Britain is an old country, wherever you turn you’ll find yourself face to face with history, from ancient castles to Roman ruins to local tales, there is always something for Britain’s dare devil visitors who want a good fright.
Here are a selection of the most haunted places in Britain for those of you who want to spend Halloween trying to summon a ghost or two.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is reportedly Europe’s most haunted city. It’s a beautiful city so even if you aren’t into ghosts, you should give Edinburgh a visit, the castle, the Royal Mile, the shopping district, the old buildings, there are plenty of things to marvel at. When in the city you can visit Mary King’s Close, where victims of the plague were sealed up to die, there are also ancient jails, hanging sites and rumours of spirits floating through the streets.
Pluckley, Kent
Edinburgh might be Europe’s most haunted city, but Pluckley in Kent is supposedly Britain’s most haunted village, it was even entered into the Guinness Book of World Records back in the eighties for its ghosts and ghouls. There are several apparitions for you to look out for when visiting, so if you’re here during Halloween, keep your eyes peeled.
Hampton Court Palace, London
Henry VIII is said to haunt Hampton Court Palace along with two of his wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. Hampton Court is a great place to visit if you fancy travelling out of the centre of London, the grounds and the house are beautiful and well worth the trip, even if you don’t spot long dead Kings wondering the halls.
Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny
Skirrid Inn in Abergavenny, Wales, is one of the oldest inns in the country and is supposed to be the most haunted pub in Wales. It dates back to the Norman Conquest and has seen every horrible aspect of Welsh history from executions to witchcraft. You can stay overnight in the pub if you dare and see if you experience any of the paranormal goings on.
Whitby Abbey, Whitby
Whitby Abbey’s ruins are quite something to behold, especially if you catch it on a day where the sky is looking dramatic and moody. As it was made famous by Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula, it is no wonder that people have started reporting spooky goings on when visiting. Whitby isn’t the only place to supposedly have a vampire lurking around. Highgate Cemetary in London is also said to have had a vampire on the grounds.
Tower of London, London
As the site of executions throughout history, its no surprise that there are supposedly many tormented spirits lurking around the tower. There are the ghosts of two young princes who were allegedly murdered there by their uncle, Guy Fawkes and a number of other prisoners can also be spotted.
Cawdor Castle, Scotland
There is supposedly a handless girl who can be seen at Cawdor Castle in the Scottish Highlands. She is said to be the Earl of Cawdor’s daughter who was murdered at the castle by her father.
Lincoln
Lincoln has a headless horseman who has been spotted on the site of a 13th century battle ground. Being an ancient Roman settlement, we’re sure there are plenty of other spooky sights to behold and we suspect that after walking up Lincoln’s famous steep streets you’re likely to start seeing all sorts of things.
Holcombe, Somerset
The little village of Holcombe is a charming place with a dark past. Having succumbed to the plague, the whole village was moved slightly leaving behind an old church and a woodland. The Ring’o’Roses nursery rhyme is said to originate here and many ghost hunters have tried and failed to spend the night in the old church where the sounds of children playing, old clergy men and plague victims are said to keep you awake. A similar thing happened in Eyam in the Peak District, where the plague started after someone receive some material from London. To stop the disease spreading, the village cut themselves off, so inevitably, it’s a fascinating place to visit.
The Haunted Bookshop, Cambridge
In a quiet passage in Cambridge you’ll find the Haunted Bookshop, where a ghost that smells of violets is said to haunt the stairs. Whether or not this is true doesn’t matter, Cambridge is a great place to visit and who doesn’t love a bookshop?
Adam and Eve pub, Norwich
This pub dates back to 1249, so really its surprising that there haven’t been more reports of ghostly goings on. It is said to be home to a ghost called Sam who likes to ring bells, move ashtrays and sneak up on customers. The pub was once a monastic brewhouse so history fans will no doubt love to stop by for a drink or two.
Warwick Castle, Warwick
Aside from being a very interesting place to wander around for the day, Warwick Castle is said to be brimming with ghosts. So much so that it even offers overnight ghost hunts.
Lancaster Castle, Lancaster
Even if you don’t see any ghosts, those who are into witchcraft will want to visit. More than 400 years ago, 10 people were found guilty of witchcraft there and executed on the nearby moors. Supposedly the Pendle Witches can be seen and heard by those exploring.
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Visiting Cornwall will likely take you to beaches, country walks and pretty little villages, but if you find yourself there on a wild and windy night, stay clear of Bodmin Moor which is said to be guarded by the Beast of Bodmin. There have been countless sightings over the year of a panther-like big cat with yellow eyes that has reportedly attacked live stock in nearby fields. There was so much evidence in fact, that there was an official investigation into the Beast in the nineties.
This is by no means a complete list of the all the ghostly apparitions and paranormal reports that Britain has, we haven’t even delved into the mysteries of the woods in Ireland, or even touched on the so-called Liverpool timeslip.
Basically, if you’re on your travels around the UK during Halloween, you’re never too far away from something frightening.
