Guide to the most haunted places in London

One of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries built in the 19th century, Highgate Cemetery is the beautiful, sombre final resting ground of notable names such as Karl Marx and George Michael, among others. It is also, apparently, very haunted. Right off the bat, there’s the Highgate Vampire who can be seen as a tall, dark figure gliding around. The temperature also supposedly drops when he’s near. Various other spectres can be encountered as well, including a ghostly cyclist.

Built in the 16th century on land originally belonging to Clan Bruce, this Grade I listed manor house in Tottenham is now a museum presenting Haringey’s heritage. In the past, however, it was home to the Barons Coleraine, among others. The second Baron’s wife Constantia died in 1680, by suicide according to some. Her ghost supposedly haunts the manor and can be seen in November, standing on the parapet from which Constantia had supposedly flung herself.

Check into Room 333 at The Langham if you want to chance an encounter with a supernatural being. It’s supposedly the most haunted room in the hotel, though other ghosts can be seen elsewhere on the premises as well – even the England cricket team apparently experienced some restless nights while staying there. One thing’s for sure – all of the ghosts appear to have enjoyed the finer things in life, as The Langham is a grand five-star hotel with all the trimmings.

Walk into this pub and you’re sure to notice the ceiling covered in banknotes. This isn’t a sign of Belgravia’s affluence, but rather an attempt by the pub’s clientele to pay off the debt of Cedric, a foolhardy soldier who was beaten to death after being caught cheating at cards. As he apparently still haunts the premises despite the current patrons’ efforts, he must have been in for quite a tidy sum.

Considering its lengthy and rather bloody past, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the Tower of London is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the country. What’s more unexpected is the roster, as the thirteen or so ghosts that have been reported include a who’s who of British history. Among others, you can supposedly hear Guy Fawkes’ screams from the dungeon, see a ghostly bear guarding the Crown Jewels, or run into a headless Queen Anne Boleyn and her entourage.

The Clink was an infamous medieval prison, a place of misery, torture and fear for over 600 years. The Clink Prison Museum doesn’t occupy the same building as the prison, as it’s been rebuilt, but there’s supposedly still plenty of paranormal activity going on here. You can even join one of the regular overnight ghost hunts or seances if you want to try communing with the spirits yourself.

The security measures at Buckingham Palace, arguably one of the most difficult places in London to get into, hold no sway over ghosts, apparently. Several spectres are said to be at home in the royal residence, the most famous of which is the enchained monk. Before the palace was built in 1703, the site had a history stretching back centuries, including a stint as the grounds of a monastery. Supposedly, a monk died in one of the monastery’s cells at the time and still haunts the back terrace of the palace in his brown cowl.

Come to London’s oldest theatre for a show and you might walk away with more than you’d bargained for. Among the many dead actors’ spirits that have supposedly been sighted here by actors as well as visitors, the Man in Grey is one the productions hope for. Though not as famed as the Phantom of the Opera, the 18th century gentleman apparition is said to be a good omen – a sighting of him observing the rehearsal supposedly means the play will be a success.

Unbeknownst to the countless hordes who throng to Hyde Park for a taste of British park life, one of the most famous parks in the world hides a dark secret. From 1881 to 1903, 300 beloved pets of wealthy owners were buried next to the Victoria Gate, with tiny gravestones marking their final resting spots. With such a concentration of spirits, it’s no wonder passers-by have reported strange noises and sightings around the cemetery.

Like many of the royal palaces, Kensington Palace is no stranger to paranormal activity. Its apparitions do come with quite the pedigree, however. They’re said to include Queen Victoria's aunt Princess Sophia and Queen Mary II, as well as King George II. Supposedly, he died waiting for news of his troops during the Seven Years’ War and is still asking “Why don’t they come?” to this day.

The Ten Bells dates back to 1666, but there’s more unsettling stuff going on here than just the ominous number. It supposedly has links to two of Jack the Ripper’s victims, and one of them has supposedly taken up residence in the pub. Poltergeists and other spirits have supposedly also been detected here.

Another of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries, Brompton Cemetery is not as famous as Highgate, but has its fair share of the supernatural nonetheless. The many interred bodies here include that of William Terris, a renowned Victorian-era actor who was murdered by a colleague. Terris supposedly haunts his final resting place, but can also be seen outside the Adelphi Theatre, where the crime took place.

