Where are England’s Most Haunted Places?
Do you believe in spooks? If you do, there are plenty of places in England that claim to be haunted.
England’s castles and forts are more than just stone and history. Many of them hold chilling secrets that stretch back for centuries. If you like your ghost stories wrapped in mist and old legends, these places offer more than enough to make you shiver. Here are a few places where the past never seems to rest.
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle sits in the wilds of Northumberland and has seen battles, sieges, and sorrow since the 12th century. Its walls have witnessed untold cruelties, giving rise to some of the most unsettling tales you’ll hear in England.
The most famous ghost is the Lady in White. She’s said to drift through the corridors, her presence felt as a cold splash of air and sometimes seen as a faint shimmer. Her story is one of grief and isolation, believed to be the restless spirit of a noblewoman who died waiting for her lost love.
Modern ghost hunters are drawn to Chillingham for more than its stories. In recent years, several paranormal teams have caught chilling EVP (electronic voice phenomenon) recordings—faint cries or whispers picked up in empty rooms. Visitors even report icy chills and sudden headaches, especially in the castle’s ancient dungeons .
Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon
Tucked deep in the Devon countryside, Berry Pomeroy Castle looks like it stepped out of a fairy-tale. In daylight, it’s picturesque; at dusk, it feels like the ghost stories could reach out and grab you.
Locals know all about the Blue Lady. Legend claims she’s the tormented daughter of one of the Pomeroy lords, trapped by her own family and left to suffer. People say she lures visitors towards unsafe corners, hoping to swap her sorrow for theirs. Some have seen her trailing along the battlements or caught her sad, almost pleading eyes peering from the shadows.
Inside the crumbling walls, eerie stains that look like dried blood puzzle everyone. Cold spots, which can feel like someone’s breathing on your neck, are reported even on hot afternoons. Paranormal investigators believe these are “active” haunts—signs that the Blue Lady, and perhaps others, still harbour unfinished business.
The best time to explore Berry Pomeroy’s haunted past is in the quieter months from September to March. Early evenings are ideal, as the castle empties and the light shifts, deepening the shadows. For safety, go with friends and take a torch—you never know who or what you might stumble upon.
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill sits above rolling Lancashire hills, famous for its wild mists and bleaker tales. In 1612, this quiet spot became the centre of the infamous Pendle Witch Trials. Ten local people (mostly women) were tried for witchcraft, their fates sealed in the courts of Lancaster. The story still hangs over the valley like a cloud.
The hill rings with odd noises at night—low moans, snatches of laughter, and the thud of footsteps with no visible source. Some walkers swear they spot shadowy figures slipping through the trees and across the open moor. Locals say you can sometimes feel as though someone’s watching, just out of sight.
With every gust of wind and shifting shadow, Pendle Hill keeps its secrets close. But for those brave enough to wander its slopes after dark, the past feels very near indeed.
The Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island
The Pilchard Inn looks like it slipped straight out of a pirate’s tale. Perched on Burgh Island, this rugged 16th-century inn has been drawing in fishermen, smugglers, and curious travellers for over 700 years. The inn itself is all low beams, sea-rattled windows, and battered wooden tables with plenty of history soaked into every floorboard.
The main ghost is a sailor, spotted at dusk or in stormy weather. Locals call him Tom Crocker, a regular from the days when the island was a favourite hideout for thieves and wreckers.
Staff tell of seeing Tom’s pale face in the old, salt-stained windows, especially on stormy nights when the tide cuts the island off from the mainland. Sometimes, guests hear heavy, staggering footsteps in the empty rooms or catch the faint scent of pipe smoke drifting from nowhere.
Every year, the inn hosts a ghost night, drawing regulars and thrill-seekers. The staff put out candles, dim the lights, and let the old tales fly. The beer flows, neighbours swap ghost stories, and a few brave visitors try to snap photos of Tom’s restless spirit.
Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
This inn doesn’t just have a haunting or two. It’s known as one of the most haunted homes in England, and most visitors agree it feels wrong before you even open the front door. Dating back to 1145, the Ancient Ram Inn began as a priest’s house and later served as a hospice. Over the centuries, it’s seen fires, tragedy, and even talk of dark rituals.
The inn’s grimmest tale is that of a family murdered on site, an event that’s left more than just a mark on the memory of the place. Staff and guests have reported seeing shadowy shapes rushing through dark hallways and hearing the cries of children late at night. Some even say they’ve been pushed or scratched by hands they cannot see. Doors slam, lights flicker, and rooms suddenly turn icy cold.
Screams and cries are so common that many workers refuse to stay alone after dark. Visitors report feeling watched, their hair standing on end as they pass the old hospice room.
The Old Bell (a Norwich pub)
Hidden in the tangled lanes of Norwich is The Old Bell, a pub that’s filled pints and spooked drinkers since the 13th century. Built over an even older cellar, the pub’s got character in every nook and a cast of ghosts to match.
The best-known spirit is that of a former landlord. People claim to see him wandering the cellar at closing time, keys rattling in his hand. Sometimes, customers hear clinking glasses when the pub is empty or spot drinks being nudged across tables by invisible hands. It’s the sort of detail that makes every round feel like it’s watched by another set of eyes.
If you’re heading over for a drink, the best seat is in one of the pub’s quieter corners, where you can soak in the spooky past and maybe catch a glimpse of a shadow slipping past. Regulars say the ghosts are friendly enough, just keen to keep the spirit of the place alive.
The Most Haunted Island on Earth?
Isle of Wight residents claim to live alongside around 160,000 ghosts of various sorts (some friendly, others not). So much that tourists can (enjoy?) regular ‘ghost walking tours’.
One site said to be haunted is the gardens on the site of the old Royal National Hospital, which treated patients with TB. Although demolished in 1969, the hospital which overlooked the cliffs above Ventnor is said to have strong ley lines that run underneath. Everything is energy, so it could be possible that there’s a strong vibration of earth magnetics here, more so than in other places.
People have seen figures in nurse uniforms moving along empty corridors, the sound of soft footsteps on the old tiles. The chill in the air is sharper than the weather outside, even in summer. During wartime, the hospital cared for injured troops. Reports say some of these “phantom nurses” care for soldiers they never wanted to abandon.
This post (in teeny tiny writing almost too small to read) gives a haunting view of the patient records, which still exist. Louis Etienne Lafor was the second-ever patient (just 20 years old) and it makes for heart-breaking reading:
04.11.1869
Diagnosis: Consumption both lungs for 7 months. Cavity right lung 3rd stage.
Prognosis: Rather unfavourable. Benefit hardly likely to be permanent.
08.11 Confection of Rose (rosehip syrup), fire in room if required.
22.11 Treatment tonic: iron and quinine, a dessert spoon occasionally.
25.11 Continue treatment.
28.11 Died at 02.45am
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey sits high over the North Sea, with winds that feel like they’re carrying voices from the past. Its broken arches and lonely columns have inspired stories for centuries, and some say the true hauntings come after sunset.
Locals whisper about the sea captain who lost everything in a shipwreck just off the coast. As the story goes, he returned in spirit, looking for his lost crew and still hoping for rescue that never came. On certain nights, those climbing the famous 199 steps swear they spot a shadowy figure among the ruins or hear the flap of a long coat in the wind.
When night falls, the abbey is open for twilight walks, letting visitors enjoy the moonlit stone and sweeping views of the coastline. For the best atmosphere, stand near the west front as the wind whips through the ruins. The cold cuts deeper than you’d expect, and it’s easy to see why so many leave certain they weren’t alone.
Hastings – The Sea Captain’s Ghost
The old harbour of Hastings has a different kind of chill. The sea has always taken as much as it gives here. For decades, people have talked about a drowned sea captain who still roams the harbour, drawn back by unfinished business.
