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Top Spine-Chilling Haunted Places in the UK
The UK boasts some of the most hair-raising haunted Places that are sure to give you goosebumps. From ghostly castles to eerie manors, these chilling sites have histories steeped in enigma and the paranormal. If you’re an adventurer with a penchant for the eerie, these haunted spots will undoubtedly etch an enduring mark on your senses.
For those seeking spine-tingling destinations intertwined with supernatural tales, the United Kingdom presents a wealth of options. From age-old castles to eerie manors, these ghostly locales promise to send shivers down your spine. If the idea of encountering ghosts doesn’t faze you, why not explore the UK’s most haunted places and confront an array of spooks, spirits, and specters?
Whether you’re seeking thrills during Halloween or consider yourself a year-round ghost enthusiast, here’s a compilation of the UK’s most haunted sites to ignite your next specter-filled journey.
1. Jamaica Inn, Cornwall
The Jamaica Inn is one of the most Haunted places in the UK. This is an old inn on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, UK. It was built in 1750 as a coaching inn and has a connection to smuggling. It’s located near Bolventor, originally used for changing horses. Close by is the “Tuber” hill at 1,122 feet (342 m).
Daphne du Maurier’s 1936 novel, Jamaica Inn, is set here, depicting smuggling as tense and thrilling. In the story, it becomes a smugglers’ meeting place and warehouse. Alfred Hitchcock made a film based on the novel in 1939 but didn’t film at the actual inn.
Tori Amos’ song “Jamaica Inn” from the album The Beekeeper (2005) was inspired by the inn’s legend. The inn is believed to be haunted by a highwayman and a murdered smuggler due to Cornwall’s pirate history. The bar is the most haunted part, with stories of footsteps believed to be a returning spirit.
2. Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill stands in eastern Lancashire, England, near towns like Burnley, Nelson, Colne, Brierfield, Clitheroe, and Padiham. Its peak rises to 557 meters (1,827 ft) above sea level.
Legend says Pendle Hill shelters the spirits of 10 witches. These witches were accused of killing 10 people and hanged at Lancaster Castle in 1612. Their resting place is said to be the ominous hill. They are believed to linger in the nearby buildings and villages. This draws many believers in the supernatural to East Lancashire.
Pendle Hill’s history is intertwined with witchcraft and dark ceremonies. It housed the Pendle witches who were accused of ten murders in the 17th century. This led to the hanging of ten women after facing execution. People visiting the witches’ haunting grounds often sense anger. The location was even featured on the “Most Haunted” TV show, labeled as their scariest filming site. Today, individuals ascend the hill on Halloween with hopes of glimpsing apparitions.
3. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon
Berry Pomeroy Castle, a mansion from the Tudor era, stands by a prior castle near Berry Pomeroy village in South Devon, England. The Pomeroy family, owners since the 11th century, constructed it during the late 15th century.
Considered one of the UK’s most haunted castles, Berry Pomeroy in Devon hosts various ghostly inhabitants. The initial one is the Blue Lady, who roams the dungeons. Legend suggests she leads people into the castle, causing them to become lost.
The castle is also home to the White Lady, who was starved by her envious sister in St Margaret’s dungeons. She’s been spotted waving to castle visitors, evoking feelings of fear and sadness.
4. The Tower of London
Some claim that the infamous Tower of London, located in a well-known area of the city, is one of the most haunted places in the UK. It served as a prison from 1100 to 1952 for those disliked or disloyal to the British Royal Family. Most prisoners faced public execution.
The Tower of London, an impressive stone fortress, was a residence for various royal families and notable individuals who lived and died within its grey walls. One such individual, Thomas Becket, reportedly haunts the tower. In 1483, Richard of Shrewsbury, Edward V, and a young princess were murdered here, with their ghostly apparitions sighted. Anne Boleyn was beheaded here in 1536, followed by Catherine Howard six years later, both leaving behind haunted spirits.
With centuries of history, the Tower of London stands as a witness to the past, accompanied by stories of restless ghosts. Tales of spectral figures like Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh wandering the corridors contribute to the eerie atmosphere.
5. Aston Hall, West Midlands
Aston Hall, a remarkable Jacobean house in Aston, Birmingham, England, designed by John Thorpe, and constructed between 1618 and 1635, holds Grade I status. It exemplifies the Jacobean prodigy house style.
