Oxford has plenty of ghost stories to tell. Behind its famous colleges are tales of restless spirits, ghostly friars and strange encounters.
Tom McDonnell says he has seen street lights switch on and off 55 times along Magpie Lane and Merton Road. Local legend links them to Prudence Burcote, said to be searching for her French lover, who vanished during the English Civil War.
Tom has led walking tours in Oxford for around 16 years and now guides The Oxford Ghost Tour for City Sightseeing Oxford. His interest in the paranormal also led him to interview around 40 people for his book, Dead but Awake: A Collection of Paranormal Encounters from the Shadows of Oxford.
Spooky Isles spoke to Tom about the city’s ghost stories, unusual experiences on his walks and why Oxford’s history makes such good material for a tour after dark.
Spooky Isles speaks to Tom McDonnell
SPOOKY ISLES: How did you first become involved with ghost tours, and how long have you been leading ghost walks in Oxford?
TOM McDONNELL: I’ve been doing walking tours of Oxford for around 16 years. I’ve always been fascinated by the paranormal, so leading ghost tours was a natural progression.
What makes Oxford such a good city for a ghost tour?
The architecture, the atmosphere (especially when it’s dark) and the blood-splattered history of Oxford, which includes the town vs gown riots and the English Civil War.
Is there one Oxford haunting or location you particularly enjoy talking about?
I am very interested in the Prudence Burcote haunting on Magpie Lane. Prudence is still looking for her French lover who vanished during the English Civil War.
Are there any ghost stories in Oxford that you think deserve to be better known?
Yes, perhaps the ghosts of Wadham College. Strangely, there were multiple sightings of ghostly friars at Wadham in the late sixties. The college was built on the site of an old friary, which fell victim to the dissolution of the monasteries.
Have you seen anything strange happen on one of your tours?
There’s an urban legend that the street lights go on and off on Magpie Lane and Merton Road when Prudence wanders the streets searching for her lover. I’ve seen it happen 55 times.
Have guests ever reported seeing, hearing or feeling something unusual?
Yes, some guests have reported feeling a sense of unease on Merton Road. There’s also a spot near Merton College chapel where customers’ pet dogs often start barking at something invisible.
Is there a particular story or location that consistently gets the strongest reaction?
Yes – the Grey Man at the Bear story.
Do you approach the stories mainly as folklore and history, or have your own experiences made you more open to the paranormal?
I often try to investigate the origins of the legends, but I also include stories that I’ve heard first hand and sometimes include some of my own experiences.
Are there historical figures, buildings or events that appear repeatedly in Oxford’s ghost stories?
Yes, there’s a lot of ghost stories connected to the English Civil War, when King Charles I based himself in Oxford.
What led you to write Dead but Awake: A Collection of Paranormal Encounters from the Shadows of Oxford?
I’ve always had a deep-rooted interest in the paranormal. When I was five years old, my school report stated that I had an unhealthy obsession with the paranormal. The book is a result of around 40 interviews that I’ve conducted over the period of a decade. I felt compelled to produce a book which didn’t merely regurgitate the established paranormal legends of Oxford.
I am currently working on another book, ghost stories from around the world.
What would you say to someone who knows Oxford during the day but has never explored its darker side?
Well, it’s always an interesting experience to wander the lesser-trodden streets of Oxford in the dark and hear the many stories of the dead, the dead … but seemingly awake.
Join the Oxford Ghost Tour
Tom McDonnell leads The Oxford Ghost Tour for City Sightseeing Oxford, exploring ghost stories and the city’s English Civil War history.
The 75-minute tour departs at 5pm daily from 24 October to 1 November 2026. Meet at the City Sightseeing Oxford Visitor Information Point, 44–45 High Street, Oxford, and arrive at least 10 minutes early. Many streets are cobbled.
Find out more and book The Oxford Ghost Tour.
For more Oxford hauntings, explore Oxford’s haunted colleges and the ghosts of Oxford Castle and Prison.
