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UPDATE: Check out the 100 most haunted places in the UK for 2019

The ultimate list of the 100 locations in the UK that are said to be the most haunted, including pubs, hospitals, haunted houses, castles, prisons and forests.

The 100 locations listed below are ranked in order of number of reports of paranormal activity, unique ghosts count and the longevity of the haunting up to 2018. After crunching all this data we've compiled the most complete list of paranormal hotspots in Great Britain.

100. St. Andrew's Church, Farnham

The most haunted church in the UK is a Grade I listed building in Surry, with surviving parts of the structure that date back to the Middle Ages.

The most commonly reported ghost at the church is that of an old lady who is seen walking through the main entrance on the north side of the building at exactly 6 o'clock when the church bells are ringing. So clear is her apparition, that most witnesses don't realise they've seen a ghost until they too step into the church and find she's completely vanished, as her spirit is never seen within the building.

One of the oldest claims of paranormal activity dates back to World War II, when fire guards were stationed at the church. They claim to have heard the disembodied sounds of a group of men chanting in Latin and say they saw strange lights moving in the darkness around the church from the tower.

And it's from this tower that visitors have reported seeing the ghost of a lady in white throw herself. Nobody has been able to shed any light on the identity of this White Lady who is presumed to have died as a result of the fall.

More recently, a former priest reported hearing the unexplained sound of horses at the back of the church, could this be connected to claims that Oliver Cromwell once stabled his horses at the church?

Many visitors have reported witnessing a strange semi-transparent curtain drop in between the altar and congregation during services, this was followed by strange lights and shadowy figures, which were visible behind the curtain.

One visitor even witnessed a ghostly church service while the building was empty. The vision of a pre-reformation mass took place at the altar and lasted for several minutes, complete with Latin chanting, swinging thuribles and the scent of incense smoke. The vision came to a sudden end when the rector and church warden arrived.

99. The Castle Keep & Black Gate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

The castle keep is the oldest part of the castle from which the city gets its name. It dates back to the 12th century and was once part of a larger medieval fortification. It is the oldest building in Newcastle, one of the best surviving examples of a Norman Keep and also the most haunted location in the city by far.

The keep's most famous ghost is known as the "Poppy Girl". She's said to have been a flower girl who was imprisoned in the castle and eventually died in incarceration. Her ghost has been sighted around the building and coincides with the smell of fresh flowers.

The Black Gate was added to the castle by Henry III between 1247 and 1250, serving as an additional barbican in front of the earlier north gate of the castle, this part of the castle is also said to be haunted. Its two most famous ghosts are that of a woman seen standing on a balcony watching visitors pass by below, and an apparition seen holding a baby.

Other paranormal activity in the old castle buildings includes the sounds of ghostly chanting coming from The Queen's Chamber in the keep, where a female apparition has been seen, and unexplained screams from the gallery, as well as disembodied voices and footsteps. Visitors to the castle have reported seeing black mists, feeling like they've been pushed or touched by unseen hands and even reported being scratched. Unexplained cold spots have been recorded around the building and dark shapes, light anomalies and strange mists have been captured in photos taken in the keep.

98. Wistman's Wood, Princetown

Wistman's Wood, Devon

 

This mysterious and magical oak woodland is thought to be what remains of a much larger forest that would have once covered much of the moor. What makes these ancient woods in Dartmoor National Park so unique is the shape and appearance of the trees. The branches are oddly twisted and contorted, stretching out and intertwining and twisting together like the crooked fingers of a witch. The spindly and gnarled trunks of the trees, some of which are as old as 500 years, zig-zag skywards from between a bed of granite boulders with a blanket covering of evergreen moss.

It's claimed that locals refuse to enter the woods at night due to its reputation of ghosts and hauntings. Wistman's Woods' most famous ghost is a phantom pooch known as Jumbo. It's said that he died while in the woods with his owner after being bitten by one of the many adders found there. Walkers have reported seeing the ghost of the small dog running around the boulders and his cries and whines have been heard echoing down the valley in the dead of night.

Another paranormal hotspot lies at the northern end of the woods. Lych Way, also known as "way of the dead" or "corpse road", was once a major route linking the remote communities of Dartmoor to the small village of Lydford. Corpses were carried along this track for burial in the village's cemetery. Locals and hikers say they've seen a ghostly procession of phantom monks in white robes walking slowly along this ancient pathway.

The woods are also said to house the diabolical hellhounds. This pack of large red-eyed jet black dogs with huge fangs are said to belong to the Devil himself. It's said that these terrifying beasts roam the moors at night with their master on the hunt for human flesh. Often they're said to be breathing fire or glowing, but they're always on the hunt for lost souls, unsuspecting travellers and unbaptised children.

97. Guy's Cliffe House, Warwick

When you imagine a haunted house, the image you conjure up in your head won't be far off Guy's Cliffe, it's the typical haunted house. It has dungeons, winding stir cases, creepy portraits, dark corners, creaking doors, an imposing clock tower, gothic windows and lots and lots of history, and in World War II the building was used as a school for evacuated children.

This property is made up of the ruins of a grade II listed manor house which dates back to 1751 but fell in to disrepair in the 1950s and was destroyed by fire. Behind the ruins was an adjoining building, St Mary's Chapel. The basement of this chapel used to include the house's servants' quarters.

In the 1970s, the chapel was restored by the Freemason. Today the two Freemason temples contained in the chapel are decorated with eerie Masonic symbols and objects and are used for their ceremonies.

Recent visitors have reported making contact with the spirits of Freemasons, children, and servants from the house. Most of the spirits are said to be male as historically the site is quite male dominated.

At one point in its life, part of chapel was used as a brewery and some mischievous ghosts known as the "Brewery Boys" are said to haunt this area. While out in the grounds a mischievous stable boy called Jacob has been witnessed in the coachhouse which is carved into the rock of Guy's Cliffe.

96. City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium, London

The reports of hauntings at this Grade I listed landscape in Wanstead date back to the 1970s. Locals have reported seeing a strange orange light emanating from one of the tombstones. Despite several investigations, no one has managed to find a reason why residents would be seeing this light from outside the cemetery.

95. Queen's Park, Glasgow

 

The 150-acre park is situated on the south side of the city, it's the site of the Battle of Langside in 1568, which is said to have been the beginning of the Marian civil war. Hundreds of the 10,000 men who fought here died.

It's now said that the ghosts of the dead soldiers are spotted near the boating lake on the anniversary of the battle on May 13th.

94. Llanfyllin Union Workhouse, Llanfyllin

Although this property is technically a workhouse, set up to house the poor and those who could not support themselves in the community until the 1930s, it also had school facilities. In fact, the standard of education at this particular workhouse was exceptionally high. An 1848 report stated that the workhouse children made better progress with their education than free scholars at other local schools.

The Union Workhouse, which is slowly be developed into a community centre, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a school master. The master is most frequently seen in the building's centrepiece, an area which was original his private quarters. He's often seen looking out of the windows where he would have once been able to oversee the workhouse's four recreation yards.

Visitors have reported hearing footsteps, doors slamming, children crying, and the ghostly cries and shrieks of a classrooms full of children. There's also be claims of shadowy figures, and even the full body apparition of an old school master who is said to haunt the building.

93. King's Cross Station, London

One of the busiest stations in London, thousands of commuters pass through it a day but on occasion some of those rushing through the station have reported seeing the ghost of a woman. She's said to have long, brown hair and is wearing modern clothes.

The story dates back to the late 1980s and those who have witnessed her say they've heard her scream and rushed to her aid, only to find that se disappears without trace. Some believe that the woman might have lost her life in a fire which swept through the station in 1987.

92. Hack Green Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich

Hack Green Nuclear Bunker, Nantwich

 

Hack Green was first used during the Second World War, its purpose was to confuse German bombers looking for the vital railway junction at Crewe. In the 1950s, the site became part of the ROTOR project and a reinforced concrete bunker was built and became known as RAF Hack Green. After being abandoned for some years, the Home Office took it over and converted the bunker to Regional Government Headquarters which remained in use until 1992.

The bunker is now a museum, and guests and staff have reported paranormal activity, including seeing the apparition of a young woman in the bunker's former telecommunications area. An aggressive male spirit is also said to haunt this area.

In the main corridor witnesses have seen a man dressed in period uniform, or have picked up on a general feeling of unease. Part of the bunker is now a theatre, and here guests have reported being touched and even pushed by an unseen force.

91. University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff

Originally known as the Llandough Hospital when it opened in 1933, five miles outside of Cardiff, in Penarth.

A staff member on duty at the hospital talked about her experience of seeing her own dead body lying on a bed, the nurse died just one week later of typhoid fever. Her body was placed in the exact location that she had seen in her vision.

