Britain is basically the Disneyland of ghosts, just with more screaming and fewer churros. If you like getting spooked, you’re in luck because Britain has tons of haunted places. Take the Tower of London, for example. Some say Anne Boleyn’s ghost still wanders around, probably still mad at Henry VIII. Imagine getting executed and stuck haunting the same place for centuries — talk about bad luck.
Now, if you’re the type who believes in ghosts but also hates getting scared, consider this your official warning. What you’re about to read might make you sleep with the lights on. But hey, I dare you to book a ticket to the UK after reading this if you’re not broke and visit one of these haunted spots that I am about to tell you.
Just don’t blame me if a ghost follows you home. But when you get back home from these haunted places, make sure to check your bed before going to sleep. Now, grab your ghost-hunting gear, and let’s get spooky!
1. Tower of London
Tower of London is a castle and if you don’t know the history, lemme tell you about it just a little. So, Tower of London is a castle. This castle was built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s.
After years passed, King Henry VIII killed his wife in this castle — well, I guess not killed by King Henry VIII, she was executed in the Tower of London because she didn’t give birth to a male heir. But King Henry lied to everyone, saying she committed adultery, and everyone believed him and they wanted to execute her.
Her name was Anne Boleyn, a very beautiful lady. Her head was chopped off on May 19, 1559, which means she died. Her last words were: “I am come hither to die,” means I am judged to die and therefore I will speak nothing against it.
It’s very sad, I know. But the past is the past, so wipe your tears. But here comes the spooky part.
Some witness reported that Anne’s ghost was seen where she was buried near the chapel. Apparently, a guard saw her (Anne’s ghost). She was carrying her head in her hands towards the chapel in the moonlight.
But this is not the only ghost in this castle. Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York — the two young princes — were locked in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, and were never seen again. Their disappearance remains a mystery, and some believe the boys’ spirits haunt the Tower.
Guards and visitors have reported hearing footsteps, children’s laughter, and the sound of small voices whispering in the corridors.
Another ghost of this castle is the White Lady. The White Lady is Henry VIII’s fifth wife. Her name is Catherine Howard. Catherine Howard was executed in this tower for adultery. She is often seen walking the grounds in a white gown, particularly near the Bloody Tower, where she was held before her execution.
Now, if you got scared reading this, you will probably faint when you go to this castle. So, here is the location of this castle: London EC3N 4AB, United Kingdom, and the opening times: 9am to 4:40pm every day.
2. Edinburgh Castle (Scotland)
The castle has a wonderful view, so if you want a good profile picture, this place is for you. And if you are a scaredy-cat, this place is also for you because the ghosts in this castle are kind of funny — no, not kind of, they are funny!
For example, the ghost of Sir George Villiers, a British nobleman, is said to haunt Hampton Court Palace. He reportedly likes to play pranks on visitors, especially by rearranging items in rooms or tapping people on the shoulder when no one is around. Ghosts aren’t always bad.
Edinburgh Castle has a long history of ghostly activity, but one legend involving the Headless Drummer (who’s also the star of many ghost tours) mentions that his ghost sometimes drums in a “ghostly parade” when an important event is happening in the castle. He is just trying to join the fun.
There is also a ghost in the workplace: the ghost of the Grey Lady, who haunts the Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh. She’s been seen walking through rooms in the palace, but the fun part? She’s said to be quite the workaholic ghost! She appears when the staff is on duty and often seems to be checking in on their work. She is said to have been seen playing a haunting melody on a piano that no one else can see.
Hey scaredy-cat, I know you’re going to stop reading because you’re scared of the scary ghosts, so here’s the location of this castle: Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NG, UK. The opening times: 9:30am to 5pm every day.
3. Borley Rectory (Essex)
This house was built in 1862. It was built on the site of an older monastery. This house has some mysterious writing on the walls. Witnesses claimed ghostly hands would write messages like “Marianne, help me” on the walls! This was supposedly aimed at Marianne Foyster, the wife of one of the rectors.
This is not it, there’s more. Apparently, late at night there was a headless horse — not 1 but 2 headless horses — racing down the driveway at night. They also reported that a coachman was driving it.
In 1937, Harry Price rented the rectory for a year and recruited 48 volunteers to help investigate. He even held séances to contact spirits, making it one of the first “ghost-hunting” experiments.
Also, some workers saw a brick floating around on their own. Even after the rectory was destroyed, people still report ghostly activity in Borley Church. Some believe the spirits simply moved next door!
There was a mysterious fire in this house in 1939. A fire destroyed much of the house. By 1944, the remaining structure was demolished.
Skeptics believe the fire may have been accidental rather than supernatural. Paranormal investigator Harry Price conducted famous studies in the 1920s and 30s. He claimed to have witnessed ghostly phenomena like messages appearing on walls and objects moving.
4. The Ancient Ram Inn (Gloucestershire)
This castle is said to be one of the most haunted houses in England. Can you please stop shivering?
OK, so it was originally built in 1145. This was a house for the masons and the slaves. They were working on the nearby St. Mary’s Church. This house later became an inn and a private residence.
The inn is believed to be built on a pagan burial ground. Some claim Ley Lines (mystical energy paths) run through the property, connecting it to Stonehenge.
