Holywell Music Room

We are happy to assist you with bookings and queries. Please email holywellmusicroom@wadham.ox.ac.uk or phone 01865 277984 to book the Holywell Music Room for musical and spoken events. Members of the Oxford University Faculty of Music can book directly through the Faculty website.

Wadham College is a registered charity. All of the revenue from hiring the Holywell Music Room is used to run, maintain and improve this historic venue. However, this revenue does not fully cover these costs and we rely on generous donations to help support this historic venue.

Within our limited means, we have a partnership programme with a few charitable organisations to hold community events in the Holywell Music Room. Our partners, including Oxford International Song Festival, Oxford Coffee Concerts, Oxford Chamber Music Society, and Oxford Chamber Music Festival benefit from discounts on our advertised rates.

Please contact our Events Team to discuss becoming a Holywell Music Room partner.

Please contact our Development Team to discuss supporting the Holywell Music Room.

The Holywell Music Room, with access from Holywell Street, is said to be the oldest, purpose built music room in Europe, and hence England's first concert hall. It was designed by Thomas Camplin, former Vice- Principal of St Edmund Hall, and opened in July 1748. The interior has been restored to a near replica of the original and contains the only surviving Donaldson organ, built in 1790 by John Donaldson of Newcastle. Find out more.