On another occasion a pregnant woman claims she was woken up in the night to find a nurse in a Victorian uniform reassuring her that everything would be OK.

90. West Norwood Cemetery Catacombs, London

By far the creepiest cemetery on our list, probably thanks to the eerie catacombs which lie beneath it. The catacombs date back to 1837 and were built as a final resting place for London's dead in Victorian times. As if dank, dark tunnels aren't creepy enough, these are fill with lead-lined coffins and ghosts of the past.

89. The Red Lion Inn, Avebury

 

The 17th century coaching inn stands alongside the ancient stone circle in Avebury and is home to a spirit named Florrie. She's said to be a former landlady who was murdered and pushed down the village well during the civil war.

There's also the tale of the violent murder of a local man in the cellar. So, it's no surprise the pub has its fair share of ghost stories.

88. Ragged School, London

Today the building is a museum but 150 years ago it was used to educate the poorest children in the area. Thousands of children passed through the school, many of whom suffered at the hands of their sadistic teachers. It's said it's the spirit of these children that haunt the building now. Countless ghost sightings and weird noises have been reported here.

Those who have visited the Victorian school have reported hearing disembodied cries, laughing and voices, loud bangs and slamming doors, the sound of heavy-booted footsteps coming from empty rooms, and even full apparitions. In the creepy basement play area, witnesses have reported seeing strange lights floating in mid air.

87. Clifton Suspension Bridge & Leigh Woods, Bristol

On the south-west side of the Avon Gorge, overlooking the Clifton Suspension Bridge, one of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks, is Leigh Woods. It is said to be the most haunted part of the city. In fact the nature reserve is home to one of the most famous people to be connected to Bristol throughout history, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

Along with the legendary SS Great Britain, Brunel designed the suspension bridge, but sadly he never got to see the finished bridge as he died of a stroke during construction at the age of 53.

Walkers in the woods have reported seeing the ghost of Brunel wearing his famous tall hat and cloak at a vantage point in the woods, which overlooks the bridge. It's believed Brunel would have come here to oversee the work of his beloved bridge and after his death he returned here to see it finished.

Despite its architectural beauty, Clifton Suspension Bridge has a dark side. The bridge has always been and still is to this day a hotspot for suicides, a fact that the Samaritans signs plastered over the bridge alludes to.

As a result of these tragic deaths, there have been many sites of those who ended their lives by jumping from the bridge in to the gorge below. The most notable is the ghost of a young man, a modern looking man who in often seen wandering through the woods, always heading to the end of the suspension bridge.

86. Derby Gaol, Derby

Derby Gaol
🖤

 

Part of the historic old gaol still exists in the basement below the building that once housed a much larger jail. Situated on Friar Gate to the west of the city centre, the gaol was built in 1756 as the second of three county jails. If you committed crimes in any part of Derbyshire, you were brought to Derby to face trial and brutal execution right outside the prison.

Due to the huge amount of death, torment, anguish and terror, the old gaol is said to be very haunted. The paranormal activity at the gaol seems to most frequently occur in June and July, and again between October and December. It ranges from doors opening and closing by themselves, through to full-bodied apparitions.

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85. University Of St Andrews, St Andrews

The oldest of the four ancient universities of Scotland is said to be haunted by several ghosts, including the spirit of a monk, a piper and ever a ghost ship. One of the best known spooks is the White Lady, who is thought to be a servant of Mary, Queen of Scots. It's said that she died of a broken heart after her lover was beheaded, a fate mirroring that of Mary Stuart. The woman's ghost is now said to wander around a tower in part of the ruined abbey at night.

84. The Red Lion Hotel, Colchester

The Red Lion, dating back to 1465, has such a prolific history of hauntings that for many years the management have enforced a strict preventing staff from mentioning the ghost, fearing the tales might scary away customers. Anyone member of staff caught breaking the rule faced instant dismissal.

The building is said to be haunted by a murder victim by the name of Alice Katherine Millar. She mostly been spotted in rooms five and six, where she's said to have passed through solid walls. Her spirit has also seen been on the stairs and in the hotel's kitchen.

83. Sandhill Park, Taunton

Sandhill Park Estate

 

Sandhill Park was originally built as a private home, but in 1919 the Somerset County Council bought the house and converted it into a home for handicapped children. During the Second World War it was used as a hospital by the American Army, but after the War it reverted to use as a hospital for handicapped children. The hospital has now been closed and the House is now a Fire Engine Museum.

The hospital has a long history of paranormal activity. Many staff and visitors have reported doors slamming, disembodied whispers and voices. Switches are said to turn on and off by themselves, and cold spots are often felt with no apparent reason for it.

82. Vassals Park, Bristol

The Grade II listed parkland, known locally as Vassals Park, has a gruesome past. There used to be a stately home on the estate and local legend tells of a Catholic monk who secretly held mass at a time when it was illegal to do so was hidden in a "priest hole" and forgotten about and starved to death. He's now said to haunt the estate.

81. Liverpool Street Station, London

Liverpool Street Station is Central London is said to be haunted by a man in overalls who is said to patrol the dark platforms in the dead of night. It's not just commuters waiting for the last train of the day who have witnessed the figure, staff on night shifts have spotted the spook on CCTV but when a colleague went to investigate, there was no one to be found.

The ghost of the station might not be wandering the platforms alone, it's said that the station is built on one of London's many mass burial grounds, so disturbed spirits could be responsible for many sighting of strange occurrences in the local area.

80. St. James Cemetery, Liverpool

 

St. James's Cemetery, situated behind Liverpool Cathedral, is said to be one of the most haunted locations in Liverpool. The Grade I Historic Park and urban burial site dates back to 1936 and has made the news in recent years after reports of ghostly sightings.

A video was recently posted on Facebook which appears to show a silvery white figure on a path running through the gardens. The ghostly figure seems to appear and disappear.

Others have seen the ghost of MP William Huskisson leaving his grand mausoleum where he was laid to rest in 1830, after he was run over by George Stephenson's Rocket locomotive. There's also said to be a woman in black who's been seen gliding towards a tomb that was ransacked by grave-robbers in the 1970s.

79. Adelphi Theatre, London

Located on The Strand, the Adelphi is one of London's most famous theatres but the theatre's stage door is at the back on the building on the much quieter Maiden Lane.

It's here that in December 1897 the actor William Terris was stabbed by a fellow actor as he arrived for the evening's performance of the play The Secret Service. As Terris lay dying on the floor he vowed to gathering spectators that he “would be back."

Since then, tourists walking along the lane have reported seeing a shadow figure who they later identified as the murdered actor.

78. Castell Coch, Cardiff

The 19th-century gothic revival castle was built above the village of Tongwynlais, surrounded by protected beech woodland containing rare plant species and unusual geological features and even today. It looks like something out of a fairytale, but according to local myth it is haunted by 13 ghost.

Castell Coch was designed by the architect William Burgess as a country retreat for the Third Marquis of Bute, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart and his family but none of these haunt the building, in fact after the the Marquis died, his widow, Lady Gwendolyn was quick to leave the castle after complaining about a ghostly woman in white. She is said to be a servant who lived in the castle and has been haunting the building since the death of her son. He drowned in the castle grounds in a pond.

Another regularly sighted ghost at the castle is the spirit of a man dressed in cavalier uniform. It's believed that the man had been lucky enough to lay his hand on a large amount of treasure, which he buried somewhere in the grounds of Castle Coch.

It's said that even to this day he comes back to the castle from beyond the grave to check that his hidden riches are safe. The treasure is also watched over by three ghostly eagles.

77. Wentworth Woodhouse, Rotherham

 

Wentworth Woodhouse near Rotherham stands in 250 acres of parkland and was once the home of the first Earl of Strafford. For decades there have been reports of a ghostly monk, the figure of an unknown man who stands deadly still, as well as hearing footsteps, children laughing, doors slamming, and visitors being grabbed by unseen hands.

The house's stables were the location of an episode of the long-running ghost hunting show 'Most Haunted' in 2017 when the team caught what appeared to be a ghostly figure on camera. The show's host Yvette Fielding described it as the show's "most groundbreaking footage" to date.

76. St. James's Park, London

St. James's Park, the oldest of the eight Royal Parks in London. It's located in Westminster, it gets its name from a local leper hospital in the St. James area.

St. James's Park Lake runs through the middle of the park, there are two small islands in the lake. The Blue Bridge crosses the lake and boasts views of the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

While walking through the park, many people have reported seeing a headless figure which walks in front of them near the Blue Bridge before vanishing.

The figure, known as the Red Lady, is often described as wearing a red dress or cloak, sometimes she is said to be seen coming out of the lake.

She could be the wife of a soldier who, in the 18th century, lured her into the park and murdered her. After removing her head, he attempted to dispose of her body in the lake but was spotted and spotted.

