10+ Most Haunted Places in London You Can Actually Visit
Last Updated on 21st October 2025 by Charlotte Nadeau
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London may be one of the world’s most visited cities, but behind its royal landmarks, elegant streets, and centuries of history lies a darker, eerier side… From the bloodstained walls of the Tower of London to the shadowy corridors of Hampton Court Palace, and to eerie city cemeteries, London is said to be teeming with paranormal activity. Here’s your spooky guide to some of the most haunted spots in the Big Smoke that you can actually visit!
Tower of London
Known as being home to the Crown Jewels and a vast collection of over 23,000 gemstones and treasures, the Tower of London is one of the city’s most iconic sights. But, behind its medieval walls lies a darker history…one filled with tales of betrayal, imprisonment, and tragic executions, leaving their mark for centuries.
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and since its construction, this fortress has served as a palace, prison, and place of torture, so it’s no wonder it’s considered one of the most haunted places in London!
Perhaps the most notable of its ghostly residents is that of Anne Boleyn (one of Henry VIII’s many wives), an ill-fated queen who was executed here in 1536 after being accused of adultery, incest, and treason. Reported sightings of her spirit have been seen wandering the Tower’s corridors, carrying her own head.
Other ghosts said to haunt the fortress are the two princes who mysteriously vanished, believed to have been murdered. In 1483 Edward V, who was just 12 years old, and his younger brother Richard, only 9, were sent to the Tower of London for their own “safety,” placed in the tower by their uncle, Richard III.
The fate of the two young princes remains one of England’s darkest royal mysteries. After locking them away, Richard III declared young Edward illegitimate and claimed the throne for himself. The young boys were never to be seen again.
Indeed, it wasn’t until 1674, when the discovery of two children’s skeletons hidden beneath a staircase fuelled speculation that they were the missing princes, though no conclusive evidence exists. However, their spirits are said to still roam the Tower, lending to the Bloody Tower its chilling name.
Highgate Cemetery
Perched on one of London’s highest points, Highgate is a leafy suburb best known for its historic cemetery, as it is the final resting place of many notable figures in history, including Karl Marx. It’s also widely regarded as one of the most haunted places in London.
In the early 1800s, London’s population topped the 1 million mark, and despite a high death rate (considering sanitation, along with everything else of those times), the population continued to rise. As such, there was no space left in the city graveyards for more bodies, and it really did begin to smell…
So, parliament decided that seven private cemeteries, known as “the magnificent seven” would be built in the countryside around London, Highgate Cemetery being one of them. And, while the cemetery itself was so popular with everyone wanting to be buried here, and it being advertised as a hotspot for tourists to explore, something far darker can be found in its shadowy paths.
Whispers of a vampire stalking among the tombstones, its presence felt in the chill of the night. The Highgate Vampire is said to glide through the cemetery, haunting those who visit. Even more so, this vampire caused quite the stir in the 1970s, so much so that a rivalry between two vampire hunters took place, and the hunters a mob, broke into Highgate Cemetery looking for the creature.
But the Highgate Vampire is only the beginning of the cemetery’s supernatural tales. The real trouble with the dead at Highgate began back in Victorian times, when coffins sometimes, quite literally, exploded!
Many tombs were constructed above ground for the wealthier deceased, and strict regulations demanded they be sealed in lead to keep “miasma” (foul smelling gas) from escaping. However, as the bodies decomposed inside these airtight chambers, gases would build up, and occasionally, the coffins would burst open, terrifying!
Hampton Court Palace
With just over five hundred years of history, it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of secrets of Hampton Court Palace that few ever find out about. So, it’s likely it won’t come as a surprise either that this is considered one of the most haunted spots in all of England.
To be honest, if you have two of your six wives killed, it’s no wonder they are restless spirits. Back to King Henry VIII and his antics. At Hampton Court Palace, it’s said that Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard roam the rooms, with one of them even believed to have been caught on camera.
Jane Seymour was Henry’s third unfortunate wife, and while she escaped divorce and the axe, she didn’t quite survive either. Seymour met her ill-fated death from post-birth complications while at Hampton Court. This unfortunate tradgedy took place just days after she gave birth to the long awaited son, Prince Edward.
Ever since the 24th of October 1537, people have long reported seeing a ghostly figure on the Silverstick Stairs (the very stairs that once led to the room where Jane Seymour both gave birth and passed away) on the anniversary of Edward’s birth.
Henry VIII’s fifth queen, Catherine Howard, was beheaded at the Tower of London in 1542 for adultery and treason. However, before the young, terrified queen was taken away, the story goes that she ran through Hampton Court, screaming for the king’s forgiveness as the guards arrested her.
