Bucks &amp; Oxon

Every family has at least one person who thinks they&#8217;d make an excellent detective. In mine, it&#8217;s my Robin Stevens-devouring ten-year-old, who can sniff out a hidden biscuit from three rooms away. So, arriving at <a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/little-black-book/directory/the-story-museum-oxford/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Story Museum</a>&#8216;s new <a href="https://www.storymuseum.org.uk/explore/mystery-academy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mystery Academy</a> without my resident sleuth in tow, I felt a little like Dr Watson turning up minus Sherlock: bumbling, yes, yet doggedly determined to uncover whether this was somewhere I&#8217;d soon be returning with said miniature Marple to conduct her own investigation. Deerstalker donned, I set about gathering clues.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Sharna-at-The-Story-Museum.jpeg" alt="Sharna Jackson The Story Museum" class="wp-image-206767" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Sharna-at-The-Story-Museum.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Sharna-at-The-Story-Museum-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Sharna-at-The-Story-Museum-1000x750.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Sharna-at-The-Story-Museum-400x300.jpeg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sharna Jackson at the Mystery Academy </figcaption></figure>



The Story Museum has always excelled at making children feel as though they&#8217;ve stepped inside a book, and Mystery Academy continues that tradition. At its heart is an original mystery by bestselling children&#8217;s author Sharna Jackson, she of the brilliant&nbsp;High-Rise Mystery&nbsp;fame (if your kiddiwinks haven’t yet read them in a single sitting, consider that at least one day of the hols taken care of). Here, she swaps her detecting duo Nik and Norva for a tale set in a fictional boarding school – the School for Young Detectives (what else?) – on the day that its headteacher, Miss Moyo, mysteriously fails to appear at the school&#8217;s open day.&nbsp;Dum-dum-dum. The task? Young recruits – that&#8217;s you and your budding super sleuths – must piece together her whereabouts by following a trail of clues.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/The-Story-Museum-Mystery-Academy.jpg" alt="mystery academy clues story museum" class="wp-image-206765" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/The-Story-Museum-Mystery-Academy.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/The-Story-Museum-Mystery-Academy-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/The-Story-Museum-Mystery-Academy-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/The-Story-Museum-Mystery-Academy-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



Without giving away too much (because what halfway decent mystery reveals its secrets before the grand denouement?), the experience unfolds through an interactive day at the school, with visitors progressing through lessons and following a breadcrumb trail of Miss Moyo’s dropped hairpins, each one leading you to a letter that will eventually crack the case. It gives the exhibition a narrative momentum that many interactive experiences lack and means there&#8217;s always another clue drawing you onwards.&nbsp;In turn, visitors become part of the story itself, turning everyone into clue-hunters extraordinaire.&nbsp;



But first things first. The shadowy tone is set from the entrance corridor onwards, thanks to a Teacher’s Gallery featuring the faces of some of the GOATs of detecting – think Morse to Marple to Precious Ramotswe. This is accompanied by the whispers of concerned pupils swapping scraps of info, the first clue that something is awry. Once inside, you’ll find Miss Moyo’s book-lined office at the centre (this is where you’ll pick up the tools you need for the case, aka pen and case sheet), before progressing from room to room on the scent.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Code-Story-Museum.jpg" alt="Morse Code Story Museum" class="wp-image-206770" style="aspect-ratio:1.5;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Code-Story-Museum.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Code-Story-Museum-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Code-Story-Museum-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Code-Story-Museum-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



I began my bloodhound work in Oxford’s very own Morse’s room – HQ of the school’s Master of Logical Deduction –&nbsp;where I discovered how to crack Morse code with a little help from those ever-present whisperers. Next up was Miss Marple’s class for ‘Shrewd Observation’, held in a deeply scholarly library (do look out for its secret door), followed by Lord Peter Wimsey’s science lab where you can expect to find bottles of cyanide, belladonna, wolfsbane and every other lethal concoction you might ever wish to handle with caution. And finally, it’s on to Sherlock Holmes’ quarters, where the granddaddy of them all instructs in The Art of Infiltration. (This means, FYI, donning disguises including an excellently theatrical cloak.)