75. Miltonrigg Woods, Brampton

The Naworth level crossing in Miltonrigg Woods is said to be haunted due to its grim past. It crosses the tracks next to a lone house in the middle of the woods. In the 1900s a passenger train collided with a coach on the crossing, killing nine people. To this day, railway workers have reported hearing the moans and cries of the victims at the crash site.

74. Covent Garden Underground Station, London

Haunted Covent Garden Underground Station

 

Covent Garden Underground is one of the busiest stations for tourists visiting London, but the station is also said to have been visited by spirits from beyond the grave.

One Christmas Eve a ticket inspector was tormented by a knocking on his office door. When he open the door, he found himself face to face with a tall man wearing a grey suit. The mysterious man said nothing and disappeared into thin air as he walked away.

The same man has been spotted many times since at the underground station, by staff and customers.

73. Clink Prison, London

The Clink is the oldest prison in England, dating back to 1144 and as well as being a tourist attraction, it's also said to be home to a shadowy figure that has been witnessed in the Bishop's Room. Guests have reported hearing cries coming from the oubliette, and poltergeist activity is frequently reported here. Others have reported witnessing glasses smash on their own, doors slamming, and the spirit of a woman rattling chains.

72. Denbigh Asylum, Denbigh

The North Wales Hospital, also know as Denbigh Asylum. is now in a state of disrepair, having closed in 1995, but its been given a new lease of life as a ghost hunting venue after being made famous to the paranormal world by Most Haunted when they broadcast a live show from the hospital for seven nights over Halloween in 2008. Later the same year a devastating fire broke out and destroyed much of the building.

Over the years some pretty grim treatments were carried out at the hospital, including pre-frontal lobotomies and electric shock treatment, perhaps it's for this reason that so many tormented spirits are trapped here.

Ghost hunters have reported seeing the apparitions of patients walking along corridors, heard strange noises and, footsteps and banging sounds coming from seemingly empty parts of the building.

71. The Grenadier, London

 

The Grenadier is said to be London's most haunted pub and despite its small size, it boasts plenty of ghosts stories and even has a small crucifix on the wall in the cellar to scare away evil spirits.

The upper floors were once used by service men from a nearby barracks, the cellar was used as a drinking and gambling den by the soldiers. It's said that one of their numbers was caught cheating at cards, he was punished by his peers and died from his injuries.

People have reported seeing dark shadows moving through the building, objects have reportedly disappeared or moved, and tables and chairs are rattled by an unseen force.

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70. Glasgow Necropolis, Glasgow

Glasgow is a city which is well known for its haunted locations, so it's no surprise that one of the city's cemetery on this list. Officially opened in 1840, there are around 250,000 people buried in the Necropolis, very few have gravestones, even fewer have names.

In the 1950s the cemetery made the news when a police man found a group of local children who had been roaming the cemetery for several nights armed with sharpened sticks and knives. The kids were hunting a vampire. He was said to be seven foot tall with metal teeth and had been blamed for the disappearance of two local children.

69. Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Manchester

The Coliseum dates back to 1885, despite lots of competition when it originally opened, it's now the only theatre left in the area, although it too closed briefly in the 1930s due to financial difficulties, but opened again by the end of the decade.

The theatre's most famous ghost is that of an actor named Harold Norman, who lost his life after being accidentally stabbed during a performance of 'Macbeth' at the theatre in 1947. His ghost has been seen in the upper circle.

Another frequent spook is spotted in the wardrobe department, he's believed to be the ghost of Carl Paulsen, who died at the theatre in 1973.

68. Elephant & Castle Underground Station, London

 

South of the river on the Northern and Bakerloo lines is Elephant & Castle station, opened in 1890 and the site of numerous reports of spooky goings on.

Staff and commuters have reported hearing mysterious footsteps running through the station's tunnels and along platforms, as well as doors being slammed and unexplained bangs and tapping sounds. Others claim to have seen the ghostly figure of a woman boarding the trains.

An off duty train driver even reported seeing her on his journey home, he says the woman walked straight through the carriage and he had to move aside as she seemed totally unaware of his existence.

67. Culloden Moor, Inverness

Culloden Battlefield has been the scene of sightings believed to be ghosts of men killed in the battle in 1746. The battle of Culloden was the last battle ever fought on British soil. It's said that today the battlefield has a sombre atmosphere and that birds never sing near the graves of the fallen soldiers.

Walkers in the area have reported seeing ghosts of the soldiers around the graves and their battle cries can still be heard on the anniversary of the battle, on April 16th.

66. The Savoy, London

The world famous, luxury hotel on The Strand in Central London is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in the capital, especially on the fifth floor.

Oddly the ghostly activity includes tales of a ghostly lift, its apparition is seen in the fifth floor corridors as well as in room 502. It is said to be operated by the ghost of a young girl who died in the building.

65. St. Catherine's Hospital, Doncaster

 

While parts of the hospital are still in use, with 32 beds, much of the building is now abandoned but the original operating theatre tables still exist in the creepy basement. In its early days news of patients' conditions and even deaths were posted on the perimeter fence around the hospital as a way of keeping families informed.

The paranormal activity experienced here ranged from disembodied cries, voices, and screams, through to full ghostly apparitions. Many staff and patients have reported doors opened and closing on their own and heard footsteps on the upper floors.

64. Highgate Cemetery, London

One of London's biggest cemeteries and a location which is said to have hosted occult rituals, witnessed witchcraft and secret meetings of Satanic cults. The site, which is designated Grade I on the list of English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, is also said to be home to a vampire and has countless ghost stories associated with it.

The apparitions spotted at the cemetery and the adjoining Swains Lane, include a shadowy figure in a tall hat, the ghost of a cyclist seen working his way up a steep incline, and a woman in white. In a letter in the local newspaper, the Highgate Express & Hampstead, one witness said that his car broke down near the cemetery and he saw a hideous face peering through the bars of the cemetery's gate.

Others have reported bells ringing and voices calling from within the cemetery at night, and it's no surprise considering that more than 170,000 of London's dead are buried here.

63. Cannock Chase, Cannock

Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is a former Royal forest with a history of paranormal activity. The most famous ghost, known as the Lady of the Chase, has been witnessed by many visitors to the area. She's been described as tall and slim, with large, dark, hypnotic eyes. The wood is also home to sightings of children with black eyes, some believe them to be the victims of murderer Raymond Leslie Morris.

As well as these ghostly apparitions, walkers have also reported seeing strange lights and UFOs through the trees. But what makes Cannock Chase really creepy is its array of strange animals.

There's the legend of a big cat, a large black panther-like animal, which has been seen countless times in the area. There's also a demonic dog that comes out at night, it's said to have pointed ears and glowing eyes. Could this be the same creature that others have described as looking like a werewolf?

62. Bodmin Jail, Bodmin

Bodmin Jail Hotel & Attraction, Cornwall

 

Today Bodmin Jail is a tourist attraction, but for almost 150 years it was prison, in which time it saw over 50 public hangings. The jail is a popular location for paranormal researchers, including the 'Most Haunted' team who visited in their sixth series.

This was the location of the legendary incident that involved the show's producers feeding medium Derek Acorah false information, which saw him get possessed by a named Kreed Kafer. It came to light after the show that the spirit was fictionally and was in fact an anagram of the phrase "Derek Faker."

61. The Lost Gardens Of Heligan, Saint Austell

The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey in Cornwall, are one of the most popular botanical gardens in the country, and also one of the most haunted. For years staff and gardeners have reported an unsettling atmosphere in the 19th century gardens, some staff members even refused to go into the gardens alone in the dark.

Although no apparitions have been reported, the areas where lone gardeners most of report this oppressive energy are in the grotto area, the gardener's bothy and the reserve yards.

60. Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood

The 1950s nuclear bunker is spread over three floors and is accessible through a 100 meter long access tunnel from an ordinary looking cottage, on closer inspection it's clear the cottage is far from normal, built with thick concrete walls and windows protected by steel shutters.

Visitors to the bunker, which is now a museum, have reported experiencing poltergeist activity, hearing growls and footsteps coming from empty rooms, and even witnessed full apparitions.

During the bunkers construction under order of the Air Ministry in the 1950s, crews are said to have disturbed an ancient burial ground. A foreman also died during the works. His hard hat was found floating in wet concrete, it's thought he was buried alive in the bunker's three meter thick walls. There's also said to be the ghost of a construction worker who committed suicide in the main stairwell.

59. British Museum, London

British Museum
Photo: © Ham

 

You may not know that in Holborn there was once a London Underground station known as British Museum which served the Central line, it's been abandoned since the 1930s and has a spooky history of its own.

