Yahoo News The UK's most notorious haunted houses
If you're looking for a spooky adventure this Halloween you don't have to go far
Halloween is upon us, and it's become one of the biggest nights of the year, whether it's a night of trick or treating or donning a skeleton costume, the culture has turned spooky.
Celebrated on 31 October the origins of Halloween is a holiday that marks the day before the Western feast of All Saints or All Hallows, and the annual event seems to get bigger and more prevalent every years.
There are spine-chilling new releases throughout October, including Smile 2, Heretic, Salem's Lot and Terrifier 3, but you don't have to just watch ghost stories, you can immerse yourself in them too.
So if you're looking for a spooky adventure, whether on the hunt for a headless queen or paranormal activity this Halloween, here’s our list of the top picks of the most haunted houses in the UK.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
Blickling Hall is famously associated with the ghost of Anne Boleyn, King Henry VIII's second wife, who was beheaded in 1536.
Her apparition is said to materialise each year on the anniversary of her execution. Anne, believed to be born in Blickling, is thought to arrive at the stately home in a carriage drawn by headless horses, driven by a headless coachman.
Blickling Hall was constructed on the grounds of a former manor where Anne Boleyn once resided. It's sometimes claimed to be her birthplace, though there's no concrete evidence to support this.
Anne's father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, is also believed to haunt the premises, which is now a National Trust property.
Anne Boleyn's ghost is not exclusive to Blickling Hall; she's also been reported at other locations like Salle Church, the Tower of London, Marwell Hall, and Hever Castle. When sighted, she's often depicted with her head cradled under her arm.
Borley Rectory, Essex
Borley Rectory, a Victorian house near Essex-Suffolk border, was infamous for paranormal activity. It began with a worker's death during construction, fuelling local superstitions.
Ghostly phenomena included a headless horse-drawn coach, a rumoured plague pit, and a spectral nun.
In 1928, Eric and Mabel Smith moved in, discovering a human skull and encountering more ghosts. Reverend Lionel Foyster experienced violent poltergeist activity, particularly targeting his wife Marianne.
Harry Price, a famous psychic detective, was drawn to the case, making Borley the centre of his ghost-hunting fame, though it later cast doubt on his reputation. Price called the rectory "the most haunted house in England".
Price's investigation inspired the 2021 film The Ghosts of Borley Rectory.
Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
The Ancient Ram Inn, situated in Wotton under Edge, Gloucestershire, dating back to its construction in 1145, is believed to be built on an ancient burial ground.
Infamous for its alleged apparitions, including moving objects and unsettling experiences, including an old innkeeper and his daughters. The spirit of a lady named Elizabeth, believed to have been murdered and buried beneath the bar, is said to roam the premises.
The Bishop's Room is known for particularly eerie activity, with sightings of a cavalier, two lustful spirits (an incubus and a succubus), and a young lady hanging from the ceiling. Monks have also been seen on numerous occasions.
In recent times, the inn has been in private ownership, with its most famous owner being John Humphries, who bought it in 1968 and was dedicated to preserving its history.
His daughter Caroline has made "grisly discoveries she's made over the years, including a mummified cat, daggers, and piles of human bones", reported the The Mirror.
The inn's location at the intersection of two ley lines, believed to carry spiritual energy, and its proximity to an ancient Pagan burial ground contribute to its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the country.
Though Humphries passed away in 2017, his daughter now manages the property and collaborates with paranormal groups, ensuring the safety of those who seek to experience the ghostly phenomena at the Ancient Ram Inn.
30 East Drive, Pontefract, West Yorkshire
If you're on a ghost hunt look no further than, 30 East Drive on the Chequerfield Estate in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, is reputed to be haunted by one of the most violent poltergeists in the world.
Abandoned in the 1970s by the family who lived there after the horrific treatment of their daughter, Diane Pritchard, the house has not been lived in since.
The poltergeist activity here is considered to be extremely malevolent, although it has to be said that some of those that have visited, have also picked up on the spirit of a desolate young female.
Known as the Poltergeist House, is reputed to be one of the most haunted houses in the UK and has many similarities to the infamous Enfield hauntings.
This house is said to be haunted by a demonic entity and poltergeist activity here is rife with objects being moved, lights being switched on and off and bumps and noises being heard in the hallway.
Haunted Happenings, who run haunting tours at the house, say visiting 30 East Drive will be an intense experience, definitely not for the faint-hearted.
Enfield Poltergeist House, London
The Enfield poltergeist is a famous and debated ghost story that unfolded in an ordinary council house located on 284 Green Street, located in Enfield, London, in 1977, involving the Hodgson family. It revolves around the Hodgson family, consisting of a mother and her four children all aged between seven and thirteen.
Strange events began with moving furniture and unexplained noises, eventually prompting a call to the police. The house's paranormal activity was recorded on film, capturing objects flying, voices, and even Janet, the youngest daughter, in seemingly impossible mid-air leaps.
Investigators believed the haunting was genuine but suspected some exaggeration for attention, as Janet was found hiding a tape recorder and bending spoons on camera. Some peculiarities in the voices raised questions.
The Enfield poltergeist remains one of Britain's most intriguing modern ghost stories, still debated to this day.
The events inspired Hollywood film The Conjuring 2, which focused on the paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren, who were called in to help the Hodgson family during the haunting.
A four-part documentary titled The Enfield Poltergeist launched on Apple TV+ in October 2024.
