Boo! 10 of the most haunted places in the UK

If you love being spooked then perhaps you should test your mettle and pay a visit to one of the most haunted places in the UK. Check out our list below, if you dare…

1. Tower of London

The Tower of London has a long and bloody history and has seen hundreds of executions and murders over the last 1000 years. It is one of the most visited buildings in the UK, and also supposedly one of the most haunted. Regular ghosts in the tower include Arbella Stuart, the cousin of King James I who was imprisoned it the tower and probably murdered there. She has often been sighted in the Queen’s House. Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, has been heard screaming in the ‘Haunted Gallery’ by visitors.

But the most famous resident of all is Ann Boleyn, another of Henry VIII’s wives, who was beheaded in the tower and has been seen many times, carrying her own head over Tower Green and in the Chapel Royal.

Whether you see any spirits or not, the Tower is a great day out for adults and kids and you are guaranteed to see the Crown Jewels. Tickets are around £22 for adults, £11 for children and £60 for a family of up to 5.

2. The Red Lion in Avebury

The 400 year old Red Lion Inn in Avebury, Wiltshire is, incredibly, located inside the Avebury Stone Circle - a World Heritage Site and the largest circle of its kind in Europe. The mystery of these circles only adds further to the strange goings-on at this pub which is well known for being haunted. The pubs ghostly resident is a woman called Florrie who was killed by her soldier husband after he discovered she had been unfaithful. He threw her body down the Inn’s well and sealed it off and she haunts the building to this day. Despite this though, the pub is very popular as a great place to eat and drink for those visiting the circle and children and dogs are welcome.

3. Borley Rectory

Borley Rectory in Essex is a popular site with ghost hunters because there have been many reports of unexplained happenings, spooky orbs and eerie shadows and ghost sightings there. The site was once home to a Victorian mansion constructed in 1863 and it was destroyed by fire in 1939, although the ghostly phenomena did not disappear with it the house. The ghosts of both a nun and a headless horseman are regularly seen here. Although the rectory no longer stands, you can visit the site and Borley Church nearby (also said to be haunted!).

4. Pendle Hill

Pendle Hill is located in the east of Lancashire and is a popular area for walkers. The hill was the site of the Pendle Witch Trials, where 11 people living in the area were accused of being witches and were blamed for the deaths of 10 local people by use of witchcraft. 10 were found guilty by trial and executed by hanging. The spirits of the accused are said to still be very much present in and around Pendle Hill. The hill is an excellent place for walking and you can walk the Pendle Witches Trail which takes you around some of the areas associated with the story including where the witches are buried!

5. Glamis Castle

Beautiful Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland has several spooky stories associated with it. Most notably that of the Monster of Glamis, a hideously deformed child born to the family who once lived here and kept hidden away from sight in his room. There is also a Grey Lady who was burned at the stake after being wrongly accused of plotting to poison the King. There are also the ghosts of a woman with no tongue (no one knows who she is), a young boy (badly treated servant), and the cruel and wicked Earl Crawford (who wakes up people in their beds). The castle and its grounds offer a fun family day out despite these horrors and there are excellent guided tours available. A family ticket to the castle is around £28.

6. Culloden Moor

Home to the last ever battle on British soil, Culloden Moor near Inverness in Scotland was the location of a brutal and bloody 40 minute ordeal which saw the entire army of the Jacobite rebellion fall dead and defeated by the Stuarts. On the anniversary of the battle, the dead soldiers are said to rise and their cries can be heard. The site has a very interesting visitor centre detailing the history of the battle through interactive displays, short movies and audio guides that make for a good family day out. You can also enjoy a relaxing bite to eat in the centre’s restaurant before heading out for a walk (ghost hunt) on the moor.

7. Samlesbury Hall

Samlesbury Hall in Lancashire is known as one of the most haunted houses in Britain. On a visit to the hall you can learn the turbulent stories of its past residents, including the tale of the ‘White Lady’ who died of a broken heart and has been seen roaming the hall many times. In the Great Hall, guests have often described feeling uncomfortable - some have even been slapped on the back of the head for no apparent reason! The hall retains its impressive black and white exterior and is full of interesting displays and guided tours. This is a great and cheap family day out at around £3 for adults and just £1 for children.

8. Village of Pluckley

The village of Pluckley in Kent is considered the most haunted village in Britain. Stories include a screaming man who fell to his death, knocking noises coming from beneath the church floors, a hanging school master, a murdered highwayman, a lady in red and various other phantom sightings at various locations in the village. The nearby Dering Woods, also known as the ‘Screaming Woods’, are also an excellent place to enjoy a light stroll and catch a glimpse of over 25 species of butterfly and stunning displays of bluebells, and maybe a ghost.

9. Berry Pomeroy Castle

Berry Pomeroy Castle is a romantic ruin near Totnes in Devon and also the subject of a number of legends and ghost stories . There are reported sightings of a woman in blue who is said to beckon for help from visitors, but she is in fact luring them to her tower where they fall to their death! There is also said to be a ‘White Lady’ who haunts the dungeons after being imprisoned there by her sister. You can take a walk in the beautiful grounds, enjoy a picnic and children can have fun in the play area. Admission is around £5 for adults and £3 for children.

10. Blickling Hall

Once home to the ill-fated Boleyn family, Blickling Hall is an impressive Jacobean house in Norfolk. The 2nd wife of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, is said to be seen wandering through the house headless on the anniversary of her execution – this ghost seems to haunt a lot of locations! Anne’s father Thomas has also been seen wandering the estate, as have headless horses. The house is excellent to visit, whether you see the ghosts or not, and the gardens and grounds are perfect for a walk and a picnic. The house has a number of interesting exhibitions including a nationally important book collection. Admission to Blickling Hall is around £21 for a family.

The UK is full of interesting and mysteriously spooky attractions. All these haunted places also make great days out, just be sure you don’t leave with any uninvited guests…