He’s most often spotted on foggy nights, drifting along the pier or the shingle beach. Fishermen and late-night wanderers say they’ve glimpsed a lantern swaying in the dark, then spotted a shadowy figure before it melts into the sea air. Some claim the captain is looking for his lost ship; others say he guards the harbour from storms.
Hastings runs a regular ghost walk covering the town’s strangest stories. The walk finishes with a trip down to the sand, so you can listen to tales as the waves crash in.
Pluckley, Kent: England’s Most Haunted Village
Pluckley often earns the title of England’s most haunted village. With over a dozen reported ghosts, local stories linger like mist in its narrow lanes. The village looks charming, but ask anyone nearby and you’ll hear about odd things after dark.
Among Pluckley’s best-known spirits are:
- The Highwayman – Stabbed during a failed robbery and pinned to a tree; locals have spotted his dark figure waving by Fright Corner.
- The White Lady – Said to wander the churchyard of St. Nicholas, this sorrowful ghost wears old-fashioned clothes and sometimes glides through the locked church doors.
For visitors chasing a proper scare, a self‑guided walking tour is easy to manage. Start at St. Nicholas Church, where you might sense the White Lady’s presence among the stones. Head next to Fright Corner to watch for the highwayman’s ghost.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
Blickling Hall is a stately home with a strong Tudor past, but most visitors come hoping to spot one ghost in particular: Anne Boleyn. She was born here, and every year on the anniversary of her death in May, she’s said to appear near the gardens. Dressed in white, sometimes holding her head under her arm, Anne’s silent figure glides along the moonlit path before fading back into the mist.
The Hall itself oozes history, with stories hidden in its old brick corridors and echoing rooms. Its mix of oak panelling and wide staircases make it easy to imagine shadows at play.
Ipswich – Christchurch Mansion
Christchurch Mansion, set in a leafy park in Ipswich, dates from the 16th century. Once the site of lavish parties, it’s now a quiet museum. When the crowds leave, the past seems to return—especially if you find yourself on one of the building’s upper floors.
Many staff and visitors talk about regular chills and unexplained sounds, but the most unsettling story is about the crying child in the attic. Whispers claim this ghostly figure belongs to a young servant who once worked for the house’s wealthy owners. Some nights, muffled sobs echo from the roof spaces, and a few brave souls have gone up to check, only to find the attic chillingly empty.
Are These Hauntings Real (or made up?)
Energy is everywhere, and no doubt sometimes there is truth in it. But we must always remember that England (a nation of storytellers) has more haunted places than anywhere, a coincidence or not?
And there’s a lot of business to be had for ‘walking tours’ for tourists who like this sort of thing.
What is certain is that it’s best not to play around with these kinds of things. TV programs like ‘Most Haunted’ just make it like it’s all a bit of fun, which of course it isn’t.
Experts say that ‘ghosts’ are usually souls that have not moved on, often due to being killed quickly (hence why so many are murder or hanging victims).
Perhaps ask your local priest to perform a service, to send their souls to happier places!
What’s the Science on Haunted Houses?
Scientists say nearly always, it’s simply someone’s wish often to see a dead relative, or hallucinations. There have been investigations, and often people are in sleep paralysis, which is when their brains prevent their bodies from moving.
One civil engineer has found a strong link between mould and houses that are ‘haunted’. This has given rise to why some children act strange in mouldy houses.
It could cause shortness of breath and inflammation of the optic nerve, which can then cause things to ‘float’ in front of people’s eyes.
One vicar who does go out to weird events, says it’s rare to be possessed by something demonic. He says he deals with around four cases a year, and spends the rest of the time talking about them.
But he does say that (whatever your religion), it’s best to avoid dodgy practices. He warns against ‘psychic evenings’ and dabbling with ouija boards and seances. Unfortunately there are ‘bad spirits’ in the world. But he says you can only really ‘catch them’, if you invite them in.