It's said to be haunted by the ghost of an Ancient Egyptian God, he's been spotted dressed in a loincloth and headdress. Five years after its closure two women went missing from the next station on the line, Holborn which is just 90 meters of track away.

Witnesses claimed that they heard ghostly moaning at the time of their disappearance and the Egyptian ghost has been blamed. Some believe that there is a secret tunnel from the underground network which connects with the Egyptian room in the nearby museum.

58. Warwick Castle, Warwick

The castle as it stands today was built in 1068, but settlements on the site date back more than 150 years before this. The castle saw its fair share of battles, it was attacked in 1264, besieged in 1642 and damage by fire in 1871. And of course with an interesting history comes interesting spooks.

Probably the castle's best known ghost is that of Sir Fulke Greville, who is said to haunt the tower. Greville is a former resident of the castle who was murdered within the castle's walls in 1628 by a servant. There's also said to be a negative entity that resides in the dungeon, poltergeist activity has been witnessed, as well as extreme temperature changes, light anomalies, and the sensation of being physically pushed or grabbed.

57. The Old Nick Theatre, Gainsborough

There are so many reports of paranormal activity in the building, that used to be a police station and small prison, that some people refuse to enter alone at night, and even in the daytime. The reported phenomenon includes furniture moving, doors slamming, the sound of men and women crying, and reports of people being pushed on the stairs.

Many have witnessed apparitions of faceless policemen as well as convicts, most often wandering around the cells and in the police common room.

56. The Tower Of London, London

The Tower Of London
Photo: © Pikous

 

Millions of tourists flock to London every year to uncover its history and one of the city's busiest and most famous attractions is the Tower Of London, it's regarded as one of the most haunted buildings in London and with a history of over 900 years of torture and execution, it's no surprise.

The most notable spook visitors to the historic castle hope to spot is that of Anne Boleyn, the wife of King Henry VIII. She was beheaded in 1536, and her headless body has been seen walking throughout the building, often near the place of her execution.

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55. The Ostrich Inn, Colnbrook

With such a dark past, it's no wonder that The Ostrich Inn in Colnbrook is said to be haunted. The pub has said to have been the site of no less that 60 murders, the most famous being those committed by a former landlord known as Jarman and his wife in the 17th century.

The couple were said to have made a tidy profit from their grim hobby and even had a trapdoor built into the floor of one of the guest rooms. With a specially hinged bed they would simply tip their sleeping victim into a vat of boiling water below.

54. Skaill House, Sandwick

Skaill House is a manor house in Sandwick parish on Mainland, the largest of the Orkney Islands. It was built in the 1620s, it was last occupied in 1991, and was opened to the public in 1997 restored to the style of a 1950s family home.

Visitors and staff to the house have reported plenty of ghostly activity, including knocks and bangs, doors slamming, odd smells, and even the ghostly figure of a a tall man with dark hair. Another guest said she had a question about the house answered by a male member of staff in the gun room, but no males were working that day.

53. HMP Gloucester, Gloucester

HM Prison Gloucester

 

HM Prison Gloucester in the West of England opened in 1791 to house some of the UK's most notorious criminals. In the prison's early days, over 100 executions were carried out, and the prisoners bodies were buried within the prison, to this day, not all have been found.

Many visitors claim the prison is haunted by a woman called Jenny. It is said she was murdered in the 15th century on the land where the prison was later built. Now her spirit roams that land in search of her killer, her ghost is said to have been seen by many prisoners and guards.

In 1969, a group of inmates conducted a séance in cell 25 of A Wing in an attempt to contact the ghost of Jenny and got more than they bargained for when books and even a flowerpot were thrown around the cell by a supernatural force.

This wasn't the last time the inmates saw Jenny, just a few days later, her disembodied hand appeared to the convict inhabiting cell 25, it pointed directly at him before vanishing as suddenly as it appeared, earning cell 25 the reputation of being the most haunted part of the 200-year-old building.

Staff and prisoners have reported hearing knocks and bangs throughout the prison's buildings, as well as slamming doors and shadowy figures, which have mostly been sighted in C Wing, a newer part of the prison that was built in the 1970s.

52. Epping Forest, London

A forest near London, with a history of burials, ghosts, and unexplained lights. It's famous for its connection with the notorious highwayman Dick Turpin, who was said to have a hideout here. He held up passing carriages with his partner in crime, Tom King.

A road which runs through the forest, Hangman's Hill is known locally as a "gravity spot", drivers are said to experience a strange phenomenon whereby their car rolls up a hill, seemingly defying gravity's pull. Locals say that it's the ghost of a hangman dragging an unfortunate criminal to his execution which now pulls the cars along the road, despite the incline.

51. Codnor Castle & Cottage, Codnor

Codnor Castle near Derby is a medieval castle which sits right on the border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. The castle is now in ruins after it was nearly completely dismantled in 1643 and is surrounded by countryside that has been parkland for a hundreds of years.

The castle grounds are said to be haunted. The most famous story is that of a soldier of the Knight's Templar who was injured in battle and took refuge in the castle over night. The soldier died during the night, and ever since, his rather aggressive ghost has been seen wearing a dull metal helmet in the castle grounds outside the cottage. He's also seen running through the ruin of the great hall.

The grounds are also said to be haunted by a spirit known as the Grey Lady, the name could be linked to the De Grey family who occupied the castle for centuries. It's said she was a heavily pregnant French woman, and died following an accident while out riding her horse. She has since been seen gliding around the estate and the echoes of a French woman singing have been heard.

A 16th century, farmhouse known as Codnor Castle Cottage was built on the grounds of the Codnor Castle estate, it has its own history of murder, suicide and witchcraft. In the foreboding attic space there are several unusual markings, which are believed to have been created to ward off evil spirits.

The paranormal occurrences at cottage range from dark shadows, to poltergeist activity like doors slamming, furniture being moved across rooms, and glasses thrown. There have been countless reports of disembodied voices including singing, laughter, the voices of children, and blood-curdling screams.

50. The Queen Hotel, Chester

 

The hotel was one of the grand railway hotels to be built in the UK and is said to be haunted by the ghost of a little girl. She's most frequently spotted on the second floor in an area that was said to have once been a nursery, and people have reported hearing her tricycle in the corridors at night. Her ghost is said to sneak up on female guests as they fill up the baths in the hotel rooms. Some have even claimed that the mischievous spook has pulled their hair.

49. Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds

Now a museum, the Grade II listed building stands on the site of a workhouse, which once housed the poor and those who could not support themselves in the community. Over the years the inmate population grew and the building was extended to accommodate them, this included a new infirmary wing to provide free health care for the sick and injured.

In 1915 the building was offered up to the War Department as part of the war effort. The main building became the East Leeds war hospital, and even played host to King George V who came to visit injured soldiers.

With so much misery and death associated with this building, it's no surprise that there are so many claims that it is haunted. With reports of poltergeist activity, a phantom doctor that's seen wandering around wearing a white coat, ghostly patients, and even dark entity.

During its time as a hospital, the amount of lives lost here would have been in their hundreds. Before 1925 the hospital staff would have been hindered by basic equipment and no electricity.

Staff and visitors have also reported hearing moaning and guttural cries in the dead of night, could these be the ghostly cries of suffering patients?

48. Rowton Moor, Chester

The Battle of Rowton Moor took place here during the English Civil War in 1645, and it has left its mark on the land forever. It was one of the most bloody battles of the conflict with a huge number of English soldiers brutally killed here.

The area is now haunted by the ghosts of men on horseback, who are said to appear each year around September 24th. Walkers have reported hearing the faint sound of music echoing across the landscape, which is thought to be the ghost of William Lawes, King Charles' court musician, who was shot down by a parliamentarian.

47. Hampton Court Palace, London

 

One of the royal palace in Richmond-upon-Thames' most famous spooks is the Grey Lady of Hampton Court, it's said she was once a servant at the house, Prince Edward's nurse and the carer of Queen Elizabeth I.

She was first sighted at the palace in 1829 after the tomb where she was laid to rest was disturbed. The tourist attraction even released CCTV footage in 2003 which apparently showed the Grey Lady open a fire exit door, leaving security staff baffled.

46. Chislehurst Caves, Chislehurst

Today Chislehurst Caves are a tourist attraction and although they are called caves, they are entirely manmade. The intersecting tunnels cover a total distance of 22 miles and there's said to be paranormal activity on every turn.

Despite an unsuccessful exorcism, the strange goings on continue. Most of the reports involve claims of poltergeist activity, including rocks and chalk being thrown at visitors.

45. Theatre Royal, London

The Theatre Royal on Drury Lane is London's oldest working theatre, there's been a theatre on this site since 1663 and as you'd expect, the building has its fair share of resident ghosts.

The theatre's most famous ghost is known as 'The Man In Grey', a spirit who is seen limping through the theatre in a grey cloak and three-cornered hat, he's usually seen at the beginning of a successful West End run.

