The United Kingdom has a darker side. Behind its rolling countryside, medieval castles and cobbled streets lies a rich and chilling history of paranormal activity, restless spirits and unexplained phenomena. Whether you are a seasoned ghost hunter or simply curious about the unknown, the UK offers some of the most haunted locations on the entire planet. We have done the research so you do not have to, although we cannot promise you will sleep afterwards.
Here are the 10 most haunted places in the UK, and what makes them so terrifying.
1. The Tower of London, England
Few places carry as much dark history as the Tower of London. Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, this iconic fortress has served as a royal palace, a prison and a place of execution. Over the centuries, thousands met their end within its walls, and many are said to have never left. Cheerful place for a day out.
The most famous ghost is that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, who was beheaded here in 1536. Witnesses have reported seeing her headless figure wandering the corridors of the Tower, particularly near the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula where she is buried.
Other reported apparitions include the Princes in the Tower, two young boys murdered in 1483, and the ghost of Lady Jane Grey, seen gliding through the grounds on the anniversary of her execution.
Visiting: The Tower of London is open to the public year round. For the full paranormal experience, consider booking a night tour. Just maybe do not go alone.
2. Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Perched dramatically on volcanic rock above the city, Edinburgh Castle is Scotland's most visited and most haunted landmark. The castle has witnessed centuries of warfare, imprisonment and death, and its ghostly residents very much reflect that turbulent past.
Visitors and staff have reported the phantom of a headless drummer boy, seen on the battlements before times of conflict. Others have encountered the ghost of a piper who disappeared while exploring underground tunnels beneath the castle and was never seen again, though his music is still heard echoing below the streets. We would argue that is even worse than seeing him.
During a scientific investigation in 2001, hundreds of volunteers reported unexplained experiences including sudden drops in temperature, shadowy figures and the overwhelming feeling of being watched.
Visiting: Edinburgh Castle sits in the heart of the city and is open daily. Ghost tours run regularly throughout the year and are absolutely worth booking.
3. Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England
If one building could be considered the most terrifying in Britain, many paranormal investigators would point straight to the Ancient Ram Inn in Wotton-under-Edge. Built in 1145, this crumbling inn is believed to sit on a pagan burial ground, and its history is soaked in darkness.
Former owner John Humphries, who lived there for decades, claimed the building was plagued by demonic activity from the moment he moved in. He reported being dragged from his bed on his very first night by an unseen force. Most people would have left. John stayed for decades. Respect, John.
Investigators have documented some of the most extreme paranormal activity ever recorded in the UK here, including full bodied apparitions, objects moving on their own and the alleged presence of a demonic entity in the Bishop's Room, considered by many to be the most haunted room in Britain.
Visiting: The Ancient Ram Inn offers overnight ghost hunting experiences for those brave enough to stay. Sleep optional.
4. Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, England
Hampton Court Palace, the magnificent Tudor residence of Henry VIII, is home to one of Britain's most dramatic ghost stories. Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife, was arrested for alleged adultery in 1541. According to legend, she broke free from her guards and ran screaming down the gallery towards the chapel to beg Henry for her life. He refused to see her and she was dragged away to her eventual execution.
That gallery, now known as the Haunted Gallery, is where her screaming apparition has been seen and heard ever since. Visitors have reported feeling sudden overwhelming dread when passing through, and several have fainted without any explanation at all.
Visiting: Hampton Court Palace is open to the public and offers special ghost tours during Halloween season. Worth every penny.
5. Chillingham Castle, Northumberland, England
Described by many as England's most haunted castle, Chillingham Castle in Northumberland has a history so violent it is almost unimaginable. During the medieval border wars between England and Scotland, prisoners were tortured and executed here in truly horrific fashion.
The most infamous ghost is the Blue Boy, a young child whose skeletal remains were discovered inside a ten foot thick wall during renovations. He was found surrounded by scraps of blue clothing and is said to appear at the stroke of midnight, crying out in terror. After the bones were given a proper burial the appearances lessened, but never stopped entirely.
The castle also hosts the ghost of Lady Mary Berkeley, whose husband abandoned her for her own sister. Her rustling dress is heard moving through the corridors as she endlessly searches for him. Honestly, can you blame her.