Today, that same corridor is known as the Haunted Gallery, where visitors claim they can sometimes still hear her anguished cries, echoing through the halls as she prays for mercy.
Perhaps the spookiest thing of all is the image caught on CCTV at Hampton Court in 2003. The camera captured a ghostly figure seemingly flinging open a fire door. And, while this event predates social media, the image still made international headlines. No one has ever claimed it was a prank, and the security staff remain baffled…
The Flask, Highgate
Another haunted spot in the leafy village of Highgate can be found set within the historic pub, The Flask. The public house takes its name from selling flasks to locals so they could collect water from the nearby springs.
The pub’s most talked about paranormal visitor is that of a Spanish barmaid who once upon a time journeyed to London and worked at the pub. According to legend, she fell deeply in loved with the publican, but her feelings were never returned. Heartbroken, some say she took her own life, unable to bear with the unrequited love.
Today, it’s rumoured that her restless spirit still lingers in quiet corners of the pub, or sends glassware clinking on its own…that being said, we have no idea how many pints she has been sighted after!
50 Berkeley Square
Snatching the title for the “most haunted house in London” is 50 Berkeley Square, a townhouse in Mayfair. The myths and legends circulating about this property vary greatly, but one thing’s for certain: people visit the attic room at their own risk…
The most prevalent story goes that the attic is haunted by a young girl who committed suicide there. It’s said that she threw herself from the rooftop of the attic window after suffering from years of abuse at the hands of her uncle. Her spirit is said to take the form of mysterious brown mist, or sometimes a white figure, capable of frightening people to death.
Other tales tell of people having been locked in the attic, driven to madness, left gibbering wrecks and shells of themselves.
Of course, there are always people trying to find counterarguments to explain unwanted paranormal activity. Researchers of the property have suggested that these haunted stories may have derived from the odd behaviour of the house’s occupant, who slept during the day and made unusual sounds in the house at night. But no one quite knows for sure.
The Clink Prison Museum
A prison museum likely needs no explanation as to why it’s haunted, especially considering the miserable history of this particular London spot. The Clink Prison can be traced back to 1144, making it one of England’s oldest and most notorious prisons. As such, several haunted happenings and paranormal sightings have said to been seen here.
While all kinds of horrors took place here, there’s not so much a specific ghost, but rather several. Visitors and staff have reported unusual sounds of banging, unexplained noises of smashed glasses (perhaps this is a nearby pub)…but there are also the unmistakeable sounds of rattling chains, so maybe not so much of a coincidence after all.
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Tombs under London Bridge
Hidden beneath one of London’s busiest landmarks lies a chilling reminder of the city’s darker past. While there are no official tombs as such under the current London Bridge, the area beneath it has a historical significance related to burial sites.
Deep in the vaults of Tooley Street rests what is known today as The London Tombs, an area steeped in history and ghostly reputation. During excavations in the early 2000s, the workmen uncovered a mass grave, believed to date back to the 17th century. Archaeologists later identified the site as a plague pit, a burial ground for victims of the Black Death and later outbreaks that devastated the city.
Today, the site forms part of the London Bridge Experience. Visitors can descend into the dimly lit chambers, said to be haunted by the souls of those buried centuries ago. In fact, some visitors have reported activity of whispers in the darkness, sudden drops in temperature, and even ghostly touches…
Queen’s House
The Queen’s House is one of the best things to do in Greenwich. Home to a remarkable 400-year-old art collection, stunning architecture, and a rich royal history, this landmark is a must-see spot in the district. However, it’s also said to be a little bit eerie.
It can be traced back to when Reverend Ralph Hardy was visiting London as a tourist from Canada in 1966. He took a photo of the Queen’s House’s most prominent feature, the Tulip Stairs, and went back to Canada ready to develop his film, unaware of what lay waiting. Once developed, he saw one, possibly two, possibly even three figures walking up the staircase.
Showing his evidence, a local Ghost Club became involved in the investigation. And so, on the night of June 24th, 1967 the Ghost Club Group went to visit the Queen’s House themselves. On that night, they allegedly heard bells tolling, saw strange flickering lights, and witnessed other paranormal activity. To this day, no one has been able to figure out why or how the images appeared in a photo of what was, in reality, an empty set of stairs.
Theatre Royal Drury Lane
Standing in Covent Garden, this grand playhouse has seen over 350 years of performances, fires, rebuilds, and, supposedly, a cast of ghostly figures who refuse to leave the stage!