It’s home to many spirits like a monk, witch, and even demonic entities. Visitors and paranormal investigators have reported cold spots, unexplained noises, ghostly apparitions, and even being physically attacked.
There is a Witch Room in this house. Legends, aka me, say the witch was burned at this house and now her soul just chills here. Skeletons and daggers were found in this inn and people say ritual sacrifices took place here.
A former owner of this house, his name is John Humphries, he used to live in this house alone and he said he was attacked by the ghost regularly. Regularly! Brother still decided to live here after he was attacked by a ghost — oh wow!
If you want to get attacked by spirits, then here’s the location: 8 Potters Pond, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7HF, England. Good luck, bro.
5. Hampton Court Palace (London)
Hampton Court Palace is one of the most famous royal palaces in England, packed with history and ghosts. This place was originally built in 1514 by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
If you don’t know him, he was King Henry VIII’s top advisor. But when Wolsey fell out of favor with Henry, he gifted the palace to the king — not really, Henry took it.
Henry’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was dragged down this place’s hallway before the execution. Her ghost is known as the Screaming Lady. This Screaming Lady has been spotted screaming down the corridor.
This place also has a maze. It’s been built to confuse and trap visitors. Imagine you get trapped in the maze and the Screaming Lady comes.
In 1986, a huge fire destroyed part of the place, but nobody knows exactly how it started. Luckily, many priceless artifacts were saved, and the palace was restored.
But the ghost doesn’t end here. There’s more.
Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymour, actually died at Hampton Court in 1537, just days after giving birth to Henry’s only male heir, Edward VI. Unlike Catherine, Jane’s ghost is quiet. She’s often seen gliding down the Silverstick Stairs near the room where she died, dressed in a white robe.
A former nurse to Prince Edward VI, Sibell Penn, died in 1562, but she apparently didn’t stay dead. In the 1800s, after workers disturbed her tomb, people started hearing ghostly spinning wheel sounds coming from behind a wall. When they broke through, they found a secret chamber — and the noises mysteriously stopped.
6. The Isle of Skye (Scotland)
This place isn’t just scary, it’s so beautiful and it’s really huge. Skye is the biggest island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, stretching about 50 miles long. It also has a small population — it has just over 13,000 people living there.
There is a Fairy Pool here. One of my wise friends told me that fairies used to shower there. But don’t think you can swim here too — it’s deadly.
There are also dinosaur footprints. Yes, actual dinosaur footprints have been found on Skye, dating back 165 million years! You can still see some of them at Staffin Beach, left behind by prehistoric creatures.
Let me also tell you a bit of history — Bonnie Prince Charlie. After his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie fled to Skye. He famously disguised himself as a woman to escape the British troops.
Now here are the ghosts.
In the Dunvegan Castle, home of the MacLeod Clan for over 800 years, it is said to be haunted by a Green Lady — a ghostly figure seen wandering the halls. The castle also has the Fairy Flag, a mysterious ancient banner said to bring victory in battle.
This island also has a real monster. The Isle of Skye may be magical, but it’s also home to swarms of midges — tiny, evil biting insects. They attack in the summer, so bring bug spray unless you want to be their dinner!
7. Pluckley Village (Kent)
This place is a beautiful place, a very beautiful village. But don’t let it fool you because this place is the most haunted village in England.
But before I tell you about the ghosts, lemme tell you a quick fact. This place has been on TV! Because of its haunted reputation, Pluckley has been featured on ghost-hunting shows like Most Haunted and Ghost Hunters International.
Pluckley was in a James Bond movie! Some scenes from The Living Daylights (1987) were filmed here. Imagine filming a spy thriller while ghosts are lurking around.
Now time for the scary stuff. Just outside Pluckley, there is Dering Woods (nicknamed The Screaming Woods). These are infamous for blood-curdling screams heard at night. Legend says the screams come from the spirits of lost travelers and murdered villagers.
Some say ghostly shadow figures follow people through the trees. I am definitely going here alone.
Now the story is about to get a bit sad and disturbing, so warning.
Anyways, there was a schoolmaster who took his own life by hanging himself in the village. His ghost is now seen swinging from a tree, and people report strange choking sounds when they walk past the spot.
8. Pendle Hill (Lancashire)
Let me tell you some facts about this place. The most famous witches in England used to live here. The Pendle Witches were a group of 12 people accused of witchcraft in 1612. Ten of them were executed by hanging, making it one of the biggest witch trials in history.
If you love witches, then this place is the best for you. People report strange lights, ghostly figures, and eerie whispers when walking near the hill — especially at night.
Now here’s the ghost.
A ghost named Alice Nutter was one of the Pendle Witches, but she was wealthy and respected. But she was wrongfully accused. Some believe she was framed, and now her spirit roams the hill, seeking justice.
A shadowy figure in a long cloak is often spotted near Roughlee, where Alice lived.
The Pendle Witches were held at Lancaster Castle before their execution. Visitors say you can hear screams and sobbing from the cells where they were kept.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the scariest place to visit, I highly recommend Edinburgh Castle. From my own experience, it was the scariest place I’ve been to. I went there with friends, and we made it even scarier than it actually was, which made it a lot of fun.
But, before you book your tickets to these places, make sure to bring extra pants. I guarantee you’ll be so scared, you might just wet your pants!