As the nights are starting to draw in and we’re getting closer to Halloween, there’s no better time to plan a private tour in London to visit some of the city’s most haunted locations – and there are certainly plenty of those on offer! We’ve rounded up five of the best so that you can ensure you tick them all off on a dusk tour to remember.
The Ten Bells Pub, Spitalfields
You might be surprised that we’re starting with a pub, but this is no ordinary pub. It has the dubious honour of being London’s most haunted pub. It has been a pub since the 18th century and its most famous ghost is said to be the last of Jack the Ripper’s victims.
Mary Kelly, who was allegedly murdered by the infamous serial killer after drinking in the pub, is said to be spotted wandering near the women’s bathrooms wearing a green dress. But she’s not the only ghost said to haunt this bar. Annie Chapman, another of his victims, also frequented this pub before her death.
It’s also reported that there are poltergeists in The Ten Bells that move people’s keys and possessions around!
Hyde Park pet cemetery
This is certainly a quirky and unusual place to visit – a cemetery for pets that was established in a quiet corner of Hyde Park in the Victorian era. This part of the park isn’t regularly open to the public, so you will need to book a private tour to get inside and marvel at the tiny headstones.
While there are no reports of regular hauntings in the cemetery itself, Hyde Park has had plenty of ghost sightings over the years, including a phantom carriage with four horses being driven by a ghostly apparition.
50 Berkley Square
This townhouse dating from 1750 is regularly named as the most haunted building in London. There are reports of several people dying of fright in its attic room – including a sailor, a maid and even a ghost hunter who was convinced he could survive the night there.
While there have been no reports of ghosts in recent years, a walk around the Mayfair streets where this building is located will certainly be atmospheric and you never know who or what you might see on the streets once darkness falls.
Hampton Court Palace
This is an iconic place to visit on any London tour, but if you’re after somewhere haunted it also fits the bill. Back in the Tudor era, it was the home of Henry VIII and the ghosts of two of his unfortunate wives are said to reside here to this day.
Both Jayne Seymour, who died in labour while giving birth to the king’s only son, and Catherine Howard, the last of his wives to be beheaded, have been seen here. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is Catherine’s appearances that are said to be most shocking. Her ghost has allegedly been seen screaming and trying to escape the guards!
What’s more Oliver Cromwell made use of Hampton Court Palace during his time as England’s head of state and it’s also said that his ghost can sometimes be seen roaming its corridors.
Given the history of the palace and its many residents over the years, it’s little surprise that there are regular ghost sightings here!
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
This performance has been named the most haunted theatre not only in London, but in the world. It is also London’s oldest theatre so this is perhaps little surprise. The most notorious ghost said to walk its corridors is the Man in Grey, who appears in the Grand Circle wearing a riding cloak and tri-corner hat.
There was also a murder in the green room and even an assassination attempt on King George III, who insisted that the show continue after his assassin was captured and escorted out of the building.
Perhaps you could conclude your haunting tour of London’s streets by watching a play at the acclaimed theatre?
These are just some of the many haunted locations situated in London – there are plenty of others that we haven’t included in this list. Although perhaps we should have added the Tower of London for good measure given the number of ghosts this iconic landmark is said to house.
Of course, given that it was a prison and used for both torture and executions, that is perhaps of little surprise. There are believed to be at least 13 ghosts that roam the castle, including Anne Boleyn, Henry VII’s second wife who was beheaded, and George Plantagenet, brother of Edward IV.
What’s particularly interesting about George’s story is that he chose to be executed by being drowned in a barrel of wine (this was all the way back in 1478!).
