Do you believe in ghosts? If you do or not, you will be surprised to note that the United Kingdom has several such locations haunted by spooky paranormal activity. The following are the most haunted places in the U.K that you must experience at least once in your life.
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1. Northolt Manor
Northolt Manor is a neo-gothic mansion in Edgware, London, built-in 1874 with 3 floors and 14 gables. The manor is one of the most haunted places in the U.K. This is because it was once owned by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and has witnessed many tragic events and deaths throughout its history. One such story includes a murder that occurred at the house on Christmas Eve 1941 when the holiday festivities were a bust, and people became restless. The story claims that the young man was a Nazi spy caught by his own men when he attempted to sabotage British efforts during the war.
2. West Tower, Edinburgh Castle
Although its exterior is not in disrepair, this castle is said to be haunted with ghostly activity inside its walls and halls. It has been home to many significant individuals throughout history, including Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. It was also used as headquarters for Oliver Crom well. The castle’s ghost is said to be the one-legged outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor who died on the grounds in 1691. He often appears before witnesses and causes disturbances. His presence has been known to fool people into thinking they are going insane or even dying.
3. Nottingham Castle
The site of the famous Robin Hood stories, Nottingham castle is said to be one among the most haunted places in the U.K. and inhabited by two ghosts that were once noblemen who died in the castle’s gardens. One is said to be a nobleman who was captured during a battle and had his head removed. At the same time, the other is thought to have been an executioner who had been hanged for treason. The executioner’s ghost has been seen near the spot where he died, and it has also caught people stealing from the castle’s gardens.
4. Tower of London
William the conqueror built The Tower of London. Over time it served many purposes, including as a royal palace, a fortress, and even an armory for the British Army. The Tower’s ghosts are said to be those of Lancelot du Lac from Arthurian legend, who was imprisoned there in 1057. The ghosts were Sir Francis Drake, who died fighting for England during the Spanish Armada around 1588, and Sir Walter Raleigh, who died on trial in 1618.
5. Hampton Court Palace
Some of the ghosts here are thought to be those who were murdered in Henry VIII’s reign. Others include the ghost of Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, who died in 1541, and Richard II, who was deposed and imprisoned here in 1399.
6. Tower Bridge
The Tower Bridge phenomenon began when many people witnessed a white figure appear on the bridge during construction in 1884, becoming one of the most haunted places in the U.K. This image has been blamed for several deaths, resulting in pedestrians mistaking it for an apparition or spirit. The bridge is also believed to be haunted by a phantom ship that is seen on foggy days.
7. St Paul’s Cathedral
This cathedral’s ghosts include Thomas Becket, killed in 1170, William Blake, who died in 1827, and King Charles II, who spent his last night in a cellar beneath the area.
8. Westminster Abbey
Some of the ghosts here are thought to be those of Queen Victoria and her daughter Vicky who died in Paris on their way back from Germany. There are also ghosts of King Edward VII and his first wife, who were killed at Mayerling Castle, Austria, and Thomas Becket, who was murdered near the abbey in 1170.
9. Deptford
According to the natives, the ghost of Sir Walter Raleigh haunts this area. He lived in Deptford in 1591 and died on his flagship, where he is buried. He was executed as a traitor for supporting Catholic King Henri III against Queen Elizabeth I. His body was exhumed during the Reformation, and the Queen ordered that his body be burned. Thus, it became one among the most haunted places in the U.K.
10. Big Ben
This clock tower has several ghosts, including those of Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine, who are rumored to be haunting the clock room. The clock tower also houses another ghost known as ‘Uncle Ben,’ a famous resident of the tower. He wears a grey suit and tie, holds his hands in his pockets, and walks around the old-fashioned style lift that takes visitors to the watchman’s room.
11. Bodysgallen Hall
This National Trust site is said to be one of the most haunted places in the U.K because it is haunted by a man with a long beard who roams around the gardens and walks out of windows at night. It is believed that he was murdered on site when his wife discovered him in bed with his housekeeper, and it is thought that her ghost wanders around looking for the body.
12. Dover Castle
After a long and bloody siege, in 1450, Henry VI was reportedly hanged from the White Tower’s drawbridge. As a result, the castle attained the reputation of being haunted by ghosts, especially that of a soldier wearing a captain’s uniform. It is also said that many decapitated heads are found in the moat each year.
13. Lanhydrock House, Cornwall
The house was built by Phoebe, the wife of Sir John Arundell, in 1575 and was originally a hunting lodge. It is said that Sir John’s mistress, Althea (who later married Edward Dynham), never left Lanhydrock. This attachment to her caused a lot of paranormal activity in the building, making it one among the most haunted places in the U.K. The ghosts are said to be on good terms with humans. It is said that they have been seen around the house in many different forms, such as Althea, an army of children, and a woman who appears to be carrying her infant.
14. The Welsh Field of Wailing Children, Westonbirt Arboretum
The Welsh Field of Wailing Children is an area in Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, England. It was planted as a memorial to the victims of the 1847 cholera epidemic by Lord de Tabley and his wife. In the early hours of October 7th, 1984, caretakers heard what sounded like a child’s wail coming from the site. They investigated and found nothing. However, the sound continued for two weeks, each night for about two hours. According to local legend, it is believed that the children who died of cholera are still crying out in their sleep.
15. Glastonbury Tor
The Tor has been the site of many myths and legends. It is said to be one of Britain’s most influential spiritual energy sites. It has several sacred wells mentioned in chronicles since at least early medieval times. There are also reports by Romans about its oracle-like prophetic power.
