Venue information

The Holywell is a popular concert hall situated on Holywell Street, in Oxford, providing a convenient and central location for concerts and recitals. It is better suited for chamber music or small ensembles.

The oldest custom-built concert hall in Europe, the Holywell Music Room opened its doors to the public for the first time in 1748 and celebrated its 250th anniversary in the summer of 1998.

Designed by Thomas Camplin, Vice-Principal of St Edmund Hall, the building was probably the brainchild of William Hayes, then Professor of Music at the University. The project was funded by a public subscription (established in 1742).

The room continued as a concert venue throughout the 18th century and until 1836, from which time it was used for several other events, including auctions and exhibitions. By the 1870s, it was being used for weekly rehearsals by the Oxford Philharmonic Society and its future as a musical venue was further secured after 1910 when the Oxford University Musical Union obtained the lease on the building.

The Holywell was restored and refitted in 1959-60 and since that time has been the location for many hundreds of recitals and concert series featuring prestigious visiting musicians, as well as many local groups and student performers.

The Holywell Music Room is available for hire during the week and at weekends. Current music students or current faculty members of the university who wish to organise an event at discounted rates, please check the booking information and email events@music.ox.ac.uk. For all other enquiries, please visit the Wadham College website.

Opening hours

The building opens at 9.00am every weekday.

The Café is open 10.00am to 4.00pm on Tuesday to Sunday.

The Gallery and Box office are open 10.00am to 4.00pm on Wednesday to Saturday.

Getting there

By bus:
Oxford town centre is well-served by buses. The venue is less than 10 minutes’ walk from any bus stop in the town centre. Take a look at the Oxford Bus Company website to plan your journey.

By bike
Oxford has a lot of cyclists. You can plan your cycling route using this interactive map. For general information about cycling in Oxford and the surrounding area, visit the Oxford City Council pages on cycling, or of local cycling advocacy group Cyclox.

By train
The Holywell Music Room is very centrally located in Oxford, so it’s quite easy to reach from the train station. Typical travel times are around 20–25 minutes on foot, 8–10 minutes by taxi (depending on traffic) and 10–15 minutes by bus (including a short walk).

By car
Oxford is not a particularly car-friendly city. There are plenty of car parks in Oxford, but the congestion is high and Oxford’s temporary congestion charge for cars is now in effect, we recommend that you use the Park & Ride, or a different method of transport.

Accessibility information

The Holywell Music Room has reasonably good accessibility for a historic Grade I-listed concert venue, but there are some limitations due to the age of the building.

Step-free access:
Ramp access is available from Holywell Street to the main entrance. There is level access from the entrance lobby into the auditorium. The main entrance doors are wide enough for wheelchair users, although they do not have automatic door openers.

Wheelchair access:
Designated wheelchair spaces are available at ground-floor level. The venue’s tiered seating means visitors requiring step-free seating should notify the box office in advance.

Hearing support:
A fixed induction hearing loop is installed in the auditorium. Visitors using hearing aids with a T-switch setting can connect to the loop system. Some event organisers request advance notice if you intend to use it.

Accessible toilet:
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor with level access from the entrance and auditorium.

Parking:
There is no on-site parking. Blue Badge parking is available nearby on Broad Street, Parks Road, Mansfield Road, and other city-centre locations within a short distance of the venue.