Whoever this ghost is, he seems to be friendly, it's often been said that he'll give actors a helping hand by pushing them in to position and can often be seen walking past the stage in front of the entire audience during matinee performances.

44. Brown's Folly, Bath

 

An area of woodland, just outside of Bath, between Bathford and Bradford-on-Avon, that takes its name from a folly tower of the same name, which was built in the middle of the woods in 1848.

The woods are said to be haunted by a young girl called Sally who was murdered in the area, and it's claimed that the birds don't sing here. The A363 which runs through the woods is known as 'Sally in the Woods', and is said to have had more than its fair share of unexplained, fatal car accidents.

Drivers have reported hearing screams coming from the woods at night, others say they've seen a young girl run out into the road.

It's thought that Sally was a gypsy, who lived in a hut in the woods, and was believed by local children to be a witch. Some say Sally was locked up in the tower in the 18th century, without food and water, and was left to die.

43. Steelhouse Lane Lockup, Birmingham

Birmingham's Steelhouse Lane Lockup, a historic Grade II listed police station which operated for 125 years. The prison was built in 1892 and has housed some of the most infamous convicts in British criminal history, including members of the Peaky Blinders gang, and the mass murderer Fred West.

The grim prison is packed full of small cells on all its floors, and inmates would be confined to their cells as there's no dining area or exercise yard in this fairly small city centre prison. It was used as a remand prison, which meant criminals stayed here while on trial, hence the lack of facilities you'd find in a longterm penal establishment.

In recent years, the grand old building started to struggle to cope with the demands of modern policing and in 2017 its doors were slammed shut for the final time. Like most prison, Birmingham Central Lockup has its fair share of ghost stories. Many people have reported seeing dark shadows walking across empty corridors, and objects moving on their own. They've heard the moans of a distraught woman throughout the day and night, as well as the loud slamming of heavy doors, jangling keys, and heavy footsteps. Most of the paranormal activity is said to happen in cell B23.

42. Pengersick Castle, Penzance

This fortified Manor House located between the villages of Germoe and Praa Sands is sand to be one of the most haunted buildings in Cornwall. It's been occupied by the Pengersick family since the 12th century and boasts quite a haunted past with over 20 resident spooks.

Sightings include the ghost of a monk who has been seen wandering around the medieval gardens, guests have reported seeing a woman standing at one of the windows staring out at night. There's also the ghost of a young girl who haunts the basement, strange light anomalies have been caught on camera, electrical equipment inexplicably fails, and there's even said to be the ghost of a cat and a dog.

41. The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton under Edge

The Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
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The Ancient Ram Inn is a Grade II-listed building in Wotton-under-Edge. The pub has been investigated by many paranormal researchers, including the television shows 'Ghost Adventures' and 'Most Haunted'. The building is no longer open as a pub but welcomes thousands of ghost hunters to paranormal events each year.

Some of the most commonly reported activity includes highly localised cold spots, temperature drops, and unexplained icy blasts of air. There's also activity in the form of light anomalies seen with the naked eye and caught on camera. Doors are said to slam on their own, footsteps are frequently heard, furniture is heard sliding around, and mysterious knocking is witnessed.

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40. Newsham Park Hospital, Liverpool

Newsham Park is a former seaman's orphanage and hospital and over the years has been the site of many reports of paranormal activity. Dating back to its operational days, a female nurse reported seeing an unexplained apparition, soon after she was found dead on the main corridor.

Many patients witness seeing the ghost of children over the years, as well as seeing dark shadowy figures, and hearing disembodied voices, as well as reports of moving objects.

More recently ghost hunters at the hospital have reported hearing banging sounds coming from inside a row of cupboards in an upper floor corridor. It's said that these were the cupboards where badly behaved children were sent during Victorian times. This area is said to be haunted by a little boy who died while locked in a cupboard.

39. The Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe

The Hellfire Caves are a manmade network of chalk mines, which extend a quarter of a mile underground near the village of West Wycombe. The caves have a past of satanic rituals, worship and sacrifice, making them a terrifying place to visit today.

The Hellfire Caves are said to have many resident spooks, including the spirit of Benjamin Franklin, who was a regular visitor to the caves in the 18th century. Another apparition regularly spotted is that of Paul Whitehead, a former steward of the notorious Hellfire Club from which the caves take their name.

There's also the spirit of a young girl called Suki, she's said to have been tricked into meeting a man at the caves, the visit resulted in her murder.

38. Sker House, Porthcawl

 

Sker House is a 12th Century mansion in South Wales, and it is said to be haunted by the spirit of Elizabeth Williams, who died of a broken heart after being locked in a room in the house by her father to prevent her from marrying her lover.

Her spirit is now said to haunt the grade one listed mansion, which is also home to the spirit of a captain of a ship which was wrecked on Sker Point. The house also a violent history, including 16th Century carnage against Catholics.

37. National Justice Museum, Nottingham

The first records of the National Justice Museum, formerly the Galleries of Justice, being uses as a prison was in 1449. It is built on the site of a Saxon settlement dating back to 600AD, and is said to play host to ghostly apparitions, poltergeist activity, disembodied voices, slamming doors and unexplained drops in temperature.

As well as the prison, the building housed court, and many executions took place on the steps of the building, making this the only location in the UK where you could be tried, sentenced and punished under the same roof.

36. Dering Woods, Pluckley

Pluckey in Kent holds the title of the most haunted village in the UK, and the local woods, known as the Screaming woods, contribute to this claim. Witnesses have reported hearing screams coming from the woods at night, as well as hearing disembodied footsteps and seeing strange lights in the sky.

Some of the woods resident spooks include an 18th century colonel who committed suicide in the woods, the spirit of a highwayman who was executed in the woods, and the ghosts of many walkers who have gotten lost in the woods. The most recent disappearance was in 1998 when four students went into the woods in search of some strange lights they had seen, their bodies were never found.

The woods are said to have connections to satanic rituals, believed to be performed by a religious cult from the nearby village of Smarden. When a private investigator, Robert Collin, tried to get to the bottom of the cult in 1964, his investigation was cut short after his untimely death in a car accident.

35. Lyceum Theatre, London

 

The Lyceum theatre in London's West End, currently home to the 'Lion King' and the sighting of a terrifying sighting of a severed head.

One night a couple looking over the balcony saw the head looking back up at her from the lap of a lady below in the stalls.

They attempted to find the woman after the show but failed to find her but several years later the husband visited a house in Yorkshire where he was surprised to see a portrait of the terrifying face he's seen in London.

The owner of the house told him that he was an ancestor and former resident of the house who'd been beheaded for treason. His family also owned the land where the Lyceum was built.

34. Elvey Farm, Pluckley

Elvey Farm Hotel is situated in Pluckley, a place which holds the title as the most haunted village in England, and the hotel is said to contribute to that accolade. The farm is said to be haunted by the ghost of a farmer who shot himself, ever since his death people have reported hearing him whispering his final words "I will do it."

The hotel has played host to various paranormal investigation teams, including the cast of the television shows 'Most Haunted' and 'Ghost Hunters International'.

33. Cardiff Royal Infirmary, Cardiff

Cardiff Royal Infirmary dates back to 1822 and is located in central Cardiff. The buildings became the Albion Hospital in a 2005 episode of Dr Who, entitled 'Aliens of London' but it's not just fictional aliens that have created scares in this hospital, there are also plenty of ghost stories to come from its wards.

The list of reports of paranormal activity include a disappearing matron who was spotted in one of hospital's corridors by a plumber, and sightings of a woman in grey, apparently if she appears and offers you a drink, you shouldn't take it, if you do you will die within a week.

Staff have complained about being pushed by unseen forces, seeing a female figure on security camera, and witnessing figures in an office, one throttling the other but this isn't the only gruesome haunting to happen here. It's claimed that things ones got so bad that an exorcism had to be performed in the pathology department.

32. The Fleece Inn, Elland

 

The Fleece Inn in Elland was built in the early 1600s and is known for its grim legends, with rumours of secret tunnels, deaths and even murders.

The reports range from poltergeist activity like the smashing of glasses, right through to full apparitions, including that of a girl who's been spotted throughout the pub and looking out one of the bedroom windows.

Other paranormal activity includes dark shadows which are seen moving through rooms on a regular basis and a negative entity which does all it can to get people out of the pub.

31. Pembrey Woods, Pembrey

Pembrey Woods in Wales was once the location for a 'Most Haunted' investigation. The ancient woodland dates back to around 400 BC and is perched on the coast at the mouth of the Bristol Channel. It's said that passing ships were once lured towards the rocky coastline by, what locals called, the "little hatchet men of Pembrey". The ships would be grounded on the rocks to the south-west of the forest, the little hatchet men would then murder the survivors and loot this ships. The ghosts of the victims are still seen walking on the shore, and ghost ships are often seen.

