With a long and gruesome history, it’s no surprise that the United Kingdom is regarded as the most haunted country in the world!
From spooky castles and military sites to asylums and a modest semi-detached house, here’s our rundown of the top 25 most haunted places in the UK.
Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
The Ancient Ram Inn in the sleepy village of Wotton-under-Edge dates back to the 12th Century. It is regarded by many as the most haunted place in the UK.
The inn has a rich and dark history, with tales of suicides, murders, and even sick satanic rituals within the building.
A plethora of spirits reside at the Ancient Ram, but most frightening of all is a horny demonic entity known as the “Incubus,” who sexually assaulted former owner John Humphries regularly while he slept.
Address: Ancient Ram Inn, 8 Potters Pond, Wotton-under-Edge GL12 7HF
Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill is located in Lancashire, infamous as the home of the Pendle Witches. The witches were tried and executed for witchcraft in 1612 in one of English history’s most famous witch trials.
The Hill has a reputation for being extremely haunted. Shadowy figures have been seen on the Hill at night, and several buildings in the immediate vicinity are said to be haunted by the witches.
Address: Ribble Valley, Lancashire, BB7 4BX
Woodchester Mansion, Gloucestershire
Woodchester Mansion, located in Woodchester, Gloucestershire, is believed to be one of the most haunted places in the UK. This mysterious gothic mansion is said to be full of ghosts despite the fact it was never completed or lived in.
Visitors have reported strange noises, the ghostly apparitions of military men, and being grabbed by unseen hands on the mansion’s grounds. There is also said to be a demonic entity in the basement and a poltergeist who likes to throw stones.
Address: Nympsfield, Stonehouse GL10 3TS
Pluckley Village, Kent
Pluckley village in Kent, England, was recently crowned the most haunted town in the country.
The village is home to many ghosts, including a highwayman hanged in the town, a school headmaster who died in a fire, and a farmer who drowned in a nearby pond.
Residents have also reported seeing the apparition of a nun on the grounds of a local church and strange lights on the main road into the village.
Address: Pluckley, TN27
Samlesbury Hall, Lancashire
Samlesbury Hall, located in the village of Samlesbury, Lancashire, is a 14th-century manor house that is said to be haunted by several ghostly figures.
The most famous ghost is the ‘White Lady,’ believed to be Dorothy Southworth, who died of a broken heart. In the Great Hall, guests report being slapped by unseen hands, and a ghostly priest has been spotted in the chapel.
Address: Preston New Rd, Samlesbury, Preston PR5 0UP
Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire
Whitby Abbey, in North Yorkshire, is a ruined Benedictine abbey. It is believed that the spirit of a monk, killed during the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th Century, still roams the ruins.
The ghost of a lady has been spotted in the nearby graveyard, and a horse has also been seen. The abbey was said to inspire Bram Stoker’s famous novel “Dracula.”
Address: Abbey Ln, Whitby YO22 4JT
Ordsall Hall, Salford
The ghosts of Ordsall Hall in Salford, which dates back to the 13th Century, are believed to be some of the most active in the country.
A woman in a white dress haunts the Star Chamber. A young girl, believed to have died in the hall, is regularly seen on the staircase. Guests have reported strange noises and cold spots and have been touched by unseen hands.
Address: 322 Ordsall Ln, Salford M5 3AN
Edinburgh Vaults
The Edinburgh Vaults were built in the 18th Century and were initially used as storage spaces by local merchants. They were later used as living quarters for the city’s poorest residents, and the cramped and unsanitary conditions led to many deaths.
With so much suffering and strong links with the occult, it’s no surprise that this foreboding location is regarded as one of the Most Haunted Places in the UK.
Address: Blair St, Edinburgh EH1 1QR
Drakelow Tunnels, Kidderminster
Drakelow Tunnels were a secret underground factory and nuclear bunker located in Kidderminster. The mysterious tunnels are said to be haunted by the workers who died during the excavation.
The ghostly apparition of a woman has been seen near the entrance, while strange noises are heard regularly. The tunnel labyrinth is also said to be haunted by a demonic entity.
Address: Kingsford Lane, Kidderminster DY11 5SW England
Mary Kings Close, Edinburgh
Mary King’s Close is a historic close beneath the ancient streets of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
When the plague decimated Edinburgh in 1645, the disease was rampant in the close due to the cramped living conditions and lack of sanitation.
The most well-known spirit is a young girl named Annie, and a plague doctor has also been seen wandering through the warren of streets.
Address: 2 Warriston’s Close, High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1PG
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is a historic castle in London and is regarded by many as the most haunted place in the United Kingdom.
The most famous ghost is that of Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, who was executed at the tower. Her headless ghost has been seen in the chapel.
At least 12 other spirits, including Lady Jane Grey and some children, are in the White Tower. There have also been sightings of a ghostly bear in the Jewel Room.
Address: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB
Michelham Priory, East Sussex
Michelham Priory is Tudor House and former Augustine Priory, with 800 years of history. The ghost of a monk has been seen regularly in the undercroft, while others have reported seeing the spirit of a ‘Grey Lady’ dressed in white.
Footsteps have been heard, unseen hands have moved furniture, and poltergeist activity has also been witnessed. It is considered one of the most haunted locations in the UK.
Address: Michelham Priory, Upper Dicker, Hailsham BN27 3QS
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle in Northumberland is one of the most haunted castles in the country. Many spirits are said to reside within its walls, including a ghostly nurse and a blue boy. The ghost of an armored knight is also said to haunt the castle’s, Great Hall.
Address: Chillingham, Alnwick NE66 5NJ
30 East Drive, Pontefract
A list of Haunted Places in the UK would not be complete without 30 East Drive.
