you may have, or if you think you need more venue specific information, you can find out more on the Wadham College website.