Unforgettable UK Stays and Their Ancient Secrets

The English Chapter

When you choose to stay in a building that has stood for centuries, you are not just booking a room—you are entering a living museum and sharing space with history that refuses to leave. Uncover for yourself the most unforgettable UK stays and their ancient secrets. Welcome to the UK’s most unforgettable places to stay and their ancient secrets.

This land was carved by ancient forces, where the mist settles over Roman ruins and Norman castles, and the voices of the past are never truly silenced. From the hanging beams of ancient Inns to the lonely corridors of stately manors, history and mystery lurk around every corner.

Your quest for a truly immersive and chilling night’s sleep ends here. Pack your bags, charge your EMF meters, and prepare to meet the dearly departed of Britain.

Lets continue our journey with the next chapter –

England

England offers some very historic locations for your accommodation needs, where the embrace of traditional English service and a roaring hearth is often shared with the lingering whispers of those who walked these halls centuries ago. By choosing a stay steeped in such rich, atmospheric mystery, you trade a mere room for a truly haunting experience—one that is as comfortingly hospitable as it is unforgettably eerie.


CORNWALL / DEVON


1. The Jamaica Inn

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall Historic Coaching Inn. Unique/Rustic

Essential Booking: Book direct via the Inn’s official website for the best B&B rates

Pub sign outside The Jamaica Inn, at Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.

Haunting: Smugglers, murder, and highwaymen’s spirits. Request rooms in the older wing (e.g., Room 4 or 5) for higher activity

Atmosphere: Remote & ominous


2.  The Union Inn

St. Ives, Cornwall

Essential Booking: Call or use their direct booking platform for B&B rooms. Often hosts paranormal investigation groups; check local ghost event listings

A pretty setting of a Cornish harbour, St. Ives, Cornwall.

Saltash, Cornwall. Historic Pub/Inn. Unique/Budget

Haunting: Hostile male spirit said to target women. known for high paranormal activity and investigation groups. Often hosts paranormal investigation groups; check local ghost event listings

Atmosphere: Intense activity

3. Churston Court Inn

Churston Ferrers, Devon

Essential Booking: Standard hotel booking via major platforms or their site. Enquire about rooms in the Elizabethan wing (16th-century)

Churston Ferrers, Devon. Historic Inn/Hotel

An Ivy clad picture of the front of Churston Court Inn at Churston Ferrers, Devon, England.

 Haunting: Mystery of Priests’ hiding holes and black dog.barking. Enquire about the haunting atmosphere in the Elizabethan wing. Medieval, charming and quiet

Atmosphere: Historic medieval

YORKSHIRE

1. The Golden Fleece

York, North Yorkshire

Essential Booking: Book direct for B&B rooms; due to high demand as “York’s most haunted,” book several weeks in advance. Rooms are small and historic

York, North Yorkshire. Historic Inn/Pub. Unique/Intense

The Golden Fleece Pub in York, North Yorkshire, with a golden sheep hanging outside the pub.

Haunting: Highwayman, Roman soldier, old woman. B&B rooms are often booked as one of York’s most haunted small rooms

Atmosphere: Heavy & Visceral

2.The Black Swan Hotel

Peasholm, York. Historic Hotel Luxury/Historic

Essential Booking: Standard hotel stay; centrally located for exploring York’s ghosts

The black timbers showing against the white walls of the Black Swan pub at Peasholm in York.

Haunting: Boy ghost and hostile chambermaid. Ask for rooms facing the courtyard where the boy is seen

Atmosphere: Subtle apparitions

3. Hazelwood Castle Hotel

Hazelwood,Tadcaster. Castle hotel/unique/1000 years of history

Essential Booking: Standard hotel stay and booking. Also book direct for best price and room, all individually decorated

Hazelwood Castle Hotel at Tadcaster against a blue sky.

Haunting: A black habited monk seen in the courtyard. Ghostly apparitions and sounds happen on a regular basis

Atmosphere: Silently sinister

LONDON

1. The Langham Hotel

Marylebone, London W1

Essential Booking: Standard booking, flexible booking direct for discount prices, or membership deals

Ultra-Luxury Hotel

The huge building glinting in the sun of The Langham Hotel, Marylebone in London

 Haunting: German prince died in Room 333.  Room 333 is the famous spot—request it well in advance.

Atmosphere: Subtle hauntings

2. The Grenadier

Belgravia, London SW1 Historic Pub/Inn

Essential Booking: B&B rooms are limited; call the pub directly for availability

The Grenadier Pub/Inn at Belgravia London, sowing the red soldiers pillar box outside.

Haunting: Officer cheated at cards and died. Popular with locals for its historic atmosphere.

Atmosphere: Historic tales

3. The Clink Prison Museum

Clink Street, London, SE1

Not a standard hotel. Book exclusively through dedicated paranormal investigation companies

Southwark, London SE1

MIDLANDS / WARWICKSHIRE

The Clink Prison Museum at Clink Street, London.

Haunting: Restless spirits of former inmates.Book exclusively through dedicated paranormal investigation companies for overnight vigils/lock-ins

MIDLANDS / WARWICKSHIRE

1. Coombe Abbey Hotel

Essential Booking: Luxury hotel booking; often booked for weddings/events, check weekend availability

Coombe Abbey Hotel, Coventry, Warwickshire.

Coventry, Warwickshire Castle/Abbey Hotel

Haunting: Abbot Geoffrey and silent monk murdered.Luxury hotel stay; widely used for weddings and ghost-themed events

Atmosphere: Luxury haunting

2. Ettington Park Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard or book direct. Luxury hotel booking; often cited as one of the UK’s most haunted

Ettington Park Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warkwickshire.