The first theatre on this site opened in 1663, making it the oldest continuously operating theatre in London. Over the centuries, it has entertained royals, survived multiple fires, and become one of the most famous theatres in the world. Yet, behind the velvet curtains and golden frescoes, whispers of the supernatural echo the space.
The Man in Grey (a classic ghost name) is a figure dressed in 18th-century attire, who wanders the theatre, complete with his powdered wig and tricorn hat. Apparently, he can often be seen gliding through the upper circle before vanishing into solid wall. In 1848, renovation work revealed a skeleton hidden behind that very wall…talk about spooky.
However, actors and staff have long claimed that seeing the Man in Grey is a good omen and is said to predict a successful production.
Whitechapel
In the late 19th century, Whitechapel was a densely populated and poverty-stricken district of East London. A winding maze of narrow alleyways, dimly lit streets, it was here that the infamous Jack the Ripper murders took place, shocking Victorian society and capturing the world’s imagination ever since.
At least five women, all working-class residents, Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly (though no one is definitively certain this was all his victims) were brutally murdered in what became known as the ‘Whitechapel Murders’. Indeed, the murders that took place here have still gone unsolved to this very day, and remain one of history’s greatest mysteries.
Some of the most haunted locations in Whitechapel, said to have paranormal activity are:
- Mitre Square – This is where Catherine Eddowes was murdered. Locals claim to have heard groaning noises at night.
- Ten Bells Pub – Sightings of a ghostly old man in grey Victorian clothing, and Annie Chapman was said to have been here shortly before she was murdered.
- Dorset Street – Known as the “haunted house” in 1907, this house is believed to have strong ties to the Ripper himself.
Buckingham Palace
Though Buckingham Palace is better known as home to the royals, and it grand state occasions, it also has its fair share of ghostly legends that give the historic building a more mysterious side. After all, you never quite know what’s going on behind closed doors.
With its storied history and size, you might expect there to be at least a small crowd of ghosts haunting the halls of Buckingham Palace. But you would be wrong. In fact, there are only really two reported sightings of ghosts. The first being in the form of a chained monk.
Buckingham Palace sits on land once owned by the monks of Westminster Abbey, until King Henry VIII seized the land from the monastery during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century. However, one monk is still said to roam the palace, on Christmas Day, he appears bound in chains, moaning and pacing the halls and terrace, overlooking the gardens.
The other supernatural being said to still haunt the palace is Major Gwynne, a private secretary to Edward VII, who reportedly committed suicide in his office following personal scandal. According to multiple sources, staff have heard the sound of a gunshot echoing from the room where he died, and some claim to have seen his shadowy figure lurking in the corridors.
The London Underground
If you’ve ever been on London’s main transport system, you’ll perhaps have felt (or smelt) the chilling atmosphere of being miles below the city in dimly lit tunnels. So it will come as no surprise that people have reported paranormal activity down in the world’s oldest underground railway system.
Many of the Underground’s haunted tales centre on its abandoned stations, after all, , there are actually a whopping 40 (at least) stations in London that have either been abandoned or closed since the turn of the 20th Century.
Aldwych, which closed in 1994, has become infamous for its paranormal sightings. Another notable spot is Charing Cross station, where workers claim to have seen a phantom train rolling through empty platforms. While much of the activity is purely speculation, it’s still very much rooted in real history: with overcrowded conditions, construction accidents, and tragic deaths that have taken place here for more than 160 years of operation.
Best haunted tours in London
As you can imagine, with a city so famed for its hauntings, you’ll be able to find plenty of spooky tours to partake in. From candle-lit walks through centuries-old graveyards to theatrical bus rides guided by the dearly departed, London offers something for every thrill seeker. Here are a few of the top-rated tours and where to book:
- The Ghost Bus Tours – This tour is a sit, ride, and enjoy the theatrics kind. This sightseeing experience lasts around 1 hr 15 minutes and is an immersive and fun way to explore London’s spooky history. Book now.
- The Jack the Ripper Tour – Wander the historic alleyways and come to your own conclusions about this unsolved case! Book now.
- The London Dungeon – Immerser yourself in this spooky spot where actors recreate various gory and macabre historical events in a gallows humour style. Book now.
- Visit The Clink Museum – You can step inside London’s dingiest corner and explore the very site where people were left to rot! And, you can check out the various torture tools used at that time. Book now.
- The London Bridge Experience – Discover the real 14th-century tombs and a plague pit beneath London Bridge in this immersive experience. Book now.
As London is so touristy, I would always book ahead to avoid disappointment! (especially if visiting in or around spooky season)
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