The 12 Most Haunted Places in the UK

The UK is a real hotbed of paranormal activity. With ancient buildings and long gruesome history, it’s little surprise it’s regarded as the most haunted country in the world! Here are the 12 most haunted places in the UK!

Dating back to the 12th century, The Ancient Ram Inn has often been referred to as ‘the most haunted house in Britain’. The house itself is said to have been the location of many sinister happenings, including child sacrifice, suicide, black magic rituals and was also used as a hideout by criminals.

The building is home to all sorts of spooks – two demons, a witch, orbs and other ghostly presences, and many people who have visited the property have described it as the ‘scariest place’ they’ve ever visited. The house regularly opens its doors to ghost hunters, but you have to book in advance.

Borley Rectory was a Victorian mansion in the pretty village of Borley, Essex. It was destroyed by fire in 1939 but gained a reputation as being the most haunted location in the country after a series of locals reported some unexplained paranormal goings-on.

The hauntings at Borley caught the nation’s attention when the hauntings were covered in the Daily Mirror and by noted paranormal investigator Harry Price. It was then (June 1929), one of the country’s most famous haunted houses was born.

The first indication that something paranormal was happening at the house were footsteps heard in the dead of night in the 1860s. The ghost of a nun, two headless horsemen, a phantom carriage, the phantom ringing of the servant’s bells and bottle-throwing are just some of the paranormal incidents reported at Borley.

Find more haunted places in Essex

Located on the shores of Co. Antrim, the stunning Ballygally Castle, dates back to 1625 and is steeped in history. It’s haunted by the spirit of Lady Isobel Shaw, who fell to her death more than 400 years ago.

Her husband (Lord James Shaw) locked her in a room at the top of the castle when she failed to produce a male heir. Left to starve, she was trying to escape when the tragic fall occurred. Her spirit is said to wander the hotel to this day, knocking on doors and appearing in rooms then disappearing.

Many other ghosts call Ballygally Castle home. Madame Nixon, a woman that lived there in the 19th century, has been seen and heard walking around the castle in a silk dress. There are also the spirits of children that have been heard running and giggling in the hotel rooms.

Pluckley village has a reputation for being the most haunted village in England – and it was named just that by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.

Between 12 and 16, ghosts have been reported in the village, including a screaming man, a highwayman who appears at Fright Corner, a schoolmaster found hanged by a group of children and an old woman who used to sit on a bridge smoking.

Pluckley has been featured on numerous television programmes and is a favourite spot for ghost-hunters and paranormal enthusiasts across the country.

Athelhampton House is located in Dorset and is thought to be one of the most haunted places in England. A pair of duellists haunts the Great Chamber, where they once interrupted a female guest by fighting.

Tapping sounds have been heard coming from the wine cellar, whilst the ghost of the Grey Lady has been seen around the house on numerous occasions. The padding sound of a phantom cat’s feet has also been heard on the bare floorboards around the house.

See more of the most haunted places in Dorset.

Salmesbury Hall in Preston is a black and white medieval house that dates back to the 14^th century. It’s reported to be haunted by the ghost of Lady Dorothy Southworth, amongst others and has been investigated twice by Most Haunted, once in 2004 and once in 2009.

It’s also appeared on an episode of Ghost Hunters International. Several ghosts have also been caught on camera at the hall.