A former RAF airfield was located near the woods, this is now the Pembrey West Wales Airport, but in its wartime days many damaged planes are said to have crashed into the woods when trying to make it back to the airstrip. The spirits of the dead airmen are said to still roam the woodlands.

30. HMP Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury

There's been a prison on the site since 1793, however the building as it currently stands was built in 1877. The prison has seen thousands of prisoners come and go over the years, including women up until 1922. The prison walls have witnessed many deaths over the years, including, murders, and inmates taking their own lives, so many suicides in fact that an enquiry was opened after three inmates hanged themselves over a period of just two weeks.

The prison's A-wing is said to be the most haunted, perhaps due to its dark history of suicides resulting in sad, angry souls being trapped between this world and the next. Most of those who took their own live did so on A-wing, at one point there was one a week.

Plenty of judicial execution were also carried out at the prison. In 1885 five prisoners were hanged in a single day. The hanging room was used until 1961, and was then converted into a group session room. This is said to be a very active area, possibly due to its location next to the condemned cell and with the mortuary is underneath it.

When the prison was in operation, some officers refused to work in C Wing alone at night, they've reported being pushed down stairs, hearing doors slamming, noises like moving all around them, and footsteps. It's said the atmosphere can change in the blink of an eye.

It is believed that one of the female prisoners has refused to leave, she has been seen dressed in a grey uniform many times walking the upper levels. She walks from cell 3 toward the execution room.

29. Muncaster Castle, Ravenglass

 

Muncaster Castle, located near the coastal town of Ravenglass, is said to be haunted by Tom Fool, AKA Thomas Skelton. His spirit is rarely seen, but is blamed for poltergeist activity in the castle, he plays tricks on staff and visitors in the castle.

One of the most haunted area is the tapestry room, where people have reported hearing footsteps, seeing the door handle turning, and even witnessed doors opening seemingly on their own. Other guests have reported hearing children crying in the dead of night, as well as the sound of a woman singing as if to comfort a poorly child. Could these sounds be connected with a young girl called Margaret Pennington who died as a child in the castle.

28. The Royal Court Theatre, Bacup

The Royal Court Theatre was once the site of the Henrietta Street Iron Foundry, until it was destroyed by fire in 1850. It was later rebuilt and opened its doors to the public in 1893.

Many staff, guests and performers have reported paranormal activity in the form of poltergeist activity, ringing bells, unexplained draughts, and even disembodied blue legs seen walking through the building.

One of the theatre's ghosts is that of Kitty, who is thought to be an usher who worked at the theatre at some point in the past.

Others have reported hearing shuffling feet, the sound of an audience taking their seat but on investigation have found the theatre to be empty.

Reports of ghostly goings on have been made as recently as 2008, when a spirit was captured in a photograph taken during a performance by the Second Rossendale Scout Band. Although the ghostly figure wasn't visible at the time, in the photo an old woman with grey hair was seen wearing a black dress with a white collar.

27. Aldwych Underground Station, London

Aldwych Station was originally opened in 1907, it acted as an off-shoot of the Piccadilly Line to Holborn. The station closed due to falling passenger numbers in 1994.

Since then the line has been kept in working order so that it can be used as a film location. It has appeared in many TV shows, sometimes as Aldwych but often as a fictional station.

One television show that visited for the station's paranormal activity was 'Most Haunted'. In the 2002 episode, medium Derek Acorah made contact with a ghost called Margaret.

It's believed she is the spirit of an actress who performed in the Royal Strand Theatre, which originally occupied the site of the station. Her ghost has been spotted by many passengers and London Underground staff over the years.

26. Woodchester Mansion, Stroud

Woodchester Mansion, Stroud
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Woodchester Mansion is an unfinished, Gothic revival house in Woodchester Park near Nympsfield. It was abandoned by its builders in the middle of construction, leaving behind a building that appears complete from the outside but has floors, plaster, and whole rooms missing inside.

The house has been featured in many paranormal investigation television shows, including 'Most Haunted Live', 'Hauntings', 'Scariest Places On Earth', and 'Ghost Hunters International'.

Bangs and knocking sounds have been heard in the building, and poltergeist activity such as stones being thrown has been witnessed by guests. In 2005, a local paranormal group spent the night in the mansion and captured what appeared to be a hooded apparition on CCTV.

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25. Langham Hotel, London

The purpose built Langham Hotel in Marylebone opened in 1865 and is said to be haunted by at least five different ghosts. The most prolific of these ghosts is the spirit of a German prince who is said to have died after being thrown out of a window in one of the guest rooms on the upper floors of the hotel. There's also a spirit who has been sighted passing closed doors and solid walls.

But it's room 333 which is claimed to be the most active part of the hotel. One guest reported seeing a strange ball of light hovering two feet above the floor in the room. As he watched, the orb of light began to take human form, only with the lower part of its legs missing.

24. HMP Shepton Mallet, Shepton Mallet

The grade II listed prison, also known as Cornhill was the oldest operating prison in the UK when it closed in 2013. At this time it was home to almost 200 inmates severing the final years of their life sentences.

Dating back to 1625, the prison has a pretty grim past. Originally men, women and children were packed into Shepton Mallet together, apparently in dreadful conditions. The cells held debtors, thieves, vagrants and people with mental health disorders. Poor amenities and primitive sanitation led to frequent outbreaks of ulcers, jaundice, asthma and venereal diseases.

Over the years there were plenty of deaths in this formidable prison, including murders, suicide, accidents and judicial executions. The total number of hangings at the prison is unknown, but some of the documented execution include a local man who battered a 10-year-old girl to death, a man who drowned his wife in the River Avon, and a man who cut his 37-year-old girlfriend's throat.

The body's of executed criminals weren't allowed to be buried in consecrated ground, so they were laid to rest in unmarked graves within the walls of the prison.

With almost 400 years of detaining murderers, violent criminals and notorious gangsters, plus a history of brutal executions, cruel punishments, suicides, and countless dead in unmarked graves within the prison walls, it's no wonder HMP Shepton Mallet is said to be the most haunted prison in the country.

The areas of the prison which are said to be the most active are the prison's eerie kitchens, the general's office, and the exercise yard, which is reportedly haunted by a former inmate, Captain Philip William Ryal, who climbed onto the roof of the prison and took his own life in 1914. Ever since his final words, "get back," have been heard echoing around the yard by inmates.

A cell in A Wing is reportedly haunted by a former inmate who was murdered here, while in B Wing visitors report the most negative energy in the whole of the three-acre site.

C Wing has a regular spook too in the form of a 'white lady', it's said she was wrongly convicted of murdering her fiancé, and sentenced to death in the 17th century. She's seen wearing her wedding dress, which she apparently wore in the condemned cell the night before her execution.

The prison is also said to be haunted by spirit of an American serviceman. He's been seen walking through walls in the prison in his uniform. He's thought to have been killed in the yard by a stray bullet from American army firing squad while overseeing an execution.

23. Clapham Woods, Clapham

Clapham Woods
Photo: © Slbs

 

Clapham Woods in West Sussex is one of the most active paranormal sites in the UK, it was the location of a spate of UFO sightings during the late 1960s and 1970s. This single area of Britain has more reports of weird goings on than anywhere else in Britain.

During the peak of the reports the woods, which were once used for rituals by a satanic cult, were said to have seen alien abduction, and be the base of alien aircraft that had come to Earth to collect chemical elements including sulphur.

People have reported UFOs in many forms, from a moon-sized light descending from the sky, to flying saucers hovering above the woods, as well as plenty of accounts of unexplained lights in the sky, many of which seemed to beam light down into the trees below.

The most notable event took place in 1967 and was witnessed by Paul Glover, a member of the British Phenomenon Research Group. He and a colleague saw a black boomerang-shaped craft moving across the sky while they were walking through the woods. This sighting was followed by a strange display of lights in the sky. They saw two bright lights, one of which released a small object, which travelled to the second and entered it.

The woods are a place of death, with four recorded cases of bodies being found in the woods, most of which were missing persons who were later found in the woods.

22. Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

A theatre built in the heart of Manchester in 1806, although a theatre has stood on the site much longer, but was demolished to make way for the newer more modern building. The theatre was enlarged in 1847 giving us the building we see today.

The theatre has been through more than its fair share of tragedy. It was damaged by a German bomb during the Second World War, which resulted in it being closed until it was rebuilt in the mid-1970s. The bomb blast sadly killed several people.

The theatre was again damaged in 1996, this time by a 3,300lb IRA bomb, which detonated less than 50 meters away from the building.

