New College Cloisters: The Scholar’s Shadow
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
New College
Tickets from
£28.00
Inside the venue
Gallery
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
About this
Event Description
A hands-on paranormal investigation inside a 14th-century Gothic cloister, plus a candlelit courtyard concert and evening market on Holywell Street. 4pm–midnight, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026.
- Format: A hands-on, guide-led paranormal investigation inside a 14th-century Gothic cloister, plus a candlelit courtyard concert and evening market on Holywell Street.
- Led by experienced guides — you take part as a group. Participation is optional; you can observe.
- No contact: Performers will not make physical contact with guests; please don’t touch performers, fixtures or historic fabric.
- Supervision & age: All ages welcome; under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, given uneven ground and low lighting.
- Optional: Your ticket covers the whole evening — only the timed headline experience needs a booked slot, so you can enjoy the festival, market and food areas without it.
New College’s 14th-century Gothic cloisters — used as a filming location for major fantasy productions — are among the most atmospheric spaces in Oxford after dark. This Halloween, the timed headline experience combines guided storytelling about the college’s centuries of scholarly deaths and disappearances with a hands-on paranormal investigation in the ante-chapel and cloister garden — while Holywell Street outside hosts a candlelit evening market with mulled wine, academic ghost-story talks, and a genuinely lovely candlelit courtyard concert.
Why you should book this
New College’s cloisters were used in major fantasy film productions and are rarely open to the public after dark at all. A candlelit courtyard concert and academic ghost-story talks add real depth for history and culture fans who want more than just a scare.
What you’ll experience
- The Scholar’s Shadow investigation — the timed headline experience: guided walk through the cloisters plus a hands-on paranormal investigation with EMF equipment
- Holywell Street Evening Market — mulled wine, hot food, and craft stalls lining the historic street outside the college gates
- Candlelit Courtyard Concert — a small classical ensemble performing in a nearby college courtyard, free to attend from 7pm
- Academic Ghost Stories Talk — a genuinely engaging talk from a local historian on Oxford’s centuries of documented ghost stories, held twice nightly
- Old Library Photo Moment — a specially lit photo opportunity in a section of the college not usually open to the public
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Holywell Street market opens |
| 5:00pm, 8pm Academic Ghost Stories Talk | |
| 5:00pm–9:30pm | Cloisters investigation departs every 20 minutes |
| 7:00pm | Candlelit Courtyard Concert begins |
| 9:30pm | Last entry to the cloisters investigation |
| 11:30pm | Market last orders |
| 12:00am | Holywell Street event closes |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: Oxford Castle car park is about a 15-minute walk to New College — central Oxford is largely pedestrianised, so public transport into the centre is genuinely the better option here. By train: Oxford Station is a 15-minute walk to New College.
🕐 Entry & times
Daily 4:00pm–12:00am, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026. A valid ticket for your chosen date admits you to the whole evening; the timed headline experience needs its booked slot. Arrive a little before your slot — late arrivals are accommodated in a later slot subject to availability.
⚠ Code of conduct
Prohibited at all events: real or imitation weapons, full-face masks that prevent ID checks, and glass containers. Costumes are welcome within those limits. Security searches may be carried out on entry. Abusive or threatening behaviour, or failure to follow venue instructions, means removal without a refund.
Content note: Outdoor cloister garden section, stone floors, cold — dress warm. As a working college, quiet and respectful behaviour is required throughout the cloisters — this is not a jump-scare heavy event. The street market is lively and unrestricted. Good for: History and architecture fans · Students · Paranormal investigators · Anyone wanting a full Oxford evening, not just one attraction
Getting there
Where
Venue
New College
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Before you book
Good to know
Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
Genuine historic buildings. Expect uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes. Venues are cold and dark.
No physical contact takes place. All vigils are guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. Genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code per guest. Save it as PDF, add to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium for a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to.
Do I need experience?
None at all. Guides run every session and stay with your group the whole time.
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, QR per guest
- Secure card checkout — total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
£28.00
Early Bird — 20% off