Newcastle’s most renowned and haunted location! Newcastle Castle’s gruesome past and ancient legacy add to its haunting allure. An incredibly chilling destination for those who dare to venture inside!

Within the ancient walls of Newcastle Castle, known as The Keep, echoes of the past stir, giving rise to hundreds of eerie reports of ghostly phenomena. This venerable landmark, one of the oldest in the region, has chilled even the most seasoned ghost hunters to the bone.

Will you dare to join the Haunted Rooms team in the dead of night, taking on the role of a paranormal investigator? Will you be the next to uncover the mysteries that lie in the Castle’s Keep, stepping beyond the known into a night of terror?

The castle’s haunted history is rich with unsettling occurrences. Heavy footsteps resonate across empty floors, and strange mists and ethereal lights have been witnessed dancing in the main hall during previous ghost hunts. Among the spectral residents is a mischievous child, whose ghostly antics are well-known, and shadowy monk-like figures that drift through the castle’s hidden chambers.

Are you prepared to face the unknown? Join us at Newcastle Castle, a place where the gruesome past lingers and the shadows tell tales. As night falls, we’ll unlock the keep for an unforgettable ghost hunting event, where fear and fascination intertwine. Come, if you dare, and uncover what waits in the dark.

There have been numerous ghostly stories about Castle Keep, ranging from the chilling sounds of spectral footsteps echoing down narrow corridors that reveal themselves to be empty upon investigation, to unexplained mists that several visitors have eerily captured on their cameras, as if the very essence of the past is reaching out.

Hundreds of photographs have been published online and in books, bearing witness to sightings of dark shadows, mysterious orbs, and swirling mists. Visitors have felt cold spots appear and vanish without any logical explanation, and people have been touched by invisible hands, leaving them with a lingering sense of dread.

The Queens Chamber stands as one of the haunting epicenters within the Keep. Many people have reported hearing chanting in the chamber, a sound that resonates and echoes around the ancient walls of the Keep, as if the chanting monks of old are still performing their sacred rites.

Many times, a spectral lady has been seen in the chamber, especially in the chapel, her presence imbued with an unsettling aura. Visitors have reported being attacked, scratched, and shoved within the walls of Castle Keep, a place where the past refuses to rest.

The Keep’s most famous ghost is known as the “Poppy Girl.” Legend has it that she is the tormented spirit of a flower girl, imprisoned for debts and subjected to unthinkable horrors by male prisoners, leading to her tragic death. Her ghostly figure is often seen on the stairs of the Keep, and it is said that when she is nearby, a haunting whiff of flowers lingers in the air, a poignant reminder of innocence lost.

Her story adds to the rich tapestry of hauntings that make Castle Keep a place of fascination, fear, and a connection to a world beyond our own.

Spots will fill up quickly for this one, so hurry and book now!

Deposits are available for just £20.

History of Newcastle Castle

Castle Keep, made of stone, was built by Henry II between 1172 and 1177. Henry VIII added the Black Gate between 1247 and 1250. The Castle is located on a steep-sided promontory that overlooks the River Tyne.

It is an easily defensible site occupied for almost 2000 years. It is believed that there is also prehistoric activity in the place due to the stone axe and Flint flakes found during an archaeological excavation there.

Once, a Roman fort stood on the site, and it was called Pons Aelius. It guarded the river crossing below. In the 8th century, the fort was used as a Christian cemetery. It is believed that the Swing Bridge now stands on the location of the Roman Bridge.

The Black Gate was added to the Castle between 1247 and 1250. It has two towers with a passage running between them. There were vaulted guardrooms on each side of the passage, a drawbridge at the front and another at the rear. A portcullis that could be raised and down also sealed the entrance passage.

The Black Gate was leased to a courier named Alexander Stephenson. He subsequently made a few changes to the gatehouse and rebuilt the upper floors. After not repaying his debts, the Barbican became the property of Patrick Black, the debtee to Stephenson, and this was when the Black Gate got its name.

