The UK is home to some of the most breathtaking and impressive historical buildings, towns and cities, all brimming with remnants of the past. Yet with centuries upon centuries of history, not all has settled down and got lost in time – and some gruesome and violent memories lurk in the shadows til this day.
From ghost stories and eerie apparations to unexplained happenings and overwhelming feelings, the country has plenty of local legends and unnerving rumours tucked away, even in the smallest villages.
With a history steeped in royal executions, bloody sieges and tragic family dramas, the events of the past have come back to haunt some of Britain’s most noteworthy landmarks and natural landscapes.
From castles to stately homes, haunted cities to creepy forests, some destinations are gearing up to embrace the spectres stirring around their grounds with special Halloween events, while others offer ghost tours or paranormal investigations all year round. Many are simply operating businesses as usual, but can’t escape the odd unearthly sensations from time to time.
Here are some of the most haunted places to discover in the UK this Halloween.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
This Jacobean stately home in Norfolk is known for having centuries-old gardens and 4,600 acres of woodland to explore, as well as one of the most extensive private library collections in the UK. However, the historic home has a sinister visitor once a year. It is said that Anne Boyeln, who was born at the hall and beheaded by her husband Henry VIII on charges of treason and adultery, appears every year on 19 May, the anniversary of her execution. Anne Boleyn’s apparition is said to be dressed in all white, carrying her severed head still dripping with blood, and it arrives by coach driven by four headless horsemen on four headless horses. With tickets starting at £15, adults can wander the house and discover its history.
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill is most famous for the witch trials of 1612, when 10 people were executed on the moors after being found guilty of witchcraft and murder based on hearsay. Some 400 years later, Pendle Hill has become synonymous with the ‘witches’ of Pendle, who are now said to haunt the surrounding villages. Those who go to the hill itself say there is an atmosphere of anger. Visitors can walk the ‘Witches Trail’ on Pendle Hill, tracing the steps of the Pendle Witches, and tours are available for those who want to learn more about the horrific murders and executions in 1612.
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Corfe Castle, Dorset
Dorest is known for its mesmerising 95-mile stretch of Jurrasic Coast, natural phenomenons like Durdle Door and, of course, the 1,000-year-old fortress Corfe Castle. The castle is a popular day trip to explore the ruins and admire the views across Purbeck. Yet Corfe Castle also has an eerie aspect to its history. Lady Mary Bankes defended the castle during the civil war twice in two sieges, until she was ultimately betrayed by one of her allies, allowing Parliamentary soldiers to take over the castle. Visitors have claimed to have seen a headless Lady Bankes stalking the castle gates, before fading away into nothing.
Pluckley Village, Kent
It may only have a population reaching just over 1,000, but Pluckley Village has made a name for itself since being awarded the dubious accolade of “the most haunted village in Britain” in the Guinness Book of Records in 1989. There are said to be around 10-12 local ghosts that haunt the village, including The Red Lady and The White Lady who stir around St Nicholas’ Church, as well as the hanging body of a schoolmaster on Dicky Buss’s Lane and a phantom coach and horses parading around the village. Visitors can take a self-guided ghost tour around the village to see if they can catch a glimpse of these unnerving spectres, or have a wander through the rather picturesque Dering Woods where walkers have reported hearing hair-raising screams coming from deep between the trees.
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Dover Castle, Dover
This medieval castle has been witness to many battles, sieges and wars, including when it was used in the effort to evacuate hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in World War Two. Some have claimed that there are presences hiding in the shadows of the twisty secret tunnels, having felt unearthly occurences. One member of a tour group even dropped to the ground, claiming someone walked right through him. The most famous phantom of Dover Castle is a marching drummer boy, with his decapitated body stalking the castle grounds, often banging his drum. At £16 for children and £25 for adults, Dover Castle is hosting kid-friendly Halloween days this half term.
Treasurer’s House, York
York has long been dubbed one of the ‘most haunted cities in Europe’ due to its violent and dark past, with more than 500 tales of hauntings within the city walls. One such tale is set at the Treasurer’s House, where marching Roman military phantoms have been heard through the cellar walls. This is not the only strange occurrence at the historic house, with chairs moving to the middle of the room, unexplained cigar smoke, and even a grey lady spotted sitting on various chairs. On past occasions, children visiting the house have climbed onto a historic chair in the tapestry room. It’s only when adults tell them to get down, that many have the same spooky response of “the lady told me to”. From £10 for adults and £5 for children, visitors can learn about the past of the historic townhouse.
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Whitby, Yorkshire
Whitby is known for having many connections to the spooky world, including Whitby Abbey inspiring Bram Stoker to write his novel Dracula after visiting the dramatic ruins. There have been many sightings of scary spectres shooting around the Yorkshire seaside town. It is said that those who climb the 199 steps to get to the seaview vantage point at night may turn to look at the abbey and see a ghostly horse and carriage barrells towards them, with the driver excessively whipping the horses to travel faster. Another ghost story lies in the quaint pub the White Horse and Griffin in the centre of town, once owned by a very cruel landlady in the 19th century, who met her demise when she slipped down the outside steps and cracked her head on the cobbles. Some say if you have stopped in for a pint and start to feel uneasy, the former landlady has taken a dislike to you. Ghost walks are available around Whitby for anyone daring to take a closer look at the paranormal goings on.