Though there are plenty of interesting things to see at this museum gallery and former royal residence, it's best known among experts on the paranormal as the site of the most famous ghost photo in the country. While on vacation in 1966, a Canadian reverend and his wife took a photo of a staircase in the building. When the photo was developed, it showed one or more shrouded figures ascending the stairs, even though no one else had been there at the time of the snap …

Aside from being the historic pub where John Keats supposedly wrote his most famous poem, The Spaniards Inn has a colourful history that includes a dalliance with infamous highwayman Dick Turpin. The criminal’s ghost can supposedly still be seen around the property, often on horseback, as can the mysterious ghost of a woman dressed all in white.

Dick Turpin is apparently as busy in death as he is in live, as not only does he haunt The Spaniards Inn, he has also been sighted in Epping Forest, his old hunting grounds. Between the notorious highwayman, the many bloody battles that took place here in the past, and the general eeriness of a forest at night, it’s not surprising there’s no shortage of reported supernatural activity in the area.

In the 19th century, a Spanish barmaid started working at this historic pub, eventually falling in love with her married boss. After he rejected her advances, the inconsolable barmaid hung herself in the basement. Her ghost supposedly still haunts the pub, sobbing at night and finding no solace in the other apparition that has been reported here – the Cavalier, a fully uniformed ghost who is said to have been a soldier who died while guarding the building.

Even though it’s not one of the Magnificent Seven, the Grade I listed City of London Cemetery comes with its own supernatural activity. One of the largest municipal cemeteries in Europe, it includes the graves of two of the Jack the Ripper victims. Unexpectedly, it’s not their ghosts that have been reported here, but rather a mysterious orange light coming from one of the tombstones. Its origin? Unknown.

Despite being a hallowed place, Westminster Abbey isn’t short on the paranormal activities. With its millennium-spanning history and multitude of graves, that’s to be expected. The supernatural phenomena reported at this historic site include the ghost of judge John Bradshaw, a floating monk and a moving sculpture. The statue of political Daniel Pulteney has supposedly been spotted turning the pages of the book it holds.

Possibly the cheekiest ghost on this list, the Flusher supposedly resides in the ladies’ loo at The Bow Bells, an authentic family-run boozer in the East End. Lurking in the stalls, the mischievous Flusher is known to flush the toilets at the most inopportune times, and no plumber has been able to do anything about it.

Tucked away in an attic and crammed full of herbs and surgical instruments, the Old Operating Theatre looks like something straight out of a horror film, so it’s not surprising ghosts apparently feel at home there. As one of the oldest surviving operating theatres, the snug space has seen its share of gore and death, with the screams of patients supposedly still heard echoing through the room. Spectral sightings have also been reported, as has poltergeist activity.

Another one on the more mischievous end of the spectre spectrum, Charley is supposedly a red-haired gentleman that haunts The Sutton Arms, a traditional pub in the City. He seems to like appearing out of thin air and giving you a fright, then flashing a cheeky grin and disappearing back into the void.

Between the opulent decor and the lively late nights, The Old Queens Head doesn’t seem like it needs a ghost on top of everything else, but that apparently doesn’t stop famed Elizabethan statesman Sir Walter Raleigh from hanging about. Supposedly, he owned the previous pub at this location and has a hard time letting go. Other ghosts at The Old Queens Head include a little girl running around in a tantrum, and an elderly Tudor woman.

The Viaduct Tavern was built above a prison, which supposedly accounts for the poltergeist activity at this Victorian-era gin palace. The prison cells are still in the basement and can be visited if you ask nicely, with the pub holding annual séances as well. The reported supernatural activity includes the usual range of poltergeist cheekiness – shoulder taps, slamming doors, floating carpets and the like.

In the late 1800s, this Victorian building was the largest ragged school around, charitably providing education and shelter to the East End's neediest children. Today, the Ragged School Museum provides a glimpse of those times with its meticulously recreated classroom, but you'd better skive off school if you don't want to run into any ghosts – there have been reports of ghastly screams and spectral laughter echoing through the halls.

This unremarkable courtyard in Farringdon was supposedly named after a brutal murder. In the 17th century, Lady Elizabeth Hatton was supposedly found here with her heart ripped out and still pumping blood – hence the yard's name. Historical records don't quite hold up that tale, but that doesn't stop paranormal detectives coming here to catch a glimpse of Lady Hatton's spirit.