Do you love a good ghost story? I do, and I love watching the many ghost hunter TV shows that are available. Because of its age and long, sometimes violent, history of betrayals, wars and feuds, Britain is a hotbed of paranormal activity.
This list includes some, but definitely not all of Britain’s most haunted places that will send shivers down your spine whether or not you believe in ghosts. The great thing is, even if you’re a skeptic, the places on this list are still worth a visit for their history and beauty.
The Tower of London
I’m not a huge fan of London, the crowds and fast pace aren’t for me. But, I absolutely love the Tower of London. It’s a beautiful place, packed with history and said to be one of the most haunted places in England.
The Tower of London is most well known for housing the Crown jewels, and it was home to many prisoners during their last days before they were publicly executed. Some inmates over history have included Sir Walter Raleigh, Thomas Cromwell, Guy Fawkes, the Kray twins and the Cato Street Conspirators. But, probably the most famous resident, and one of the many spirits that roam the tower and its grounds, is Anne Boleyn, the estranged wife of Henry VII who lived her last days in the tower before she was beheaded.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
This is another place Anne Boleyn is said to haunt. It’s built on top of the remains of her family manor and she’s said to return each year around the middle of May. Both workers and visitors have claimed to have seen her spirit, as well as ghosts of other people.
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
The British countryside is beautiful, and Pendle Hill is no exception. It’s a great place to hike and the views from the summit are amazing. But it also holds a dark past. It’s said that 10 witches were buried under the hill after being hung at Lancaster Castle during the 1612 trials. The most famous of the 10 is Alice Nutter, who was found guilty of murdering Henry Milton using witchcraft.
Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire
The ruins of Whitby Abbey overlook the North Sea. It also has connections to Dracula, which makes it even more creepy. It’s said that Constance de Beverley, a young nun, was bricked up in the walls of the Abbey when she broke her vows, and her ghost still roams the ruins. The abbey’s founder, St. Hilda, is also said to haunt the area, and a ghostly hearse with a headless driver and four headless horses has been seen in front of St. Mary’s Church, which is very close to the abbey’s ruins.
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle is near the Scottish border in the northern part of Northumberland. By many, it’s considered to be the most haunted house in England. Some of the ghostly spirits in the Castle include a blue boy who haunts the Pink Room, a white lady in the pantry and a poltergeist who haunts King Edward’s Room.
There’s also a torture chamber where John Sage, otherwise known as the Butcher of the Scots, who is said to have tortured and killed over 7,500 people in the three years he was the torturer at the castle. Many of those spirits are still said to haunt the castle.
Pluckley Village, Kent
Can you imagine an entire haunted village? That’s exactly what you’ll find in Pluckley. This beautiful little village held the Guinness World Record as the most haunted village in Britain in 1989.
It’s believed that there are as many as 16 ghosts in the village, including The Watercress Woman, who has been seen sitting smoking a pipe on Pinnock Bridge. There’s also been sightings of a highwayman hiding in a tree near the Pinnock, the ghost of a Gypsy woman who drowned at the Pinnock and a ghostly coach with horses that’s been seen in several places around the village.
The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
The Ancient Ram Inn dates back to the 12 century and is said to be the location of a lot of sinister occurrences, including suicide, child sacrifice and black magic. It was also used as a hideout by criminals at one point.
The inn is haunted by many spirits, including a witch and two demons. People have claimed to see ghostly apparitions and spectral orbs. Many who have visited the inn have said it’s the scariest place they’ve ever been to.
Aston Hall, West Midlands
Aston Hall is a huge red brick manor house that was built in the 1630s. It’s said to be home to many ghosts including Dick, the houseboy who hanged himself, a housekeeper in a green dress and Mary Holte, the daughter of the hall’s owner who was imprisoned at the hall for 16 years after trying to run away.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon
Berry Pomeroy Castle was built to be the grandest house in Devon, but now sits in ruin. There are two female ghosts in these ruins, the White Lady and the Blue Lady. The White Lady is thought to be the ghostly spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who was imprisoned by her sister in the castle’s dungeon after they both fell in love with the same man. The Blue Lady is said to lure passers-by to her help in the castle tower, and then push them to their death. Visitors have also claimed to hear women crying near the tower and see glowing blue lights.
Borley Rectory, Essex
This Victorian mansion was destroyed by fire in 1939 but still has a reputation for being haunted. Many locals have reported seeing unexplainable paranormal activity. The first reporting was in the 1860s when disembodied footsteps were reported. Ghosts said to haunt the rectory include two headless horsemen, a nun, and a phantom carriage. Other paranormal activity includes the servants’ bells ringing and bottles being thrown.
Manningtree, Essex
The tiny town of Manningtree was home to Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General. His witch trials resulted in the trials of about 300 women, all believed to be witches, and the death of about 100 in the area. The ghost of Matthew Hopkins is said to haunt the area and can often be seen on nights with a full moon. The ghost of his first victim, Elizabeth Clarke, is also said to haunt the shore of nearby Seafield Bay.
Glamis Castle, Scotland
Glamis Castle is an enormous castle built during the 14th and 15th centuries. It’s home to at least nine ghosts, including a white or gray lady, a butler who was hanged, a green lady, a servant boy who likes to trip visitors and a woman with no tongue who haunts the grounds. Some other spirits you may encounter in the castle include Earl Beardie, who likes to lean over people while they sleep, Malcolm II, and a ghost known as The Monster, a child who is deformed that is said to have been born in the castle.
