Whether you believe ghosts exist or not, the stories behind them are definitely compelling. At over a thousand years old, London's got a lot of history. Some good. Some... not so much. So it's probably no surprise that the UK capital has its fair share of supposedly haunted locales. Read on to discover the 10 most notable haunted places in London.
Liverpool Street Station, central London
Liverpool Street Station, central London
Yes, one of the largest transport hubs in the city has its own spooky goings-on, making it a local fixture among the most haunted places in England. Workers at the station have reported seeing a man in workers' overalls waiting on the Central Line platform.. .after the station has already shut. Who is he...or more importantly, who was he? Where was he going, and how did he pass?
Not only that, but a burial pit filled with those who had succumbed to the plague was discovered beneath the station. And if plague pits are anything like Native American burial grounds in Stephen King novels, don't bring any dead pets through Liverpool Street.
Bruce Castle in Tottenham, northeast London
Bruce Castle in Tottenham, northeast London
At Bruce Castle in the 1600s, Lady Constantina Lucy, the Lady of the castle, threw herself from the top of the castle - with her son - way back when. The story goes that this was because her husband kept her locked away. This tale adds to Bruce Castle's reputation as one of the most haunted places in the UK. Rumour has it you can still see the ghostly visage of Lady Lucy staring pensively from the castle's balcony.
If Lady Lucy's story doesn't chill you to the bone, there are other haunted house experiences in London to explore. But be warned, some of these spots are not for the faint of heart. So, if you're up for it, Tottenham could be just the beginning of your spine-chilling tour around the city.
The Clink Prison, near London Bridge
Who'd have thought that a 900-year-old renovated prison would be ground zero for ghoulish goings-on? The Clink is rather notorious as one of the most brutal prisons of the Middle Ages. Prisoners were often beaten and starved, all at the behest of the Church.
Though it's been shut for around 300 years, visitors swear they see the ghostly apparitions of both guards and inmates, including a woman trying to remove her shackles. If you're feeling brave enough, you can visit The Clink Prison and Museum in central southeast London.
Room 333, Langham Hotel in Marylebone, central London
Who doesn't love a nice haunted hotel room? Well, room 333 of the luxurious Langham Hotel is all kinds of spooky. Several ghosts have been spotted in the room, not just by budding ghosthunters but by more skeptical journalists too. Those daring enough to face these spirits need only book the room, and head over to Marylebone to visit this wonderful period hotel. We don't think we'll be staying any time soon, but you're made of sterner stuff... right?
The tombs beneath London Bridge, central London
Another London locale, another plague pit. The Tombs beneath London Bridge make it one of the go-to haunted places in London.
The London Bridge Experience takes you through an informative, entertaining and ,unsettling journey through thousands of years of bloody conflicts and betrayals that have taken place in and around the bridge. So, brace yourself for a chilling stroll through London's dark history, but remember, visiting the tombs is not for the faint of heart.
Shadows have been seen moving from room to room down there, and 'Emily', a young woman, is often spotted wandering around too. What's even spookier is that certain tours have actually complained that one of the actors on the tour is simply staring at them and not getting into it. Sorry to break it to you, but... that's not an actor.
The Ten Bells pub in Spitalfields, central/East London
This one might ring a bell, as it used to be called 'The Jack The Ripper'. How did we get so far down this list without mentioning him?
The Jack the Ripper murders, one of the most infamous crime sprees in history, took place in London's East End in 1888. The identity of the killer has never been definitively established, and the case remains a subject of fascination and speculation to this day.
Back in the 1990s, the landlord claimed that the ghost of one of Jack's victims, Annie Champman, had possessed the pub. People have also claimed to see ghosts within its walls, and experienced poltergeist activity. Tables flying, chairs moving. Maybe there's something in the barrels. Or maybe, maybe, there's something more sinister afoot. So if you fancy having a pint while trying to spot some spooky shenanigans, have a butcher's at The Ten Bells.
Ragged School Museum in Mile End, east London
Of course there's a haunted London school. Now a museum, the Victorian school by the Regent's Canal used to educate children from the poorest communities in East London. These days, visitors can learn a lot about the education system back then. You might even hear the reported screams and creepy kid-laughs echoing throughout the building's halls. And if there's one thing that's creepier than an old school, it's one filled with ghost children.
Highgate Cemetery, north London
Who'd have thought that a cemetery, a place where people are buried (a fair few of whom were very well known), would ever have any creepy paranormal activity around it? Well, Highgate Cemetery has had its fair share of spooky shenanigans, from suspected vampires to scary encounters with apparitions.
Queen's House in Greenwich, southeast London
Greenwich's Queen's House is the site of one of Britain's most famous ghost photos. A retired Canadian Reverend and his wife visited back in the 1960s, and the Reverend loved the beautiful Tulip spiral staircase so much he decided to take a photo of it. Little did he know that when he developed it, he would discover two ghostly apparitions ascending the stairs... what will you see when you visit?
The Tower of London in St. Katherine's and Wapping, east London
Last, but, certainly not least, is the Tower of London. For nearly a thousand years, the Tower of London was a prison. Arguably one of the world's most notorious. A lot of people lost their heads. People you may well have heard of, like Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII's second, and most well-known wife, was beheaded in the tower back in 1536. People still see her wandering around the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, holding her severed head by her side. Others have seen and heard all sorts of prisoners within the walls.
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