Autumn, darker evenings, and cooler weather all turn our thoughts to the spookiness of Halloween and takes of ghosts. British Food and Travel has looked at some of Britain’s spookiest locations in the past, but it’s always good to have an update. So, with perfect timing, a new study has unveiled the UK’s most viral haunted locations. The team at QR Code Generator analysed Instagram hashtag data to determine the haunted spots with the highest number of social media uploads. Here are their findings with the top ten most viral haunted locations.
And in reverse order…
Warwick Castle
Warwick Castle comes in at 10th place. According to the release:
The 11th-century castle has been the subject of multiple ghost stories, including reports of a large black dog with glowing red eyes. In particular, the castle’s dungeons are well-known for having an eerie presence, with multiple visitors experiencing the overwhelming sensation of being watched and the feeling of being touched or dragged.
To learn more about visiting the castle and spooky-themed events, click here.
York’s The Shambles
The Shambles is a popular destination in York, but there’s more to it than shopping and being a great photo spot. The thoroughfare, dating back to the 14th century, is one of the best-preserved medieval streets in Europe. It was originally the site of the city’s meat market; the street is intentionally narrow to keep sunlight from spoiling the meat. The blood and butchers are now long gone, but many people claim to have seen apparitions in the shop windows.
Chislehurst Caves
The Chislehurst Caves are a man-made network that covers about 22 miles just outside of Bromley in south London/ Kent. Their exact date of origin is unknown. Some historians have speculated that the Romans or ancient Druids first carved into the chalk. The first confirmed mention is the 800s as a mine. They were last mined in the 19th century and later served as an ammunition dump, an air-raid shelter, and a music venue. A number of ghost stories and eerie goings-on are attributed to the caves, and since several paranormal TV shows filmed there, Chislehurst’s popularity has grown.
York Minster
Back to York for another haunted location. This time, we head to the famed York Minster. The city’s magnificent cathedral has stood in some form since the 7th century, with the current iteration completed in 1472. It is considered by many to be among the world’s finest. The Minster may be one of Yorkshire’s most haunted buildings (with Whitby Abbey following close behind). Among the spirits said to haunt its pews are Dean Gale, a devout parishioner who died in 1702, and a naval officer. The latter is said to have appeared beside his sister as she prayed for his safe return, not knowing he had died at sea that very day.
Highgate Cemetery
The historic cemeteries of London are perfect for peaceful exploration while avoiding the noise and traffic of the city outside. We have previously mentioned Abney Park Cemetery here on the site. However, the most famous of the historic burial grounds is Highgate. The cemetery’s more famous residents include Karl Marx, Christina Rossetti, George Michael, and Douglas Adams. Of course the cemetery is reputed to be haunted by a number of spirits and strange occurrences. As well as the ghostly nurse, the woman in white, and other figures, eerie wailing is sometimes heard. Meanwhile, the legend of the Highgate Vampire still captures the public imagination.
Whitechapel
I have mixed views about the fifth name on this list. The Whitechapel district of London is best known for the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. As such, groups are led through the streets each night by self-proclaimed Ripperologists who glamorize the hideous murders that took place here, all too often while ignoring, or worse, belittling, the actual women who were the victims. It’s all a little… distasteful. Nevertheless, the tours remain popular and, as with so many other parts of London, the Victorian alleys take on an eerie nature after dark.
Hampton Court Palace
Ever since I first visited Hampton Court in my teens, it has remained in my memory as a truly magnificent place. Once the home of Henry VIII, and where his many tempestuous marriages played out, it was later remade into a baroque palace for William and Mary. Its halls have seen political intrigue, romance, and some of the key moments of English history. Small wonder that much of that history has likely remained in an otherworldly form. Two of Henry’s former wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard, are thought to walk the corridors of the palace. The Haunted Gallery is so named because so much activity has been reported there, and unexplained images have even been caught on CCTV. Who knows what you might see.
Tower of London
Two of Henry’s wives reputedly haunt Hampton Court; another one may haunt the next location on the list. Visitors say they have seen Anne Boleyn’s ghost at the Tower of London. Others claim to have spotted Guy Fawkes, a member of the Gunpowder Plot. What do both figures have in common. They were among the many to have been imprisoned and executed in the Tower’s long history, and the many that still haunt the site. Anne Boleyn has sometimes been seen carrying her head and accompanied by a procession of ladies in waiting. Henry VI appears in one tower at the stroke of midnight. Other reported ghosts include Sir Walter Raleigh, Margaret Pole, Lady Jane Grey, Arbella Stuart, the two princes, and a bear, plus many more. It’s downright crowded!
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh abounds with ghost stories , and perhaps no location as much as Edinburgh Castle, which ranks second on this list. In its lengthy history, the castle has witnessed numerous battles, not to mention royal celebrations and executions. This spot, high on a hill, has served as a fortress since the Iron Age, with Malcolm III later making it the site of the royal residence in the 11th century. Many people have reported seeing strange figures in the grounds. Ghosts are said to include the Grey Lady (possibly Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis), a prisoner, a little black dog, a headless drummer, and a regimental bagpiper.
And the most popular haunted location is… London Bridge!
I’ll be honest – this surprised me a little. But apparently London Bridge receives a TON of attention on social media as a haunted spot, far surpassing the other places on this list. Not to be confused with the iconic Tower Bridge further along the Thames, London Bridge has a rich history in its own right. The current bridge is pretty new, opening in 1973. It’s not the bridge itself that holds the history; it’s the several bridges that preceded it at the same location. A stone bridge crossed the river for about 600 years, and was then replaced by another stone bridge in the 19th century. And before those stone structures? A succession of various wooden designs, the earliest of which is estimated to have been in place in about 50AD.
Nearby, the London Bridge Experience offers visitors an interactive guide through London Bridge’s history. The London Tombs are considered a popular site for paranormal activity due to the area’s association with a former plague pit, which was uncovered back in 2007.
With London’s abundance of gruesome history, it’s unsurprising that the city has become intertwined with numerous ghost tales, ranging from haunted castles to spooky cemeteries.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR CODE GENERATOR
