Britain has more reputedly haunted buildings per square mile than almost anywhere else in the world and Halloween is the perfect excuse to go looking for them. Ancient castles, former jails and entire villages across the UK carry centuries of ghost stories, with plenty welcoming families in for a spooky day out this October.
Many of these sites are looked after by English Heritage, the National Trust or independent owners running family-friendly tours and the history feels even more atmospheric with autumn nights drawing in. Some carry real historical weight, like a Tudor torture chamber or a wartime tunnel network, while others are simply old enough that the ghost stories have become part of the visit.
Whether you want a real history lesson with a chill down your spine or just an excuse for a spooky family day out this Halloween, here are some of the most haunted places to visit in the UK.
Tower of London
The Tower of London and the ghost of Anne Boleyn, London
London‘s most famous fortress carries centuries of ghost stories, including sightings of Anne Boleyn wandering the White Tower and a phantom bear once reported by a startled sentry outside the Jewel House. The Tower is run by Historic Royal Palaces and is open year-round. Admission includes a guided tour from a Yeoman Warder (a royal bodyguard of the Tower), who mixes real history with the Tower’s darker stories along the way.
– READ MORE: Things to do in London with kids this week –
Chillingham Castle
Chillingham Castle and the torture chamber, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle has long been called the most haunted castle in Britain, with tales of a torture chamber, a Blue Boy ghost and restless spirits dating back hundreds of years. Near Alnwick in Northumberland, it opens from Easter through to the end of October, with guided tours taking in the dungeons and torture room alongside the castle’s state rooms. The walled garden makes for a beautifully bleak family walk once you’re done inside, with a tea room on hand for something warming afterwards.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle and the real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
Beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile lies the Real Mary King’s Close, a warren of hidden streets frozen in time and steeped in plague-era ghost stories, with costumed guides leading tours through its shadowy passageways. A standard adult ticket costs around £28.50, with children around £21. Pair it with a walk up to Edinburgh Castle, said to be haunted by a headless drummer and a phantom piper, where family tickets for two adults and two children start from around £67.50 online.
– READ MORE: Family adventures in Scotland: Harry Potter, hikes and island escapes –
Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle and the Grey Lady, Angus
One of Scotland’s oldest and most storied houses, Glamis Castle was once the childhood home of the late Queen Mother. A Grey Lady is said to roam its grounds, while a hidden room is rumoured to hold a secret dating back centuries. Guided tours take in the turrets, drawing rooms and family portraits, before you’re free to explore the gardens at your own pace. It’s roughly an hour’s drive north of Dundee and typically opens from spring through autumn.
Muncaster Castle
Muncaster Castle and the ghost of Tom Fool, Cumbria
Muncaster Castle has a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in England, with tales stretching back to a tortured jester nicknamed Tom Fool, who was once locked away in the castle’s tower. Alongside the ghost stories, the estate is home to a working Hawk and Owl Centre with daily flying displays, plus woodland gardens that are lovely for a wander regardless of the weather. It sits just outside Ravenglass, on the western edge of the Lake District, with day admission covering the castle, gardens and owl centre together.
Berry Pomeroy Castle
Berry Pomeroy Castle and the white lady, Devon
Tucked into Devon woodland near Totnes, Berry Pomeroy Castle is often named England’s most haunted ruin, with sightings reported of a White Lady and a Blue Lady said to wander its crumbling towers. It’s looked after by English Heritage, so admission is free if you’re already a member and its atmospheric ruins make a brilliant spot for an autumn walk with older children who love a good ghost story. There’s no cafe on site, so it’s worth packing a flask and something to eat if you’re planning to stay a while.
– READ MORE: 12 new family-friendly hotels opening for autumn 2026 –
Bodmin Jail
Bodmin Jail and the Dark Walk experience, Cornwall
Bodmin Jail in Cornwall held prisoners for more than 150 years and its Dark Walk experience takes families through the original cells with tales of executions and hauntings along the way. There are lighter, family-focused trails through the site too, so it’s easy to tailor a visit to how brave your kids are feeling. There’s also a set of escape rooms if you fancy a different kind of challenge. The jail has its own on-site hotel, so it’s a good option if you’d rather turn the visit into an overnight stay than just an afternoon out.
Dover Castle
Dover Castle and the haunted wartime tunnels, Kent
Dover Castle’s secret wartime tunnels are said to be haunted by a phantom drummer and the sound of ghostly footsteps echoing through the passageways, alongside their real history as a Second World War command centre. English Heritage runs the site, so entry is free for members and family tours take in both the tunnels and the medieval keep above ground. The castle sits high above Dover with views out over the Channel.
Pendle Hill
Pendle Hill and the Walking With Witches Trail, Lancashire
Pendle Hill in Lancashire is forever linked to the infamous Pendle witch trials of 1612. The free, year-round Walking With Witches Trail from the village of Barley takes in the farms and countryside connected to the story, running around seven and a half miles, though it can be split into two shorter loops if you’re walking with younger children. Barley has a small visitor centre and car park to start from and it’s an easy day trip from Manchester or the wider Lancashire area.
– READ MORE: Your essential family guide to all 15 National Parks in the UK –
York
York and the ghost walks of the Shambles, the UK’s most haunted city
York has long claimed the title of most haunted city in Europe, with hundreds of reported ghost sightings across its medieval streets. Several companies run family-friendly ghost walks most evenings, usually departing from a fixed meeting point in the city centre, before heading through the Shambles and to the old city walls. Tickets are generally cheap enough to book on the door if you’re passing, though booking ahead is worth it in peak season.
Pluckley Church
Pluckley and its dozen ghost stories, the spookiest village in England
The small Kent village of Pluckley holds a Guinness World Record for the most haunted village in England, with a dozen or so ghost stories attached to its pubs, church and surrounding lanes. There’s no formal attraction or ticket here; it’s simply a village to wander around at your own pace, so it makes for an easy, low-cost day trip for families who fancy a gentle ghost hunt followed by lunch in a traditional country pub. Pluckley is a short drive from Ashford, with a small train station of its own, so it’s easy to reach without a car too.
Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. This means we may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