This unassuming semi-detached property in Pontefract is haunted by a ghost known as “The Black Monk of Pontefract,” believed to be one of the most violent poltergeists in the world.
The heavy, intense atmosphere has left visitors feeling nauseous whilst loud bangs and objects have been thrown toward unsuspecting investigators.
Address: 30 East Dr, Pontefract WF8 2AN
HMP Shepton Mallet
HMP Shepton Mallet was one of the oldest operating prisons in the United Kingdom until its closure in 2013. Ghostly apparitions are seen regularly, while unexplained noises and feelings of unease are also common.
The ghost of a former prison guard still patrols the oppressive corridors at night, a lady has been seen on C-wing and a female apparition has been seen in the court yard.
Shepton Mallet is regarded as the most haunted jail in the world.
Address: Frithfield Ln, Shepton Mallet BA4 5LU
Jamaica Inn, Cornwall
Jamaica Inn is a historic hotel located in Cornwall. The inn was built in 1750 and was once a popular stopover for travellers crossing Bodmin Moor.
It is said to be haunted by the ghosts of former guests, smugglers and sailors who died in shipwrecks near the coast. Apparitions are regularly seen and guests have been woken in the night by unseen hands.
Address: Jamaica Inn, Bolventor, Launceston PL15 7TS
Skirrid Inn, Abergavenny
The Skirrid Inn is a historic pub in Abergavenny, Wales, with a dark history. The inn was once used as a court of law, and it is believed over 150 people were hanged in the pub.
Guests have often reported feeling uneasy on the staircase, where markings from the hangman’s rope can still be seen, while cold spots and strange smells are common.
Address: Llanvihangel Crucorney, Abergavenny NP7 8DH
Bodmin Jail, Cornwall
Bodmin Jail is a former prison located in Bodmin, Cornwall. The prison closed in 1927 and was left to ruin, but it has since been converted into a tourist attraction and luxury hotel. Guests have heard ghostly moans and footsteps in the dead of night, and objects have moved without explanation.
The jail is featured in an infamous episode of Most Haunted when medium Derek Acorah was outed as a fake. Derek was possessed by “Kreed Kafer,” a fictional character created by parapsychologist Ciaran O’Keefe. “Kreed Kafer” was an anagram of the phrase “Derek Faker”!
It is thought to be one of the most haunted places in Cornwall.
Address: Berrycoombe Rd, Bodmin PL31 2NR
Newsham Park Hospital, Liverpool
Newsham Park Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital located in Liverpool.
The vast hospital has a reputation for being one of the most haunted locations in the United Kingdom and has an oppressive atmosphere.
Ghostly patients and nurses have been seen, as well as the ghost of a child who is said to have died in the hospital.
Address: Newsham Park Hospital, 11B Orphan Dr, Tuebrook, Liverpool L6 7UL
HMP Shrewsbury
HMP Shrewsbury is a former prison located in Shrewsbury. Unseen hands and footsteps slam cell doors are regularly heard pacing the wings of this foreboding location.
The most famous ghost is a prominent shadowy figure seen in A wing, while a grey lady is said to walk the landing of C-Wing. The spirit of a little girl has also been seen in the Georgian prison on the lower floor.
Address: The Dana, Shrewsbury SY1 2HP
Galleries of Justice, Nottingham
The Galleries of Justice in Nottingham is a former courthouse and prison that dates back to the 18th Century. The Galleries are known as one of the most haunted locations in the UK, and several spirits are said to reside here.
Loud knocks and footsteps are heard in the courtroom, while poltergeist activity has been experienced in the cells and the dungeon deep in the bowels of this massive building.
Address: National Justice Museum, High Pavement, Nottingham NG1 1HN
Dudley Castle
Dudley Castle is a historic castle that dates back to the 11th Century. The undercroft is said to be the castle’s most active part, and many apparitions have been seen here.
A shadowy figure lurks in the darkness, and a naughty little girl is also said to haunt this area. Elsewhere, a ghostly lady dressed in white is said to wander the castle’s ruins, and a mysterious drummer boy has been heard drumming in the castle’s keep.
Address: Castle Hill, Dudley DY1 4QF
Mermaid Inn, Rye
The Mermaid Inn in Rye dates back to the 13th Century and strongly connects to the Hawkhurst Gang, a group of infamous 18th-century smugglers.
A lady in white has also been seen by the fireplace in Room 1. Guests have also left in a hurry having reported objects flying off the shelves and being touched by unseen hands.
Address: Mermaid St, Rye TN31 7EY
Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe
The Hellfire Caves in West Wycombe were excavated in the 18th Century by Sir Francis Dashwood and played host to all manner of debauchery.
Rumors of satanic rituals and week-long orgies were rife, and as such, this den of iniquity has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in the UK.
The most famous ghosts are Paul Whitehead, who wanders the tunnels looking for his heart, and the spirit of a woman dressed in a wedding dress known as Sukie.
Address: Church Ln, West Wycombe, High Wycombe HP14 3AH
Bron Y Garth Hospital, North Wales
Bron Y Garth Hospital is a former workhouse and psychiatric hospital in North Wales. The hospital lies in a state of disrepair since its closure in 2009, and the derelict buildings are said to be home to several ghosts.
Shadowy apparitions have been seen regularly, whilst unseen hands have touched a number of visitors in the mortuary.
Address: Bron y Garth Hospital, Penrhyndeudraeth, North Wales, LL48 6HE
Related Content: Be sure to check out our ghost hunts page if you would like to read about our own paranormal experiences in some of the most haunted places in the UK.
Awesome list! I went to a few of these when over in the UK. I found the Hellfire Caves cool and the village it was situated in. Would happily live there.