From the 16th to the 18th Century, the Keep served as a foreboding prison, its walls holding secrets and despair until time wore it into disrepair. In the early 19th Century, the Keep was lovingly restored, and by the 1850s, the landscape transformed to accommodate the burgeoning railway system, cutting through the very grounds of the Castle.

Now, the Keep and Gatehouse stand as the sole survivors of the original fortification, silent witnesses to history’s ever-changing tapestry.

Today the Castle Keep is a Grade I listed building and is open to the public 361 days a year. It has become a heritage visitor attraction owned by the City Council of Newcastle.

What's Included

For just £65 per person you will enjoy the following:

• Hot drinks and biscuits,
• Use of our equipment which includes, ghost hunting gadgets and mediumship tools,
• Expert advice and discussion about the paranormal,
• Taking part in spiritual experiments including séances and glass divination,
• Ghost hunting vigils in the dark,
• Exclusive access to the location, including all the most haunted areas,
• Friendly and experienced team offering help and advice,
• Your chance to ghost hunt in a haunted location at night!

Access & Parking

Event Location: The Black Gate, Castle Garth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1RQ

Time: 8:00 PM – 2:00 AM (Arrive from earliest 7:30 PM)

Parking: Some limited on-street parking is available outside The Vermont Hotel, adjacent to the Castle Keep. The nearest major public car park can be found on Dean Street. Walk out of the car park, cross straight over Dean Street and almost directly in front of you is a small stairway that brings you up into Amen Corner, to the east side of the Castle. There are numerous other parking facilities, including multi-storey facilities and 48 surface car parks operated by Newcastle City Council.

Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of this venue, unfortunately, it’s not suitable for those with mobility issues, and it isn’t wheelchair friendly.

Please Note: All guests must be 18 years or older. Not suitable for those who are heavily pregnant. Guests are strongly advised to wear comfortable shoes and warm layered clothing on colder nights.

What to Bring

You’re welcome to bring your own equipment, though we will be providing paranormal equipment to use.

The investigation will be in darkness so please bring a torch with you.

Although snacks and drinks are provided, you’re welcome to bring your own. There are also facilities to make both hot and cold drinks, which are provided also.

And of course, bring your phone/camera with you, the more pictures we have the better chance we have of capturing something!

Other than that, just yourself and an open mind!

What to Expect

On your ghost hunt with Haunted Rooms, you will have full exclusive access to the most haunted areas of this historic building. Together with our friendly team of investigators, you will join others on structured vigils, where you’ll have the chance to use some paranormal equipment and join in on group vigils such as Ouija board sessions, and seance.

Our event starts at 8.00 pm but you can arrive at the earliest 7.30 pm. Structured investigations will end around 12 am, at which point you will have the opportunity to investigate this location on your own using the techniques and information you have been provided with.

The event is an optional sleepover event, if you choose to sleep you will need to bring your own sleeping bags/bedding and beds with you.

You will have the chance to look around the hall before the event to familiarise yourself with its layout. Shortly before the event kicks off, we’ll run you through a quick induction and safety briefing, followed by a short talk and introduction from our team. You’ll then split into smaller groups with your family and/or friends if you’ve come together, and we’ll begin our vigils for the night!

If you have your own paranormal equipment we encourage you to bring it, if not we can provide them free of charge. Snacks, refreshments, and treats will be provided at intervals throughout the night, and we’ll have facilities to make hot and cold drinks too.

We do endeavour to have mediums and sensitives with us for every event, although circumstances out of our control can sometimes prevent this. Anybody that has sensitive abilities we encourage you to come forward, as it only increases the energy and enjoyment for all in attendance.

To get the most from the evening we encourage you to try your hand at as many things as you can, and if you’re feeling particularly brave you should give a lone vigil a try, as well as joining in with our table tipping experiments as we try to commune with the spirits and ghosts of the building.

Please dress weather appropriately, with extra layers of clothing if it’s cold, plus comfortable shoes and a torch if you need one.

Hotels Near Newcastle Castle

Located in Newcastle city centre, there are many options for accommodation.

See below for hotels nearby:

Booking.com