What better time of year than Halloween, the evening of the year where the veil between the world of the living and those long gone is at its utmost thinnest, or so I read, to explore the more sinister side to the city I call home. From the capitals most ghoulish gardens to its spectacularly haunted hotels – would you dare to visit any of them on the eve of all hallows?
Now I am not talking about Casper the Friendly Ghost or apparitions lingering along hallways in white crinkled white bed sheets. I am talking about the endless sightings over the years, at various locations, which have the ability to turn even the most cynical of skeptics blood cold, with just one icy whisper. Maybe.
Haunted Hotels
The Langham. The Corinthia. The Savoy. They have one thing in common, and I am not referring to their lavish suites, world class bars or celebrity clientele. Rather, to the fact that they are all haunted. Haunted happenings at The Savoy include room 502 on the fifth floor where the apparition of a lift controlled by a little girl ghost who died in the building apparently creeks long into many a night.
Across town, The Langham hotel have their very own bedeviled room, number 333, where the supposed spirit of a Victorian doctor who murdered his wife before killing himself, loiters each October. Whilst I do not know where he goes for the other 11 months of the year, also at The Langham, there is reportedly the figure of a man in military dress standing by a window on the fourth floor who is said to be the ghost of a German prince who leapt from the window when London was in the midst of World War One.
Further to even this, there is also a ghostly butler who often tries to still tend to his guests down on the third floor. There are so many spiritual sightings at The Langham that this isn’t even the end, with a gruesome ghoul with a gaping facial wound often lingering in corridors and the ghost of Napoleon the third himself often spotted chilling in the basement of the hotel, perhaps reminiscing his time in the capital with anyone brave enough to join him.
Preyed Upon Pubs
The Ten Bells pub in the east of the city is one of London’s most haunted places to get a pint. Located in Shoreditch, it is home to one of Jack the Ripper’s victims, Annie Chapman, who was brutally murdered after an evening of merriment at the venue and the wailing banshee just cannot let go of her local to this day.
The Flask, right next to a creepy London grave yard in Highgate, is haunted by the ghost of a former barmaid from Spain who hanged herself in the pub after the breakdown of her relationship with the pubs landlord. Talk about dramatic. Customers of the pub and workers over the years have reported feeling uneasy at the venue for no apparent reasons, sensations of cold air on their necks, sudden temperature drops and unusual electrical activity.
Once a recruitment station during the war, The Volunteer pub is located on Baker’s Street. Dating back to the 17th century, a family were killed in 1654 by a fire at the property. To this day, lights flicker and there has been regular sightings of the gentleman believed to have been the head of that deceased family.
Terrifying Theatres
We have perhaps all known a theatre with the illusive “grey lady” lerking in the bathrooms or beneath the floorboards, but the grey spirit of the Theatre Royal on Dury Lane is perhaps one of the more sinister. This theatre has several ghosts, one being not the grey lady but “A Man in Grey”. This guy is apparently from the 1700’s and is dressed in the full attire of a nobleman, complete with cape and riding boots. This chap has even been reported shushing the audience in the upper circle, during performances. Whilst the theatre was undergoing renovations, his stabbed skeleton was unearthed in a corridor near the royal box and since then his disturbed spirit has placed an eerie presence over the theatre.
Across town at the Adelphi Theatre, a Shakespearean actor was murdered by a fellow actor at the stage door in 1897. The man died in the arms of his leading lady with whom he was rumored to be having an affair, and as he died he vowed to visit her after his passing. How lovely of him? Not only that, but to this day fellow thespians at the theatre report frequent knocks on the door of what was once her dressing room.
The Dominion Theatre at Tottenham Court Road used to be a brewery back in the 1800’s. Stay with me. It was then, in 1814 when almost 4000 barrels of beer burst, causing a tsunami of ale to flood through the area, killing eight people including one of the brewers Eleanor. It is now her ghost that has been sighted at the now theatre, in addition to the sounds of multiple children laughing, which has even been caught on film. Apparently.
I guess it would be silly to mention in a post like this places such as London’s dungeons or the Tower of London to spirit spot, but if you search for ‘Covent Garden ghosts’ in Google, you don’t even yield results about Covent Garden, but rather a single name. That of William Terriss is the first result. Now who is that I hear you ask, but if you remember the Shakespearean actor that was killed at the doors of the Adelphi Theatre, well this is him; famously haunting the popular market attraction, the cobbled streets and even the tube station.
Whether you believe in ghostly apparitions or not, I think it is always fun to read about them. I have never spotted a ghost myself but with all these lost souls looming around London, who knows when it may happen.
Have you ever seen a ghost? Would you like to visit any of the above or any other haunted places? Let me know in the comments below.
Ellies London 
Can you remember my 51st birthday at an old Edinburgh hotel? You were wearing a leopard pattern dress and we took a photo of yourself in the room which came out with orbs on it. Spooky!😳😱
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Yes I can, I still have that dress and I don’t think I have worn it since! I remember the picture – might have been just a dodgy camera b/c it was 2012, but lets go with the ghosts! 👻👻👻
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I’m sure this is one of the reasons you want a dog. 😂😃
These places look alright though 😍
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Yesssss! So I can cover him in a sheet and take pics 😁 Have him walk around the house to scare you 🎃. I think London can be a pretty spooky place 😉
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Such a great post, I always love reading some ghost stories whether I believe them or not 😂 I have personally not seen one either but ya never know!
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Me too – I always like to know where is ‘haunted’ or at least is supposed to be a bit spooky! I think I would like to have that sort of experience if I was staying in one of these creepy hotels!