This being The Story Museum, Jackson&#8217;s mystery is only the beginning. Along the way, would-be private eyes can delve into case files on some of children&#8217;s literature&#8217;s greatest detectives, with nods to masters of the whodunnit from Robin Stevens – the twenty-first-century answer to Agatha Christie – to Mark Haddon and his brilliantly observant Christopher Boone. Star Pupil profiles are proudly pinned to the walls detailing famous cases, and there is even a shelf of trophies celebrating literature&#8217;s greatest sleuthing achievements.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Trophy-Shelf.jpg" alt="trophy shelf" class="wp-image-206772" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Trophy-Shelf.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Trophy-Shelf-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Trophy-Shelf-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Trophy-Shelf-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



The Story Museum&#8217;s ambitious new flagship exhibition is aimed at children aged eight and above, which feels sensible. This is very much an experience designed for older children who can properly engage with the clues and immerse themselves in the mystery. Younger siblings may well enjoy the atmosphere and visual elements&nbsp;but some of the challenges could prove frustrating without plenty of parental assistance, as well as a reasonably high level of reading. However, if you have keen younger ones, the exhibition is designed so that you can either crack the central case or simply enjoy hunting for deeply cool objects such as early finger-print detecting kits, cameras designed for concealment and more.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-lego.jpg" alt="mystery academy lego" class="wp-image-206774" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-lego.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-lego-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-lego-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-lego-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



But what makes Mystery Academy such a winner is that the exhibition has been developed with The Story Museum&#8217;s own Story Curators – a group of 12–16 year-olds from across Oxfordshire – who, in weekly sessions, helped shape the rooms and experiences alongside Sharna Jackson and the museum’s production team. It means the whole thing feels as though it has been designed not just for children, but with them, too. You seriously can&#8217;t fault the creative little grey cells of the Story Museum team.



Part of the joy of Mystery Academy lies in the fact that it doesn&#8217;t talk down to children. The puzzles have enough substance to engage grown-ups too and, in fact, there may be occasions when competitive parents need to be gently reminded to let the children solve at least some of the clues themselves. Ahem.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1500" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Star-Pupil-board.jpg" alt="Star Pupil board" class="wp-image-206777" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Star-Pupil-board.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Star-Pupil-board-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Star-Pupil-board-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Star-Pupil-board-267x400.jpg 267w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



As for practicalities, allow around an hour, although families who love poring over clues could easily spend longer. The flow, meanwhile, feels natural and easy with no obvious bottlenecks –&nbsp;although there may be queues that form around the aforementioned red cape, because, well, who wouldn’t want to swish around Mystery Academy in&nbsp;that? While there are staff on hand to give pointers and hints, no one will hurry you or get over-involved if kids would rather be left to their own considerable devices. Oh, and do remember to take lots of pictures –&nbsp;there are opps aplenty for photos of your budding investigators.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Wing.jpg" alt="Morse's room Mystery Academy" class="wp-image-206775" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Wing.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Wing-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Wing-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Morse-Wing-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Morse&#8217;s room, photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



Then comes the question every parent asks before booking a family day out, particularly at a time when outings can require something approaching a second mortgage: is it worth the money? If your children love mysteries, escape rooms, detective stories or simply the thrill of solving things, it’s a resounding yes from us. And because much of the enjoyment comes from exploration and participation rather than passive watching, it feels like money well spent on an experience that keeps children actively engaged from beginning to end.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-kids.jpg" alt="Mystery Academy kids" class="wp-image-206781" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-kids.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-kids-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-kids-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-kids-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atlier</figcaption></figure>



Perhaps most importantly, it solves one of parenting&#8217;s trickiest mysteries: how exactly do you entertain tweens once they&#8217;ve outgrown soft play but before their weekends become entirely devoted to hanging around shopping centres? Genuinely exciting family outings for this age group can be surprisingly thin on the ground. Which is precisely why Mystery Academy – designed with young people and inspired by genuine mystery-writing royalty – feels like such an intriguing proposition.



Will I be back with the mini Marple? That&#8217;s elementary.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-muddy-verdict">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-puzzle.jpg" alt="Mystery Academy puzzle" class="wp-image-206779" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-puzzle.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-puzzle-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-puzzle-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/07/Mystery-Academy-puzzle-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo by Oxford Atelier</figcaption></figure>



Good for: Curious children, budding detectives, escape-room enthusiasts, kids who love logic and reasoning, and adults who secretly wish they lived at Hogwarts. It&#8217;s a clever, immersive new addition to Oxford&#8217;s family scene that finally gives older children something genuinely exciting to get their teeth into.&nbsp;Part immersive theatre, part escape room and part detective novel, Mystery Academy is exactly the sort of imaginative, story-led experience older children are crying out for.



Not for: Tiny toddlers or children who dislike puzzles or struggle to read clues.



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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Review: Mystery Academy at The Story Museum

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