Two people have taken their own lives in the theatre, one by throwing himself off a balcony, the other is said to be a female. Could it be her ghost who is seen in the form of an unhappy female spirit in the wig room. It's claimed that she throw objects around the room and doesn't like lilies, which are said to wilt before their time.

The green room is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a man in a dark suite who's seen with a glamorous blonde-haired lady. And the spirit of actor James Maxwell has been reported around the building, perhaps because he was so fond of the theatre.

21. The Jamaica Inn, Bolventor

Built in 1750, the Jamaica Inn is historic, atmospheric, welcoming and supposedly very haunted. The traditional coaching inn is setback from the busy A30 in Bolventor, overlooking Brown Willy, the highest point on Bodmin Moor.

Due to its history of hosting smugglers the pub has been the subject of books, television shows and an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

The paranormal activity at the inn includes the disembodied sound of footsteps throughout the building, unexplained tapping, the sound of children playing and babies crying, and most famously the sound of horses and carts moving in the courtyard.

Room 5, which is said to be one of the most haunted rooms is said to be haunted by the ghost of a mother and child. The young girl is often referred to as Hannah. The ghost of a murdered man has been seen in the main bar and sat on a wall outside the inn.

Guests and staff have reported seeing dark shadowy figures moving through corridors, the restaurant and the kitchen and many visitors have reported being touched by unseen hands while sleeping or having their hair pulled.

20. Glamis Castle, Glamis

 

Glamis Castle is situated in the village of Glamis, Angus and is the home of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, the Bowes-Lyons family. The category A listed building is said to be haunted by many ghosts, including the ghost of the woman with no tongue who's been seen walking around the grounds.

There's also said to be a Grey Lady, thought to be the ghost of a former resident who was burned at the stake for being a witch in 1537. The spirit of a young boy has also been spotted sitting on the stone seat by the door of the Queen's room, he's believed to be a former servant at the castle.

The 4th Earl of Crawford, Alexander Lindsay, is also said to haunt the castle. He was said to be cruel man in life, but since passing has been sighted as a dark figure standing over beds in the dead of night.

19. Crewe Lyceum Theatre, Crewe

Staff, actors and customers have reported seeing the ghost of a stage hand, as well as the spirit of a lady in white. She has been seen all over the building for at least 50 years, often wandering the stage and most recently in the circle. The woman is believed to be the ghost of a ballerina who tragically killed herself in one of the dressing rooms. Her ghost is often said to be accompanied by the smell of lavender.

Elsewhere in the building, a hooded figure has been seen in the cellar areas, some think he could be connected to the original chapel. Meanwhile backstage, there are said to be three spirits. One is a playful ghost called Charlie, who is said to hide props on the stage.

There's also a more sinister energy that lurks in this area, some say this menacing entity could have been responsible for the 1910 fire. The third ghost is a that of a lost child who's seen wearing period costume and is attracted to other children.

The paranormal activity at the Lyceum was said to have been so bad that in 1969 an exorcist was called in. Clearly this didn't work, as the hauntings continue to this day.

18. Coombe Abbey Hotel, Coventry

The grade I listed building was originally built as a monastery in the 12th century, it was only open as a hotel in 1992 and since people have reported lots of odd goings on. Guests have reported seeing the ghost of a hooded figure, believed to be the spirit of Abbott Geoffrey, one of the original cistercian monks. It's said that he was murdered in the monastery in 1345.

There's also said to be the ghost of a young girl called Matilda, people have reported hearing her footsteps walking around the hotel grounds. The story goes that she was stablehand who fell pregnant to the master of the house. He refused to accept that the child was his, but sadly the baby died during childbirth. She then placed a curse on any young children born in the building. Some believe her hex may have worked as the Craven family who took up residence in the house lots several children during their time there.

17. Treasurer's House, York

Treasurer's House, York
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The Treasurer's House is a Grade I listed house, located directly to the North of York Minster, and was the location for an episode of the Discovery Channel series 'Ghosthunters'.

The house has several resident spooks, including the ghost of George Aislaby who owned the property in the 17th century, and a group of Roman soldiers who have been sighted in the cellar.

16. The Golden Fleece, York

The Golden Fleece is said to be York's most haunted pub, and is said to be home to fifteen spirits including that of Lady Alice Peckett, the wife of a former mayor of York and also the owner of the inn.

Guests have reported seeing her walking around the building. She's said to move and can often be heard walking on the staircases in the dead of night.

Other ghosts in the property in a Canadian airman who fell to his death from one of the upper windows during World War II, a spirit known as One Eyed Jack, the ghost of a grumpy old man, and a young Victorian boy who was said to have been trampled to death by horses.

15. Drakelow Tunnels, Kidderminster

The tunnels were originally excavated to house the Drakelow Underground Dispersal Factory where Rover produced aircraft parts for the Air Ministry, after the Second World War it was refitted and put on standby during the Cold War as a bunker for the local government.

According to newspaper reports at the time, at least three men were killed by a roof fall while digging out the tunnels in the 1940s, there are reports since of factory workers being killed underground after being hit by trucks and while riding conveyor belts.

Modern-day visitors who dare to wander through the darkness have reported hearing strange noises, screaming and cries, and disembodied voices.

The tunnels are believed to have been built under an ancient hill fort which had its own graveyard where hundreds of bodies were buried. During the tunnelling the dead were disturbed and as a result a "demon guardian" of the burial ground is said to take a disliking to anyone who enters the tunnels.

This could account for sightings of a dark shadowy figure which has been seen by visitors. Airsoft participants have pursued fellow players in the darkness, only to turn a corner and find themselves faced with a dead end and no figure anywhere to be seen.

14. Windsor Castle, Windsor

 

Windsor Castle dates back to the reign of William the Conqueror and is said to be home to many ghost, as well as plenty of monarchs throughout British history. The castle's library is said to be one of the most haunted in the UK

The notable ghosts that haunt the castle include that of King Charles I who haunts part of the castle. Elizabeth I haunts the royal library and has been spotted by many members of the royal family. The groans and dragging footsteps of King Henry VIII have also been heard around the castle, the face of King George III has also been seen peering out of the window in the room where he was often detained.

An area of the castle known as the Deanery is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young boy. The Norman tower is said to be haunted by a former Royalist prisoner. In the kitchen the ghost of a man with a horse has been seen who walk straight through a solid wall.

The long walk is also supposed to be haunted by the spirit of grenadier guard who killed himself here in the 1920s, he's been spotted at least twice since his death.

13. Edinburgh Vaults, Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Vaults are a network of eerie chambers which are formed in the arches of the South Bridge in Edinburgh. Due to the city's growing population, the 120 rooms or 'vaults' beneath the bridge were put to use to house taverns, workshops for cobblers and other tradesmen in 1788.

The vaults were damp with poor air quality and condition were grim, which resulted in businesses leaving. This meant that the dank caverns were overtaken by Edinburgh's poorest citizens, the homeless and criminals, who carried out activities such as illegal gambling, whisky distillery and even bodysnatching.

Eventually the vaults were filled in and forgotten about, until they were rediscovered in the 1980s and eventually opened as a tourist attraction. Thanks to its depressing past, the vaults are now said to be one of the most haunted places in the UK.

Visitors report hearing disembodied voices, including the sound of children crying. The mysterious sound of feet shuffling can also be heard coming from dark corners of the vaults, and people have reported being touched. During 'Most Haunted's' investigation of the location in 2008, one of their team was scratched by an unseen force, to this day it is still one of the team's most violent investigations.

12. Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool

The Adelphi in Liverpool is actually the third hotel on the site and the Grade II listed building is easily one of the most haunted in the country. Guests have reported seeing multiple spirits in naval attire. Staff have seen someone hanging out of a window in the Crosby Room, but upon investigation found that the room was empty and the window was locked.

Other guests have claimed to have seen the ghostly figure of a man known as George standing next to their bed at night. While others have reported feeling inexplicably ill, or like they are being watched. Most of the reports are focussed on the hotel's third floor, where there has also been reports of a demon.

11. The Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny

The Skirrid Inn

 

The Skirrid Inn in Llanvihangel Crucorney was once used as the courtroom of the infamous Judge Jeffreys, and his ghost is still rumoured to walk the upper floors.

The pub has been the site of plenty of ghostly and poltergeist activity. When a former landlady decided to sell the, glasses started mysteriously flying through the building, along with the evil spirit of the judge's hangman.

The pub is also said to be the home to the ghost of a local clergyman, Father Henry Vaughn. As well as the spirit of Fanny Price who worked in the building in the 18th century. Staff and visitors to the pub also report smelling perfume, hearing the rustling of a lady's dress, the sound of soldiers marching, and even sightings of a White Lady in the courtyard.

