10 Haunted Places for the Adventurous Tourist in UK
by kalyani10
With a long and exciting history of ruthless kings, ambitious queens and scheming noblemen, UK has had its share of murders, executions and wars. Little wonder then so many historical places are believed to be haunted here by the spirits of those who died an unnatural death. So whether you really believe in ghosts or not, check out these 10 supposedly haunted places in UK which are sure to give you thrills of another kind.
- The Tower of London
Arguably the most famous haunted historical building in England or at least its capital city, the Tower of London has a long reputation as the site of torture, imprisonment and execution. This has led to a plethora of sightings and rumors about spirits and often headless, souls hanging around its walls and ramparts. The Princes in the Tower, allegedly murdered by their uncle Richard III, is of course the best-known specters but others supposed spirits equally building up the reputation of the Tower are those of Lady Jane Grey, Anne Boleyn and the White Lady, who apparently brings a strange perfume smell with her on her hauntings.
- Highgate Cemetery, London
The spectacular gothic architecture of the Highgate Cemetery in London makes for an eerie atmosphere where one can almost expect tombs opening up to reveal the undead. Built in Victorian times, the cemetery came to be the setting for a series of bizarre rumors in the late 60s which circulated around a tall, dark figure with hypnotic red eyes terrorizing passersby. Amid stories of fearful schoolgirls and mutilated animals, it didn't take long for people to start whispering that the fiend was actually a vampire. However things could an even more incredible turn when the hauntings led to a bitter feud between two locals, exorcist Sean Manchester and occultist David Farrant, who both swore they would hunt down and terminate the ghoul. so if you are keen to find out about the truth of the ghost of the Highgate Cemetery, you can venture out in the eastern section on your own but Admission to the more atmospheric western side is by guided tour only for which you can sign up with the The Friends of Highgate Cemetery which runs tours of both sides of the cemetery.
- Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Hardcore ghost aficionados in UK are familiar with the area known as Pendle Witch Country in the Lancashire Pennines. the dark brooding mass of Pendle Hill rises out of the rolling meadows in the area and Nearby is the site of Britain’s most famous (and most grim) witch trial – the case of the ‘Witches of Pendle’. In 1612 ten so-called witches were hanged at Lancaster Castle though historians now believe that the ‘witches’ were probably just innocent victims of the whims of witchcraft-obsessed James I. in any case, the spirits of the women burnt as witches reputedly haunt the village of Newchurch, which lies in the looming shadow of Pendle Hill and is where one of the witches is said to be buried. The Pendle Hill has even featured on Living TV’s ‘Most Haunted’ and growing haunted tourism has led to a souvenir shop in Newchurch named, Witches Galore.
- The Red Lion, Avebury, Wiltshire
The 400 year-old inn Red Lion is aptly situated within Avebury's mysterious stone circle which has long associated with paganism, witchcraft and superstition. Among the supposed sightings at the Red Lion include a woman named Florrie who is believed to show a curious partiality towards bearded customers. Ghostly children have also been seen and visitors have often reported orbs of light, weird shadows and cold spots within the inn which is never short of visitors looking to test their nerves with an overnight stay.
- Ancient Ram Inn, Wotten-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
This is yet another pub which is believed to be haunted by the undead. curiously pubs and inns seem to be frequently haunted in England - this might owe to the fact that they are often century-old buildings, or it could just be that ghosts like a pint as much as the rest of humanity. And Ancient Ram Inn lends itself well to the former probability with its creaky floorboards, cold bare walls, musty smells and dimly lit nooks and crannies. The stories attached to this creepy building are equally scary and revolve around murder, Satanism and child sacrifice. The aura of the dark deeds said to have occurred here in past centuries are only accentuated by its earlier history as a pagan burial ground.
- The Borley Rectory, Essex
Famously quoted as 'The Most Haunted House in England’, the Borley Rectory in Essex owes its reputation to the works of well known 18th-century ghost hunter, Harry Price. Price's thorough accounts of the Rectory's ghouls - most notably a murdered nun - brought the place national infamy until its virtual destruction by fire in 1939. And even though the place was demolished in 1944, this has done nothing to dispel stories of spooky happenings, or stop ghost hunters visiting the site.
- Glamis Castle, Angus, Scotland
Like the Tower of London, the Glamis Castle in Angus owes its supposed haunting to a long history of incarceration and execution. The imposing home of the present Earl and Countess of Strathmore is believed to include a number of secret rooms with its ghostly residents. Some of the spirits thought to haunt the Castle include the so-called Monster of Glamis Castle which refers to a deformed child who was kept locked up in a hidden room his entire life , a tongueless woman running around the garden and a wicked aristocrat who loudly bemoans a lost card game. There's also the mysterious Grey Lady, probably a nickname for Janet Douglas who was executed on a false charge of witchcraft in 1537.
- Culloden Moor, near Inverness
Historians know Culloden Moor, near Inverness as the place where the last battle in mainland Britain was fought On the 16 April 1746. This battle against Jacobite repression which marked the start to a grim era grim era of repression of Highland customs and traditions left many dead and even more ruthless massacred. And as befits any bloody battle, the dead do not rest easy and every year on April 16, the battle's anniversary, the landscape is said to echo again with anguished cries as phantom legions re-enact the slaughter. For the convenience of adventure tourists like you, the battlefield, has a National Trust for Scotland visitor centre where you can get information on its history, guided tours and much more.
- Berry Pomeroy Castle, near Totness, Devon
This 14th-century castle is well known in the Haunted historical circuit of UK as the residence of two famous female ghosts; the White Lady and the Blue Lady. According to legend the White Lady is the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, who starved to death while imprisoned in the dungeons by her jealous sister, Lady Eleanor. Apparently she haunts the dark dungeons, and rises from St Margaret's Tower to the castle walls. The Blue Lady has not yet been identified as a historical figure but that seems to add to her enchantment as she is believed to be quite adept at tempting visitors to the ruins. The Castle is looked after by English Heritage and remains open from April to October.
- Llancaiach Fawr Manor, near Caerphilly
When you first enter this Tudor manor house, you seem to be stepping into a place that is frozen in mid-seventeenth century with exhibits from the era and the people in period costume. However die-hard ghostbusters claim that there is something far more disturbing beneath the appearances and some of the instances of paranormal activity supposedly found in Manor include the constant chatter of disembodied voices around the house, appearances of spectral children and odors in the air of violets or lavender. One particular room is even said to frequently cause visitors to burst into tears – all of which have gone into building the reputation of Llancaiach Fawr Manor as one of the most haunted places in Wales.
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