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It’s just so interesting isn’t it! I am the same. I did look into this old haunted prison that you can stay in but I don’t think I can do it 😂😂
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It really is. Oh wow 😵 I think a haunted prison would be crazy! I don’t think the spirits would be happy or welcoming at all, former prisoners! We both need to plan something – sometime – but not now haha 👻🤣
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That is true more probably angry spirits haha! Definitely that would be soo cool!
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I was in London in August and we saw the 10 Bells on our Jack the Ripper tour but didn’t go in. I’d love to go back and see all these spooky sights!
Ash | thisdreamsalive.com
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Ahh wow, that sounds awesome. I have heard such amazing things about the Jack the Ripper tour – I think I need to give it a go for sure. I would like to have an actual haunted experience I think, in one of these hotels maybe, to see for myself as I am skeptical! Thank you for reading my post and I wish you a happy Halloween ♥ x
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Love this post, it has given me the chills!
I used to work with a childminder, her home was so haunted. You could sense it from the first time I walked in but it was a welcoming calm feeling.
2 children she looked after from around 8 months old would ‘talk’ to someone regularly.
Once they were actually able to talk to us they said that they were talking to a man. Both said exactly the same.
One day we were leaning over the back of the sofa, watching some builders in the street. A clear as day image in the window showed a man behind me, he put his hand on my shoulder. I can still remember it all so clearly. It was cold but comforting.
The little girl said ‘look there’s that man’ so she’d obviouSly seen what I had.
He’d often put the kettle on in the kitchen and you’d smell cigarette smoke clear as day. He must have had a cigarette while waiting on the kettle while he was alive.
They had someone come to cleanse the home who said he’d died 10 years ago in a home but had come back to wait for his wife.
When they bought the house about 8 years before it had been empty for 2 years. His wife had gone in to a home after he passed away x
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👻 Oh wow, that sounds so spooky but really amazing too for the experience. I would love to have an experience in one of those hotels maybe, with someone else so they would see it too! I used to live in a house where people would say it was haunted by a friendly spirit, I never saw anything but it’s so nice if the spirit has a story, like smoking waiting for the kettle the way old men do, or is looking after someone ♥ Thank you for sharing your tale, and happy halloween! x
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I’ve never spotted a ghost either! But reading stories like these are so interesting, it very slightly makes me want to experience something, but at the same time I know I’ll be so freaked out. Love your writing style too x
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Thank you so much for reading, commenting and your kind words. I am.glad you like my style. I think I want to experience something too but whilst I’m with someone so they see it too! X
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Cool post and interesting story. I don’t know that The Savoy is haunted. The Savoy is quite famous among Malaysian aristocrats.
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Oh wow, well maybe one of them will see something on their next visit! 👻 Thank you so much for reading and commenting 😊
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Really enjoyed this! I haven’t seen a ghost but have definitely felt the presence of a couple!
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Me too, I think that’s as far as i have gotten too. Id love to see one i think, as long as i wasn’t by myself, and someone else saw it! Thank you for reading my post – I’m glad you found it interesting 💛
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I am totally creeped out now! This was really fun to read- and so were the comments, lol.
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Hehe, thank you for that – I am glad you enjoyed the post and the comments! I always find this sort of topic so interesting because everyone has their own point of view or experience to think of 😀 x
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Love the dog pic – adorable and fun!
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Thank you 😊 Ive wanted a doggo for ages and always want to try this with them 🙈 hopefully one year it’ll be practical to try it for a second just to get a picture! 🤣
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A great tour – thanks for sharing this haunted history!
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Thank you for reading my post – I’m glad you enjoyed it and I wish you happy Halloween! x
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A terrific story – bravo to you – Happy Halloween!
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Thank you 😊 same to you 🎃
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I love visiting eerie pubs in London! I’m also a really massive fan of ghost walks etc around the capital! They can be so fun x
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Me too! They are the best. I haven’t been on any ghost walks yet, or the Jack the Ripper Tour but I have heard fantastic things, so I think this needs to be a late addition to my Winter Bucket List! Thank you for reading my post ♥ x
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This is such a cool, interesting & spooky post! I love a good ghost story. 🙂
Soph – https://girlvsworldblog.com x
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Right? I love them too! Thank you for reading and commenting and happy Halloween 🎃
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Don’t know whether to visit because oooo spooky or avoid because oooo spooky 😂
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I think I would still risk it, but don’t quote me on it 😂 I would like to give it a try with someone else, not alone, so if I ‘experienced’ anything, who I was with would see it too! Thank you for reading ♥
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Oh I couldn’t go alone, I’d shit myself 😂
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Nahhh, it would be no fun alone, plus then the mind would play tricks and we would come away thinking we had seen everything when in fact it’s just dodgy electrics and badly insulated doors.
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I live in a building dating from 1600 … often there’s a distinct smell of someone smoking. Very often in the living room which used to be part of a coaching inn way back.
So maybe we have an old chap here too having a pint and a smoke……🎩🎩🎩
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Awww that is nice – in a spooky sort of way! I think a skeptic would say it drifted in from the street! 🚬
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Always enjoy reading about spooky places to visit, we’re quite fortunate to have quite a few within the UK. York is supposedly one of the most haunted places in the world for instance 🙂
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Ooooh, that sounds good – I have been to York a few times over the years but never had a haunted experience! I would like to do ghost trails and that sort of thing I think – with someone else, to see if we would ‘experience’ anything! I’ll definitely be keeping York on my list!
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Wow, I had no idea there were so many haunted places in London town. But it makes sense! In fact the only one I knew of was The Ten Bells pub which I heard about in the London Dungeons. I’ve never had an experience with ghosts but did stay in a haunted hotel in Arnmouth.
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*Alnmouth
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Oh wow, that is so cool! I think I would like to stay in a haunted hotel to see if I get any sort of vibe! London is definitely a spooky city – ghosts of both past and present loiter around the streets 😂😂
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