Things To Do

O2 Academy Oxford

190 Cowley Road, Oxford, OX4 1UE, GB

Rating: 4.2 ★ (1863 ratings)

Details

O2 Academy Oxford stands as a vibrant live music and nightclub venue nestled in an historic Edwardian building on Cowley Road. This establishment boasts a lively atmosphere, playing a pivotal role in Oxford's music scene over many decades. Its unique character, stemming from its past as a Co-operative party hall and later the much-loved Zodiac, offers visitors a dynamic setting for experiencing contemporary music and club nights.

This renowned venue features three adaptable performance spaces, with the main downstairs auditorium accommodating around 1020 patrons and a more intimate upstairs room designed for approximately 436. Visitors can anticipate excellent acoustics and an electrifying experience, whether attending a show by an internationally acclaimed artist or discovering emerging local talent. Notably, the building holds a piece of music history, having been the location where Radiohead filmed the video for their debut single 'Creep' in its earlier incarnation as The Venue.

The O2 Academy Oxford is an ideal destination for music enthusiasts, particularly those who appreciate live performances and energetic club events. It consistently draws a diverse range of modern bands, solo acts, and themed club nights, appealing to a passionate and engaged audience. Whether seeking a memorable concert experience or a lively night out, this venue provides a stimulating backdrop for visitors to Oxford.

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Location

Opening Hours

Monday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Tuesday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Wednesday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Thursday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Friday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Saturday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM; Sunday: 7:00 – 11:00 PM

Contact

+44 1865 603880

Comments

Catherine
7 Jun 2026
5.0 ★
Amazing location for a gig, easy to get to and great staff, really friendly. Outstanding accessibility support prior to and on the night which made our visit possible, we really appreciated this, thank you!
Ginny Norris
16 May 2026
5.0 ★
A great venue, lovely staff. Special thanks to Florence for being so helpful when I was having a problem with accessing my online tickets! Oh, and the PWEI gig was amazing, obviously!!
Oana
1 Apr 2026
5.0 ★
Recently visited the O2 Academy in Oxford and had the best time at the Don Broco album release show.
The team were extremely helpful and quick with all my accessibility queries and it really helped put my mind at rest that everything would be sorted on the day!
Special thanks to Florence and Oliver for being patient and answering all my emails :-)
The venue was very easy to get to via bus from the train station and even though it's quite small, it didn't feel crowded and we were out in less than 5 minutes from barrier at a sold out show which I thought was pretty great.
Ross Kuklinski
28 Mar 2026
5.0 ★
Amazing night taking my kids to watch Holly Humberstone. We had an accessible companion ticket and early entry, the communication was brilliant beforehand and enabled us to access a gig we otherwise wouldn’t have been able to me to
Dave
20 Jan 2026
5.0 ★
Attended the Frank Turner & the sleeping souls gig @ The O2 Academy Oxford 11/4/25, wow what a great gig!, Frank turner and his band always gives they all and we had a great time at a great venue, it was quite an I intimate gig as Frank Turner has played big stadiums and some big venues , also most of his band come from Oxford, so a bit of an hometown gig!.I would thoroughly recommend the O2 Academy in Oxford, the staff are so friendly and helpful and we are always feel safe when we have attended gigs in the past ( lots of them).If your into new bands the oxford venue is for you and is one of the best venues to see the latest under the radar bands before they play the bigger venues.
Jassen Payen
17 Jan 2026
5.0 ★
Really impressive venue, very intimate, great views and great atmosphere. Can't wait to catch another gig here.
Adrian Cox
10 Jan 2026
4.0 ★
Attended as an Access customer,over all staff were fantastic, evening didn't start so well as we were left to queue for entry for 15 minutes, being disabled this was difficult, buy the time we went in I was having real problems! Once in though the area for us was great, although the view of the stage was severely compromised buy the bar, and also later in the evening there was no control over who entered the access area and ended up with people stood at the bar Infront of us! Also the trip to the toilets was difficult as had to cross the entire crowded floor to reach them. All in all though the venue was trying it's best with the situation it has. And a Massive thanks to the bar man who walked along every now and then to get any drinks required.
Lorraine Jackson
6 Jan 2026
3.0 ★
Protoje appeared at this venue last night as part of their UK tour.
The performance was fantastic and as expected. The atmosphere was filled with a happy, energetic and loving vibe.

The bar Staff were friendly and totally proficient in keeping a clean and tidy serving area and efficient service.

The security on the door were welcoming, friendly and so polite in carrying out the searches, giving directions and taking the time to ask if we had enjoyed ourselves and to come again soon!

My only issue with the place is the overpriced bar and filthy toilets.

Unfortunately this venue is not suitable for anyone with disabilities and their is a lack of adequate seating areas for those who can not stand for sustainable periods of time.

Having said all that, there is great line-up of artists performing in the coming months and the added advantage is that you can pay on the door at most gigs
Cassandra Hammond
2 Jan 2026
5.0 ★
We were a group of 3 50(ish) year olds and thoroughly enjoyed this event. We were able to access the bar and toilets without too much of a queue, the playlist was immense and we are looking forward to the next event.

Communications with the team was also so reassuring putting my mind at ease as i am disabled and measures were put in place to ensure i was able to enjoy myself as much as everyone else. Thank you O2 Academy :)
R R
27 Nov 2025
5.0 ★
Monday night gig. We went to watch the Babyshambles. The venue was packed but still felt very intimate. No queuing and easy access to the bar. Staff and security very friendly and available. Ladies toilets in need of tlc, but still plenty available. Easy parking within 5mins of the venue. We had a great night!

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