Visiting: Chillingham Castle is open to visitors and offers ghost hunting weekends throughout the year. One of our personal favourites.
6. Pendle Hill, Lancashire, England
In 1612, the Pendle Witch Trials resulted in the execution of ten people accused of witchcraft, one of the most notorious witch trials in English history. The bleak and brooding landscape of Pendle Hill in Lancashire has been associated with dark magic and restless spirits ever since.
Walkers on the hill have reported seeing dark shadowy figures following them, hearing whispered voices with no obvious source and experiencing an overwhelming sense of dread as they approach the summit. The nearby village of Newchurch in Pendle is said to be home to several of the witches' spirits. A lovely Sunday walk this is not.
Visiting: Pendle Hill is open to walkers year round. The area comes alive with paranormal events every October around Halloween, if you dare.
7. Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland
Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is widely considered one of the most haunted cemeteries in the world, and honestly, this one is firmly on our to do list. The graveyard dates back to 1562 and is the resting place of thousands, many of whom died in horrific circumstances during religious persecution in the 17th century.
The most feared presence here is the Mackenzie Poltergeist, the spirit of Sir George Mackenzie, nicknamed Bluidy Mackenzie, who was responsible for the imprisonment and torture of hundreds of Covenanters in the adjoining Black Mausoleum. Since a homeless man broke into the mausoleum in 1999, hundreds of visitors have reported being scratched, punched, burned and knocked unconscious by an unseen force. A poltergeist that physically attacks people. Brilliant.
Visiting: City of the Dead Tours run nightly ghost tours through Greyfriars Kirkyard. Not recommended for the faint hearted, and we mean that genuinely.
8. Borley Rectory, Essex, England
Once described by paranormal investigator Harry Price as the most haunted house in England, Borley Rectory was a Victorian mansion in Essex that became the centre of extraordinary paranormal activity from the moment it was built in 1863.
Residents and visitors reported seeing the ghost of a nun walking the grounds, phantom coaches drawn by headless horses, mysterious writing appearing on walls and furniture moving on its own. Harry Price conducted extensive investigations throughout the 1930s, documenting hundreds of unexplained incidents. The rectory burned down in 1939 and was demolished in 1944, but the site in the village of Borley still attracts paranormal enthusiasts from around the world. Locals continue to report unexplained activity to this day.
Visiting: The village of Borley is accessible to visitors though nothing remains of the rectory itself. Sometimes the history alone is enough.
9. Mary King's Close, Edinburgh, Scotland
Beneath the streets of Edinburgh's Royal Mile lies one of Scotland's most chilling historic sites. Mary King's Close is a network of underground streets and rooms that were sealed off in the 17th century when the city built over them. Residents were reportedly sealed inside during a plague outbreak, which is the kind of thing that tends to leave a mark on a place.
The most famous ghost is Little Annie, the spirit of a young girl whose doll was left behind when her family fled during the plague. Psychic medium Aiko Gibo claimed to encounter Annie's spirit during a visit in the 1990s and left a doll as a comfort. Visitors now leave toys for Annie, and the collection has grown into one of Edinburgh's most poignant and genuinely moving sights. Bring tissues.
Visiting: Mary King's Close offers guided tours daily beneath the Royal Mile. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, it sells out regularly.
10. Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland
Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of the late Queen Mother, is one of Scotland's most beautiful and most mysterious castles. It is also home to one of the country's darkest secrets, the Monster of Glamis.
Legend tells of a hideously deformed child born to the Bowes-Lyon family in the 19th century who was kept locked in a secret room within the castle walls, hidden from the world entirely. Whether true or not, the story has fuelled centuries of paranormal fascination and shows no sign of stopping.
The castle is said to be haunted by the Grey Lady, believed to be the ghost of Lady Janet Douglas who was burned as a witch in 1537, as well as the spirit of a young servant boy who sits silently outside the Queen Mother's sitting room. The castle's famous sealed room is said to hold a secret so terrible that those who have discovered it refuse to ever speak of it. We would like to say we would be brave enough to find out. We would be lying.
Visiting: Glamis Castle is open to the public from April to October and is a fascinating and spine-chilling day out in equal measure.
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