London is home to some of the most famously haunted locations in the UK, each with chilling stories of ghosts, poltergeists, and supernatural phenomena. From eerie mansions like 50 Berkeley Square, to historic sites such as Hampton Court Palace and the Tower of London, the city’s haunted heritage is rich with legends of tragic spirits, unexplained apparitions, and paranormal activity that continue to captivate and terrify visitors and locals alike.
50 Berkeley Square (City of Westminster)
Considered one of the most haunted houses in London, the legends of 50 Berkeley Square vary. The most famous story involves a young woman who, after being abused by her uncle, committed suicide by jumping from a top-floor window. Her ghost is said to take the form of a "brown mist" and is capable of frightening people to death. Other tales include a young man who was locked in the attic and went mad, or a young girl killed by a servant. The house's reputation may have been influenced by a reclusive former occupant, Thomas Myers, who lived there from 1859 until the early 1870s and made strange noises at night. A notable event from 1887 describes two sailors breaking into the empty house; one was found dead outside, having jumped from a window in terror.
The British Museum
The British Museum is said to be haunted by the spirits of its artifacts. Author and artist Noah Angell, who wrote "Ghosts of the British Museum," collected staff stories of paranormal activity. The hauntings are attributed to the "unresolved" nature of how many of the museum's items were acquired. Staff have reported seeing large balls of light on CCTV cameras, and one worker claimed to have seen tall, ghostly figures guarding the Benin Bronzes.
Brookside Theatre (Havering)
This Romford theatre gained notoriety for its supernatural activity after a psychic medium's show. In 2014, a CCTV camera captured a chair seemingly moving on its own and unexplained beams of light floating through the room. The theatre's manager, Jai Sepple, stated that many strange things had happened there, but this was "easily the freakiest thing he has seen."
Bruce Castle (Haringey)
Bruce Castle is reportedly haunted by the ghost of Lady Constantia Lucy, the wife of Lord Henry Coleraine. Legend says that in the late 17th century, Constantia had a sad and abusive life. She was allegedly locked in the tower by her husband and one night, in despair, she jumped to her death, also killing her unborn child. Her ghost is said to appear at a window on November 3rd each year, and for over 300 years, strange wailing noises and a shadowy figure in the top window have been reported.
284 Green Street (Enfield)
This council house was the location of the "Enfield poltergeist," one of the most famous poltergeist cases in history. From 1977 to 1979, the Hodgson family, particularly sisters Janet and Margaret, experienced a range of alleged supernatural phenomena. Claims included loud knocking sounds, furniture moving on its own, toys being thrown, and the children levitating. While many people, including police and paranormal investigators, witnessed strange events, Janet was also caught on video tricking investigators by bending spoons and hiding a tape recorder.
Cock Lane (City of London)
The "Cock Lane ghost" was a sensationalized purported haunting in 1762. The ghost, known as "Scratching Fanny," was believed to be the spirit of Frances "Fanny" Lynes, who had died of smallpox. The landlord, Richard Parsons, claimed the ghost communicated through knocks and scratches, accusing Fanny's lover, William Kent, of poisoning her. The case was investigated by a commission that included Samuel Johnson and concluded that the haunting was a fraud orchestrated by Parsons' daughter, Elizabeth. Parsons was later prosecuted for conspiracy.
Hall Place (Bexley)
This historic house is said to be haunted by at least three ghosts. The attic is reputedly home to a maidservant. The second is Lady Constance, who allegedly leapt to her death from the tower after witnessing her husband, Sir Thomas, killed by a stag. The third spirit is said to be Edward, the Black Prince, who appears in black armor and is considered a bad omen. The prince is believed to have courted his cousin, Joan, in the grounds of Hall Place.
Hampton Court Palace (Richmond upon Thames)
As a former residence of Henry VIII, Hampton Court is rife with ghost stories. Two of his queens are said to haunt the palace:
- Jane Seymour: His third wife, who died after giving birth to his son, Edward. Her ghost is reportedly seen as a "sad white wraith" carrying a lighted taper on the Silverstick Stairs, near where she died.
- Catherine Howard: His fifth wife, who was accused of adultery and executed. Her ghost is said to scream in the "Haunted Gallery" as she was dragged back to her room after attempting to plead with the king.
Other notable spirits include the "Grey Lady," Sybil Penn, a servant and wet nurse who died of smallpox and whose ghost is said to appear after her tomb was disturbed. The palace's CCTV also captured a ghostly figure, dubbed "Skeletor," opening a fire door in 2003.
Langham Hotel (City of Westminster)
This luxury hotel, operating since 1865, is considered one of London's most haunted. Room 333 is the most active and is said to be haunted by a Victorian doctor who killed his wife and himself. In 2014, members of the British National Cricket Team reportedly moved rooms after experiencing paranormal activity. Other ghosts include a German prince who committed suicide, Emperor Napoleon III, and a butler who roams the halls.
Tower of London (Tower Hamlets)
The Tower is home to a host of tormented souls, many of whom were executed or imprisoned there. Some of the most famous include:
- Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's second wife, who was beheaded on Tower Green. Her headless ghost is said to walk the corridors and appear in a procession with other knights and ladies.
- The Princes in the Tower: The young sons of Edward IV, Edward V and his brother Richard, who were imprisoned in the Tower and disappeared. Their figures are frequently seen as two small boys in nightshirts, holding hands.
- Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury: She refused to kneel for her execution and ran around the scaffold while the executioner hacked at her. Her ghostly screams and a reenactment of the event are said to be seen on Tower Green.
Theatre Royal (Drury Lane)
With a history spanning over 350 years, this theatre has several famous ghosts. The most well-known is the "Man in Grey," a gentleman in a powdered wig and a grey cloak. He is seen walking and then disappearing through a wall. When the theatre was renovated in the 1870s, a secret room was discovered behind the wall, containing a skeleton that had been stabbed to death and wrapped in grey cloth. Other ghosts include Joseph Grimaldi, the "father of modern clowning," who is said to give actors a "comedy kick," and the legendary pantomime dame Dan Leno.
Collectively, these haunted locations reveal a layered and haunting portrait of London’s past, where tragic deaths, historical intrigue, and unexplained phenomena persist through centuries, captivating those who dare to explore the city’s ghostly legends.
