The 17 Absolute Creepiest Places To Visit In Britain

Are you brave enough?

1. Pendle Hill, Lancashire

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Pendle Hill was home to possibly the most well-known witch trial in English history. In 1612, a 12 people were accused of the murders of 10 people by witchcraft, and 10 were found guilty and hanged. You can either take a tour around the area, or, if you're brave, follow the trail yourself.

2. Hellfire Caves, West Wycombe

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Excavated in the 1700s, these caverns go on for a quarter of mile underground, and were used as a meeting place for the Hellfire Club. The caves are a popular paranormal location, and there are frequent tours, some of which appear to be lively ("The team and several members of the public experienced small stones being thrown at them, terrifying growls, temperature fluctuations, physical interaction and even a shadow figure in the caves"), according to Ghostfinder.

3. Hampton Court Palace, London

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Facebook: hamptoncourtpalace

The former home of Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace apparently has several ghostly residents, including a Screaming Lady, a Grey Lady, and an apparition named Skeletor. You can also find Jane Seymour's heart buried under the altar of the Chapel Royal. Take a ghost tour, if you dare.

4. Glasgow Necropolis

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A giant Victorian cemetery known as "the city of the dead", Glasgow Necropolis was home to a vampire myth in the 1950s. Paranormal investigators also believe they have captured voices there, and have seen a "strange mist anomaly".

5. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon

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This abandoned castle allegedly plays host to several ghosts, including the White Lady and the Blue Lady. It has also been the focus of several "blood-curdling ghost stories". Visit and decide for yourself how spooky it is.

6. Bolling Hall, Bradford

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Bolling Hall is so old it's mentioned in the Domesday Book. The age of its resident ghost, the White Lady, who lives in the Ghost Room (above) isn't as certain, however.

7. Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Caerphilly

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A manor house built in 1530 and a Grade I listed building, Llancaiach Fawr Manor claims to be most definitely haunted. If you're interested, the manor offers a number of ghost tours, but warns that it does not "‘fix’ anything and we cannot guarantee that the House will be active on the evening of your visit".

8. Peel Castle, Isle of Man

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Home to the legendary Moddey Dhoo, a ghostly black hound from Manx folklore. Visit here to read more about the legend of the Moddey Dhoo. (The Isle of Man isn't technically part of Britain but we think it's spooky enough to be included!)

9. Pluckley, Kent

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According to the BBC, Pluckley has a reputation as the most haunted village in Britain. For example, the Black Horse pub is home to "an invisible phantom who makes himself known by moving both glasses and possessions around the pub".

10. Tower of London

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The Tower of London needs no introduction. You can go there to keep an eye out for ghosts, or, more frighteningly still, visit the White Tower to view the axe that was "used at the last public beheading on Tower Hill in 1747".

11. Golden Fleece, York

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Not only is it the oldest inn in York (1503), the Golden Fleece also claims to be York's most haunted pub. From Lady Alice Peckett to One Eyed Jack, you'll have some company with your pint. If you're especially interested, you can also take the York Ghost Tour.

12. St Briavels Castle, Gloucestershire

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This castle, built in 1292 is now a youth hostel. One room is said to contain a "scary bed", where guests "have been awoken by what seems like an angry spirit" who tugs on the sheets. If this appeals, you can book a spot on a ghost hunt.

13. Jamaica Inn, Cornwall

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Facebook: JamaicaInnCornwall

This famed Cornish smugglers' inn revels in its spookiness, boasting so many ghosts it appeared on Most Haunted. Added bonus: There's a phantom wildcat – the Beast of Bodmin – which is supposed to haunt the moor nearby.

14. The Skirrid Inn, Monmouthshire

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The oldest and creepiest pub in Wales, the Skirrid Inn has a dark past. "The pub was used as a courtroom where it is believed 200 convicts were executed by hanging over the stairwell", reported Wales Online. There's a noose as decor, and you can do a ghost hunt too.

15. Ham House, Surrey

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Rumoured to be one of the most haunted houses in Britain. Not only does Ham House appear to have a ghost dog, but according to an investigation by the Ghost Club, a number of phenomena have occurred. Investigate a ghost tour here.

16. Whitby Abbey, Yorkshire

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As part of the setting of Dracula, Whitby's spooky credentials are legit. Whitby Abbey also allegedly plays host to a ghostly nun. If you're really brave, visit the Whitby Museum to view the Hand of Glory and the Hangman's Locket.

17. South Bridge Vaults, Edinburgh

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Flickr: itmpa Creative Commons

Beneath the 19 arches of Edinburgh's South Bridge, there's a string of chambers with a murky past. Referred to by one tour group as "the city of the dead" (echoing the nickname Glasgow Necropolis), its vaults were only recently unsealed.

Oct. 01, 2014, at 11:07 AM

A previous version of this post contained an image of a tomb at Sudeley Castle, not at Hampton Court Palace. This has been updated.