Buckland Abbey, Devon
Buckland Abbey began life as a Cistercian monastery, but later became a grand house, with its most famous inhabitant being that of privateer Francis Drake, who was slave trader during the Elizabethan era. Local legend says that Drake haunts the abbey since his ghost took residence at Buckland after signing a pact with the devil. As punishment, Drake has been condemned to the abbey, accompanied by a pack of howling hell hounds. With ticket prices starting at £15 for adults, guests can visit the house and gardens to discover the medieval and Tudor history.
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Craig y Nos Castle, Swansea
While the Gothic castle of Craig Y Nos is often used as a romantic wedding venue as its views stretch out over the Brecon Beacons National Park, this charming destination also has an unearthly presence about it. The castle was once the home of Victorian opera singer Adelina Patti, and was also once used as a tuberculosis hospital. Some claim that quiet singing whispers can be heard in the private opera house, as well as footsteps approaching guest. A TV crew creating a show about the hauntings said they felt an overwhelming presence of a child being pushed out the window. The castle is not shy about its occasional bumps in the night, offering guests a range of paranormal tours, including seances, table tipping, and overnight investigations. Special Halloween events such as all-night ghost investigations and murder mystery weekends are also hosted here.
Margam Castle, Port Talbot
The site where this 19th-century Tudor Revival mansion now stands has been occupied for over 4,000 years dating back to the Iron Age. While visitors can look around the grounds and portions of the interior, it should be warned that Margam Castle is no stranger to spooky happenings, even attracting ghost hunters from Los Angeles to try and uncover the mysterious spectres. It is believed that one spirit haunting the castle is Robert Scott, a gamekeeper who was murdered by a poacher, leaving his ghost to rage around the grounds. Scott has been seen ascending the Gothic staircase leading up to the castle, but his anger also leads him to slam doors and hurl objects across the room. Other presences, such as the sound of giggling children or running footsteps, have been heard when there was no sign of anyone else in the building. The castle is hosting Fright Nights on and around Halloween for children and adults. The entire castle can be also rented out for paranormal investigations.
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Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
From Edinburgh Castle to the South Bridge Vaults, the Scottish capital is teeming with phantoms, ghosts and spooky happenings. One of Edinburgh’s most haunted corners is down Mary King’s Close, an underground road just off the Royal Mile in the historic Old Town. Hidden underneath the city lies this underground street where working-class citizens used to live between the 17th and the 19th centuries. The area was hit hard by the deadly plague, and due to the crowded living conditions, disease spread rapidly through homes. While there have been many apparitions spotted there, the most famous is that of a little girl named Annie. A well-known Japanese medium named Aiko Gibo visited the close in the 90s and made contact with Annie after she clutched her trouser leg. Gibo purchased the girl a doll and said so long as the doll remained, the room would never again be disturbed by her spirit. That was until 2019, when the doll disappeared into thin air. Tours are run within the close for people to travel back in time and witness what life was like in plague-stricken Edinburgh.
Drovers Inn, Stirling
The Drovers Inn is thought to be one of the most haunted hotels in Britain, with guests reporting terrifying encounters with the apparations. The story goes that one 17th-century family were on a long journey, trying to reach the Drovers Inn for a place to rest but ended up losing their way and froze to death while wandering the land. Many claim to have seen the young family circling the nearby area during the winter months. One couple, who were staying in Room 2, said they woke one night with a cold shiver, only to find the family standing at the edge of the bed, with the young boy waving up to them, as if he was happy they finally found their destination. The 300-year-old Drovers Inn also operates as a normal place to stay, with rooms and pub food available.
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Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast
The former prison Crumlin Road Gaol was shut down in 1996 after 150 years. While it was operating, the Northern Irish jail had murderers locked behind its bars, and witnessed inmate deaths, executions, escapes, hunger strikes and riots. While the prison has been connected with paranormal activity since it shut, some former prison offers and prisoners suggest that other-worldly happenings occured even while it was still operating. Past visitors have experienced strange sounds, doors slamming by themselves and voices calling out for help, as well as a man walking down the C wing then vanishing. The prison offers paranormal tours to those who dare to learn more about the prison’s spine-tingling past.
Ballygally Castle, Antrim Coast
Most will know Ballygally Castle as a highly-regarded four-star luxury hotel, with scenic views overlooking the fine sands of Ballygally Bay and the Irish Sea, popular with coastal getaways and wedding celebrations. However, lurking in the shadowy corners is believed to be one of the castle’s most famous phantoms, the tragic Lady Isabella Shaw, whose family built and owned the grand structure. The story goes that after giving birth to a daughter, her husband took the baby from her and locked her in a small room. Starving and harrowed by her baby’s cries, Isabella tried to escape but fell on the rocks below. Some say that after her death, she wandered the hotel corridors at night, knocking on doors trying to search for her little girl. Guests who have the guts can pay a visit to Isabella’s room in the old part of the castle to learn more about her alleged tragic ending.
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