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10. Ham House, Richmon-upon-Thames

Ham House is a Grade I listed house on the River Thames in Ham, south of Richmond in London. Staff and visitors to the house have reported experiencing cold spots, the sound of footsteps, and an inexplicable scent of roses.

The most active part of the house is the ground floor where many visitors report a strange oppressive atmosphere and pets seem reluctant to enter. There is also a large looking glass dating back to the 17th century that some people say they are too scared to look into.

The ghost of former owner of the house, Elizabeth Murray, Duchess of Lauderdale, has been seen on the stairs as a woman in black. There's also the spirit of a young nobleman who became suicidal after he was rejected by the servant girl he fell in love with.

9. Dover Castle, Dover

Records show that a settlement has existed on the site of Dover Castle since Saxon times, it has a history of involvement in pirates, Napoleonic battles, and even housed a secret underground command centre in the Second World War.

The battlements are said to be haunted by a the ghost of a headless drummer boy who's believed to have been decapitated when he was attacked for the riches he was carrying while on an errand for his master. The castle is also said to be the home of a woman in red who has been spotted around the castle, as well as a cavalier.

The castle has a haunted underground area too. Below ground in the WWII tunnels, the ghost of many soldiers have been seen and their presence felt. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, loud screams, and doors slamming, as well as experiencing sudden drops in temperature.

8. The Mermaid Inn, Rye

 

The Mermaid Inn is a Grade II listed inn in Rye, it dates back to 1420 and has 16th-century additions in the Tudor style.

Guests have reported waking to find their clothes wet, others have seen the ghost of a man walking through a wall. There's also been reports of light anomalies, bottles and glasses have fallen and smashed of their own accord, and the ghost of a maid is said to haunt the pub. She was the girlfriend of a member of smuggling gang who used the pub's cellar, she was killed by the gang as they feared she knew too much and would expose them.

There's also the ghost of a lady who's been spotted wearing white while sitting in a chair next to a fireplace, the spirit of a man in period clothing, and the ghost of a man who died during a duel with another man in the building.

7. Ettington Park Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon

Ettington Park has been a luxury hotel since 1983, but was once home to the Shirleys, one of Warwickshire's oldest families. The house is said to be haunted by various ghosts. Staff and guests have reported icy chills, disembodied voices, footsteps, and even a candle which appeared to float through the air. The ghost of an old woman in Victorian clothing has been seen walking around the building. There's also as spirit of a man and his dog who haunt the library.

The hotel's two most famous spook are a woman in white and a woman in grey. The lady spotted in the white gown has been seen around dusk and throughout the night walking along the corridors, before passing through a wall. While the grey lady is seen floating at the foot of the stairs where she's believed to have fallen to her death at some point in the building's past.

6. 50 Berkeley Square, London

The building, believed to be the oldest unaltered building in London, has been in the hands of antique book dealers, Maggs Bros since the 30s, but was once the private home of Prime Minister George Canning, who claimed to have heard strange noises and have experienced psychic phenomenon.

The four-storey town house dates back to 1827, the first ghastly tale to come from the house is that of a young woman who committed suicide there, she jump from a top floor windows after being abused by her uncle. She's now said to haunt the house in the form of a brown mist.

One former resident, Mr. Myers decorated the house in preparation of his pending marriage and starting a family, but he was jilted by his fiancee and became a recluse. He spent his time living alone in the attic slowly going mad, while the rest of the house fell in to disrepair.

Others who have spent the night in the attic since have ended up dead. In 1879 a night in the attic drove a maid mad, she died in an asylum the next day. The next night a curious man took up the challenge to spend a night in the room and went on to become the first person to be recorded dead in the house, the coroner's verdict was "death of fright."

The second reported death at 50 Berkeley Square was a sailor from HMS Penelope in 1887, several sailors stayed the night, the next morning one was found dead, having tripped as he tried to run from the house. The other sailor reported seeing an aggressive ghost of Myers.

5. Dudley Castle, Dudley

Dudley Castle Ghost Hunt

 

The ruins of the castle stand in the town of Dudley, fortification on this site dates back to 1071 following the Norman invasion in 1066. The castle is said to be home to many spirits including the Grey Lady who is believed to be the ghost of Dorothy Beaumont, who once lived in the castle and died there following complications after giving birth to her daughter. Her ghost is most often reported at the castle's keep in the form of unexplained sounds, and icy blasts of air which are often accompanied by a strange blue mist.

However, the most haunted part of the castle is the chapel undercroft, where you'll find a stone coffin which is said to have once help the body of one of the castle's most infamous residents, John Somery. His ghost has been spotted as disembodied legs beside the coffin. Others have reported feeling him tug at their clothing as they walk through this part of the castle.

Like Dover Castle, Dudley also has the ghost of a drummer boy who was said to have been killed by a stray bullet during the Civil War. He's mostly heard at night beating out drum rolls as if in battle. People have also reported seeing dark shadowy figures, hearing strange sounds throughout the castle, and even witnessed a chair flipping over during a paranormal investigation.

4. Schooner Hotel, Alnmouth

The Schooner Hotel, a grade II listed building in Alnmouth has been named by some as the most haunted hotel in the country. The hotel's history is rooted in the town's history as a port, and the whole area has a reputation of smuggling. There's even said to be a secret tunnels leading from the cellar to the port.

The most haunted room in the hotel is room 28, it's said a family was murdered in the room and today guests report hearing children's voices and crying, as well as the screams of a woman.

But room 28 isn't the only haunted part of the hotel, in fact there's been reports of paranormal activity in all 33 of the hotel's rooms. There's been sightings of apparition in rooms 16 and 17, while in rooms 28 to 30 whispers have been heard and guests have reported feeling dread and sickness.

3. Enfield Poltergeist House, Enfield

The Enfield Poltergeist case might have topped this list, if it weren't for the fact that after the family at the centre of the case moved out of the property, reports of haunted happenings stopped. But during the peak of the paranormal activity between 1977 and 1978, the house played host to one of the most famous cases of its kind anywhere in the world.

284 Green Street in Enfield in north London is a three bedroom council house and was home to the Hodgson family. During the case, paranormal investigators, mediums and journalists witnessed and logged more incidents of paranormal activity than at any other haunting, making the Enfield case one of the most well documented incidents of its kind ever.

2. Chillingham Castle, Alnwick

Sunset over the south wall of Chillingham Castle

 

The medieval castle in the village of Chillingham, was the seat of the Grey and Bennet families from the 15th century until the 1980s when it became the home of Sir Humphry Wakefield Bt. Sir Humphry has spent the last few decades restoring the Grade I listed castle, it is now a tourist attraction offering self-catering apartments.

The castle's haunted reputation is well known and it has played host to the 'Most Haunted' team as well as other paranormal television shows. The most prevalent at the castle include the ghost of a Spanish witch who is said to have put a curse on the castle which is said to bring bad luck on anyone who steals from the castle.

There's also the ghost of Lady Mary Berkeley, she was a former resident of the castle whose husband had an affair with her sister, she died of heartbreak in the Grey Apartment. There's now a painting of her in the room which guests have claimed to see her come out of, other visitors to the castle say they have heard her grey dress rustling in the dead of night.

You might also want to look out for the ghost of a little girl who has been caught on camera in the castle's great hall. And the ghost of John Sage, a soldier who served under King Edward, but after taking a spear to his leg in battle with the Scots, was forced to retreat from the frontline and took up the role of the castle's torture in its fully equipped dungeon.

The castle's most famous ghost is the Blue Boy, it's said that guests see blue flashes of light above their beds or coming from within the castles walls. It turns out that these flashes are the ghost of a boy who was bricked up alive inside one of the walls.

During renovations at the castle the skeleton of a boy with blue clothes was found inside a three meter thick wall, the bones on his fingers were worn away from his attempts at scratching at the wall in a desperate bid for freedom.

1. 30 East Drive, Pontefract

30 East Drive, Pontefract
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Reports of poltergeist activity at 30 East Drive, a typical three-bedroom, semi-detached house on the Chequerfield Estate in Pontefract, started after the Pritchard family moved in to the house in 1966.

The first creepy occurrence was when the family noticed a cascade of chalk-like dust falling from just below the ceiling. This was follow by pools of water that spontaneously appeared in the kitchen, all attempts to dry them up failed.

The family also experienced lights turning themselves on and off, green foam was said to have oozed out of the taps, cupboards shook violently, doors banged, photographs were slashed by sharp blades, and countless object were witnessed levitating or being thrown.

On one occasion a large grandfather clock on the landing toppled over and tumbled down the stairs and smash. And most terrifyingly, the youngest member of the family, Dianne was dragged up the stairs by an invisible force, after the event, red hand marks were clearly visible on her neck.

The house is now a popular venue for ghost hunters and paranormal researchers who visit the property still log countless paranormal occurrences to this day.

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