Depending on where you travel in the UK, some locals may say you’re the odd one out if your house isn’t haunted. With such an ancient history and a culture that views spirits as expected inhabitants, there are plenty of ghost tours in Britain to satiate any traveler’s paranormal craving.
Britain’s Most Haunted
London has plenty of ghostly haunts and many of them are accessible on foot. Walking tours provide you with lots of paranormal viewing in the Old City, down narrow passageways and dark alleys, while experienced hosts narrate your journey. If you do decide to start your journey in London, be sure to visit the Tower of London, a building steeped in bloodshed and death.
Even if you don’t experience a ghostly encounter, walking tours will allow you to visit parts of the city you may otherwise have missed, not to mention give you a hands-on history lesson.
Outside of London there are various opportunities for ghost tours. Book a guided tour or choose to stay overnight in famed haunted properties. Durham Castle is one location that is known for its otherworldly inhabitants, particularly the Lady Grey, who can be seen haunting the staircase where she met her fate from a fall.
Chillingham Castle is another popular spot, as it was listed on the TV show, ‘Most Haunted’. Visitors often report hearing screams in the corridors and experiencing the apparition of a little boy in Chillingham’s Pink Room.
Head out to the 13th century abbey in Lacock Village. Plenty of visitors have experienced ghosts within the abbey walls and the apparition of a young woman is often seen down at the nearby lake.
The Talbot Hotel in Oundle, Northhamptonshire is supposedly haunted by none other than Mary, Queen of Scots. It’s said that Mary descended the stairs of the hotel on her way to her fate at the executioner’s block. Plan on spending at least a night in this hotspot so you can maximize your chances of seeing a ghost.
The Guinness Book of Records lists the village of Pluckley in Kent as the UK’s most haunted village. Visit the mediaeval Elvey Farm and see if you can spy the ghost of the ‘weeping wanderer’. Other reported apparitions include a woman named Red Lady Derring, a highwayman, a miller, a schoolmaster, a screaming ghost and even a white dog. Plan to spend at least the better part of a day here and be sure to bring your camera along in the event you can snap some evidence.
If you’re feeling particularly brave, stay in the Prince Rupert Hotel in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Room six is reported to house the ghost of a hanging woman. Guests in other rooms have experienced objects moving on their own, so you may not get much sleep.
Finding haunted hotspots in England is relatively easy if you know where to look. Simply ask the locals if you can’t decide where to go next and test your bravery with haunted overnight stays and guided tours. One thing for sure is this is one vacation that won’t be easily forgotten.
Jennifer McKnight is a freelance writer specializing in a variety of web content subjects. She frequently writes travel articles, gives financial advice and details information on current Accounts at moneysupermarket.com.
