5 of the Most Haunted Cities & Villages in the UK
Haunted cities are at the forefront of our minds this autumn, and what better way to creep around their splintering floorboards than discovering the top UK locations to visit. Because if you’re after a ghost story or two to enhance the atmosphere, you might as well find the scariest tales to tell. Afterall, we're in the mist of the Halloween season and ready to embrace the paranormal activities which may walk among us. But which city claims the most haunted title? That’s for you to discover.
Top Haunted UK Cities & Villages to Visit This Autumn
Edinburgh, Scotland
Whitby, Yorkshire
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Pluckley, Kent
Blickling, Norfolk
The UK isn't short on haunted cities or villages. In fact, we bet that there are alleyways and corners in each county worthy of their own legends. Maybe yours has the old wives' tale of a lady in white walking the streets at night on a full moon, or there’s been reports of a child’s wailing echoing from a local pubs basement. We’re sure they have nothing on the UK's most haunted cities and villages. Do you have the stomach to unearth our chosen locations?
Reading about them is one thing, and visiting them is another. If you want to tour this autumn to some of the most haunted cities and villages the UK has to offer, then stick around for our spooky saving. For a limited time, enjoy 10% off day trips when you travel between the 1st of October and the 17th of December 2024. Our autumn and winter tour promotion includes all the T&Cs.
Edinburgh, Scotland
The wee bonnie streets of Edinburgh, oh how we love you, but as one of the most haunted cities in Scotland, this side of you brings a chill to the back of our necks.
Becoming an orange-hued backdrop to autumn, Edinburgh is the city that keeps on giving no matter the season, and more so when haunted tales are added to the mix.
Let's rewind to the 17th century when the horrendous Bubonic Plague was tormenting the streets. On a mission to reduce the spread of the illness, victims who were caught were sent to Mary’s King Close, an underground holding pen beneath the Royal Mile. Those who tour Edinburgh today still say the whispers of the unfortunate souls held in Mary’s King Close echo through the vibrant streets we know and love. Are you brave enough to wander this haunted city alone this Halloween?
Whitby, Yorkshire
Loaning inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel, it’s easy to see how Whitby’s backdrop allowed for the words to be etched onto the page. But there’s one particular monument which adds this spot to our most haunted cities and village list, Whitby Abbey. Despite being in ruins, its walls have retained the secrets of events from a previous lifetime. One in particular that locals are adamant holds true is that of the young nun bricked up alive within the walls of the Abbey. And all for falling in love with a gallant knight. Really this should have been a thing of romance, but unfortunately for the parties involved, there wasn’t the fairytale ending. If you dare visit this haunted town on your tour of England this autumn, be on guard for the nun's ghost cowering in the corner of the Abbey still begging to be released.
Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Situated alongside the coastal delights of Cornwall hides the haunting location of Bodmin Moor. While rugged in sight and at heart, this moorland hides more than the paths you can ramble on. Do you dare look for the Bodmin Beast? With over 60 reported sightings since 1983, you have to start to question what really is lurking among those hills, behind the soft candy floss mist. But beware, its liquorish black coat and piercing yellow eyes are only for the strong stomached. All it takes is for you to see it to believe it. And what if you uncover a new legend emerging from the fog? Rich in folklore, we’re sure there’s many more tales this haunted landscape has to offer its guests.
Pluckley, Kent
The Kentish village of Pluckley is next on our most haunted list, and for very good reasons. Being named as Britian’s most haunted place within the Guiness Book of Records, how could we not list this landmark for you to visit? From decapitated highwaymen with a phantom coach and horses, to wandering monks, it’s actually the myth of a woman who set herself on fire which captures the audiences' attention. Locals to this haunted neighbourhood say the lady used to sit on the banks of the river smoking a clay pipe. That was until one evening when she fell asleep when the ashes from her pipe scattered across her being, and she went up in flames. It's only now that passerbys' to the riverbank's location can see a pinkish-orange figure almost rise from the ashes. As a two-hour drive outside of London, why not tour around this haunted Kentish village for the day?
Blickling, Norfolk
Our final stop of the UK’s most haunted cities and villages is Blickling in Norfolk. The specific focus of this spooky stop is Blickling House, formerly known as the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, future wife of King Henry VIII. She is said to be one of the most well-travelled ghosts, haunting many residents throughout the year. What makes her haunting of Blickling House so special is the date her ghost is seen. The 19th of May marks this historic Queen’s beheading after Henry VIII’s violent orders, and its said she roams the house’s halls, clutching her head under her arm until sunrise. That is of course after arriving to the English residency by a headless horseman in a carriage drawn by four spectral horses. Regal or reckless? Mark your calendar and see one of the most famous ghosts for yourself.
What Makes These UK Locations Haunted?
Many of the haunted cities and villages got their titles after horrific accidents or tragedies struck. Whether they're all true, or have a hint of fiction to fill in the missing gaps, what keeps these stories alive is the local residents. Willing to share their knowledge with familiar faces in the local taverns, pull up a stool and join them on your next adventure. We’re sure you’ll walk away with more insights than any book can share.
And if you’d rather not brave these haunted locations solo, joining a small-group tour is the way forward. Gathered by likeminded individuals, all intrigued in becoming the next Ghostbusters, you have the safety in numbers while still unearthing the secrets which lie within the walls of these cities and villages. Which residency's ghost will you search for first?
Have the Comfort of a Small-Group Tour
We’re not afraid of ghosts, we’re afraid of missing the haunting sites that house these spirits all year round. But if you'd like to stay of the side of caution, buddy up on a small-group tour with Rabbie’s. Be driven in the safety of our 16-seat mini-coaches, with our knowledgeable driver-guides to lead the way. If you’re looking for inspiration before you pack your bags, make sure to sign up to our newsletter and be one of the first to know about the new destinations we’re going to explore.