This red-brick manor, completed in the 1630s, has accumulated several ghosts. Its first occupant, Sir Thomas Holte, reportedly killed his cook. The ghost of his daughter, confined for 16 years until her death, is believed to roam the halls. Joining her are the apparitions of Holte’s houseboy and a ‘green lady’, likely his housekeeper. Ghostly Royalist soldiers might also be spotted. Aston Hall’s staircase bears a cannonball hole from the English Civil War siege.
Birmingham Corporation purchased the house in 1864, marking the first instance of a historic country house coming under municipal ownership. The ownership remains with Birmingham City Council. Today, it operates as a community museum managed by Birmingham Museums Trust. After an extensive 2009 renovation, the house is accessible to the public.
6. Plas Mawr, Conwy
Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan townhouse in Conwy, North Wales, dating back to the 16th century, was built by Robert Wynn in three phases from 1576 to 1585. It cost about £800. Wynn’s hospitality and reliance on local resources sustained the household. After his death, complex estate division instructions led to a legal case, preserving the house’s original state.
Plas Mawr, located in Conwy’s historic walled town center, is a remarkable Elizabethan townhouse. Robert Wynn’s family lived here, and eerie tales of their troubled history persist. The pregnant Dorothy lost her balance on the stairwell, injuring herself and her son while waiting for Robert’s return. They sought help, but an unfamiliar young man was locked in with them. The Wynns and the man died; he vanished into the chimney. Robert vowed revenge. To this day, their spirits are said to haunt the house with strange noises, sights, and misty apparitions.
7. Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle, this fortress is believed to be haunted due to its history. The dark dungeons and poorly lit hallways hold centuries of stories, and it’s said that the troubled souls of the past still roam inside.
Chillingham Castle holds the title of England’s most haunted castle, with over 100 reported ghosts. Originally a monastery before 1246, it was later converted into a castle. The castle is located in Northumberland, near the Scottish border.
8. Borley Rectory
On the list of the most haunted places in the UK is Borley Rectory known as England’s most haunted house, Borley Rectory has fascinated ghost enthusiasts for years. Stories of ghostly figures, mysterious noises, and eerie happenings continue to spark paranormal interest. Its eerie history and unexplained events attract those seeking a spooky experience.
The Gothic-style rectory had been considered haunted since its construction, with reports increasing in 1929 after psychic researcher Harry Price’s visit. His accounts, published in the Daily Mirror, supported claims of paranormal activity.
Formerly a grand Victorian mansion in Borley village, the mansion was destroyed by fire in 1939. Locals have reported numerous inexplicable incidents, including footsteps, headless apparitions, a nun’s ghost, ringing bells, phantom carriages, and thrown objects. The Daily Mirror’s coverage of paranormal investigator Harry Price’s visit to the mansion in the 1860s first brought attention to its paranormal activity.
9. Woodchester Mansion
Woodchester Mansion, located in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire, England, is a partially built Gothic revival mansion. It stands on the grounds of the former Spring Park house. The mansion has a Grade I listing and houses around 200 greater horseshoe bats in its attic. Researchers have continuously studied these bats since the mid-1950s.
Situated in Gloucestershire, this mansion remains incomplete, showing its Gothic charm externally. Yet, upon entering, one can notice missing rooms, flooring, and wall plasters. Throughout time, it gained renown as the area’s most haunted spot. Both locals and visitors have shared eerie experiences, such as spotting a tall man in the chapel or encountering a ghost in the cellar.
10. Pluckley, Kent
The tenth on the list of most haunted places in the UK is Pluckley, situated in Kent, England, a village with a civil parish in the Ashford district. It includes the nearby Pluckley Thorne hamlet.
In 1989, the Guinness Book of Records recognized Pluckley as Britain’s most haunted village, noting 12 reported ghosts. However, the legitimacy of these claims was later questioned by a Daily Telegraph journalist in 2008.
Pluckley has been featured in various supernatural TV shows like Most Haunted and Ghostly Legends. Episode 22 of the “How Haunted?” podcast showcased a ghost walk in the village, which continues to attract amateur ghost hunters. Notably, the churchyard of St Nicholas is said to be haunted by the Red Lady or Lady Dering from the 12th century, along with other reported hauntings such as a monk, and highwayman. These hauntings converge at a road junction known as Fright Corner. During or “Screaming” wood is also considered a focal point of paranormal activity.