The Most Haunted Hotels to Visit in the UK

The scene of countless reported ghost sightings and paranormal experiences, the Jamaica Inn has been classified as a location of substantial interest by the British Paranormal Association after a number of investigations. Former owners have reported hearing voices spoken in different languages – rumoured to be Old Cornish – and horse hooves crashing on the cobblestones outside. Overnight stays are now available; just don’t be surprised if you hear something go bump in the night. There are regular paranormal tours held in the evenings which you can book to take part in to learn the full story behind one of the most haunted places in the UK. Oh, and keep an eye out for the notorious Beast of Bodmin, a large cat-like creature that has been reported roaming the surrounding moors.

Said to be the most haunted castle in the UK, Chillingham Castle has a truly bloody past, with several battles and sieges taking place over its nearly 800-year history. With spectres and apparitions frequently spotted within the castle walls, it’s easy to see how it’s earned its moniker. Supposed sightings have included those of the “the Lady in White” who, after suffering from being poisoned, begs guests for water in the pantry. Other experiences include ghostly voices being heard in the chapel and dark shadows skulking through the courtyard.

Considered the most haunted place in Norfolk, the Bell Hotel has existed in one way or another for the last six centuries. A number of spectres have been seen throughout the hotel during its time, but the main suite’s bedroom has seen the most activity. It is supposedly haunted by a hooded monk who was captured and killed during the Reformation, so only the bravest of guests dare to stay through the night. Another resident ghost is said to be that of a former landlady, who died on the premises a number of years ago.

With parts of the building dating back to the 12th century, it’s easy to see why the macabre stories surrounding the Mermaid Inn have turned it into something of a local legend. A huge variety of ghostly experiences have been reported by guests to the hotel, including duels being fought, white ladies looming over sleeping guests and a man walking through the bathroom wall. The grade II listed building has been investigated extensively by mediums, psychics and amateur ghost hunters, all reporting fascinating evidence.

This medieval hotel has long been the site of ghostly goings-on. The most famous of the spectres is said to be that of a former housekeeper, who tragically hung herself in her quarters on the premises. With many reasons given for her suicide, including being jilted at the altar and overlooked for a promotion, she is now routinely spotted in her former residence, now room 15. Guests and employees have spotted her throughout the years, with one even supposedly awoken by the spectre tickling her feet.

This five-star luxury hotel, in the heart of central London, is regarded as one of the most lavish places to stay in the world. Built between 1863 and 1865, and just minutes from the busy shopping paradise of Oxford Street, it has featured in numerous films and books – not least Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s early Sherlock Holmes novels, which date back to the 1880s. Guests over the years have reported spooky apparitions patrolling the corridors, and a 2014 account by international cricketers Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad gained media attention. If you’re brave – and rich – enough, you should book room 333, said to be the most haunted room in the hotel.

During the day, this luxury spa hotel in Kent, UK, looks like something from a period drama – complete with traditional afternoon teas and a croquet lawn. However, come nightfall, you may well spot a mysterious lady in a white gown. She’s regularly glimpsed by staff members and held responsible for the noises and footsteps emanating from empty rooms. But she’s not the only ghost to make a regular appearance; there’s also a horseman from the nearby hamlet of Eastwell, who is said to ride past the house and straight into the lake.

The Corner is a well-priced option if you want to base yourself at the heartland of dark tourism in London. A location in Whitechapel puts you only steps from where Jack the Ripper murdered his third victim, Elizabeth Stride, while the Tower of London is a 20-minute walk away. Despite all that bleakness, the hotel itself is as quirky as they come. Giant photos of a sunglasses-donning dog or Brick Lane tourists await in the individually designed rooms, while bicycle parts decorate the bathrooms.

Hunker down in Holborn and pray for a good night’s sleep undisturbed by the resident ghost at the Grange Blooms Hotel. The spirit of one Dr John Cumming supposedly haunts this historic boutique hotel. A minister who was obsessed with the end of the world, he allegedly promised that he’d live to witness armageddon; if the winter-night sightings of him are to be believed, he may fulfil that vow. Try to relax in one of the 26 ensuite rooms of this antique stay, then escape to the adjacent British Museum in the morning, just two minutes away on foot.

Lumley Castle (in County Durham, England) has everything you’d expect a 600-year-old English castle to be kitted out with: four-poster beds, roll-top baths, grand fireplaces and, of course, its very own ghost. Poor Lily was thrown down a well, so the story goes, after refusing to convert to Catholicism and her restless spirit has allegedly haunted the castle ever since. While some hotels are quick to downplay their ghostly visitors, Lumley Castle embraces its apparition, with a Lily of Lumley themed Escape Room on the premises. That’s if you’re brave enough to lock yourself in a room with a ghost…