Stratford-upon-Avon, Warkwickshire

Haunting: Monk, maid, and old woman on staircase; request rooms in the older, original part of the mansion for the most activity

Atmosphere: Watching walls

3. The Ancient Ram Inn

Essential Booking: Book exclusively for vigils/sleepovers via the Inn’s direct website or investigation groups. Not a standard B&B

The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucester, England.

Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire

Haunting: Reportedly one of the UK’s most haunted locations. A hanging girl in the attic, a ghostly monk and a 15th century witch

Atmosphere: Spirits and demons reside

4. The Old Hall Hotel

Buxton, Derbyshire

Essential Booking: Standard hotel booking; request rooms in the oldest, 16th-century wing

The Blue plague of Mary Queen of Scots outside and on the wall of the Old Hall Hotel in Buxton, Derbyshire.

Haunting: Mary Queen of Scots imprisoned here. Mary walking the corridors in oldest part of the hall, apparitions on staircase

Atmosphere: Regal spirits

SOUTH WEST / COTSWOLDS

1. The Bear Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard luxury hotel booking

The Bear Hotel, Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

Woodstock, Oxfordshire. Historic Coaching Inn

Haunting: “Pink Lady” ghost seen knitting.Standard luxury hotel booking; subtle hauntings in a high-quality, historic setting near Blenheim Palace

Atmosphere: Whispers linger

2. The Lygon Arms Broadway

Essential Booking: Standard booking, Luxury hotel; often features seasonal packages

The Lygon Arms, Broadway, Worcestershire.

Broadway, Worcestershire. Luxury Inn/Hotel, atmospheric

Haunting: Cavalier soldier and man in feathered hat

Atmosphere: Walking ancestors

3. The Mermaid Inn

Essential Booking: B&B rooms; book well in advance due to iconic status

The Mermaid Inn at Rye, East Sussex

Rye, East Sussex. Historic Inn.

Haunting: Smugglers, murdered maid, a sea Captain.loud footsteps. Book well in advance due to iconic status. Ask for rooms with “secret” passages or the most noted activity

Atmosphere: Hollow steps. Hauntingly Historic.

4. The Lamb Inn

Essential Booking: Standard inn/hotel B&B. Book direct for best room options

The Lamb Inn at Burford in Oxfordshire.

Burford, Oxfordshire. Historic Inn

Haunting: Spirit of a landlady and a small boy. picturesque Cotswold location

Atmosphere: Unseen guests

LANCASHIRE / CHESHIRE

1. Samlesbury Hall

Essential Booking: Book Glamping pods (Shepherd’s Huts) via the Hall’s website

Samlesbury Hall at Preston in Lancashire.

 Preston, Lancashire

Historic Glamping site

Haunting: “White Lady” (Dorothy Southworth) mourns can sometimes be seen by some

Atmosphere: Ancient flickers

2. The Lion & Swan Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard hotel stay; ask staff about the specific haunted rooms before booking

The Lion and Swan Hotel and historic coachng Inn at Congleton, Cheshire.

Congleton, Cheshire. Historic Coaching Inn with pazazz

Haunting:Numerous spirits including a young boy. And woman,who has been seen relaxing at the fire or the bar. Watch out for room 20 where guests have awoken to a feeling of deep cold. Numerous spirits

Atmosphere: Watching eyes

3. Houghton Tower

Essential Booking: Book on main website.The ‘Irishman’s Tower’ is a bookable part of this magnificent castle-like residence. Self catering, sleeps up to two

Hoghton Tower a fortified Manor House in Lancaster

Hoghton, Lancaster. Fortified Manor House. Open gardens and tea-room

Haunting: A special journal is kept here to keep a track of all the paranormal activity! Green Lady in a velvet dress is said to glide through walls

Atmosphere: Ancestral weight

NORTHUMBERLAND / CUMBRIA

1. Lumley Castle Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard luxury castle hotel stay; check for themed banquets that add to the atmosphere

Lumley Castle Hotel, former manor house, Durham

Chester-le-Street, Durham Former Manor house made into a castle

Haunting: Lady Lumley thrown down a well and wonders the corridors. Black Jack a mischievous spirit who plays tricks on guests

Atmosphere: High jinks

2. The Skelwith Bridge Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard booking or book direct for special offers and news

The Skelwith Bridge Hotel, Ambleside, Lake District, an historic hotel.

Ambleside, Lake District. Historic Hotel

Haunting: Female ghost near bar and stairs

Atmosphere: Phantom steps

3. The Britannia Inn

Essential Booking: B&B rooms; book direct for this highly traditional Lakeland Inn

The Britannia Inn an historic pub/inn at Grasmere, Lake District.

Grasmere, Lake District. Historic Pub/Inn

Haunting: Former landlord and phantom keys

Atmosphere: Strange noises

SOUTH EAST / KENT

1. The George and Dragon

B&B rooms; call the pub directly for availability

The George and Dragon, historic Pub at Chipstead in Kent.

Chipstead, Kent. Historic Pub/Inn

Haunting: Landlady and Cavalier cause movements. Watch your glass in the bar

Atmosphere: Popular with local paranormal groups

2. Littlecote House Hotel

Luxury hotel stay (typically booked via Warner Leisure Holidays). Book a weekend package deal

Littlecote House Hotel, luxury historic hotel at Hungerford in Berkshire.

Hungerford, Berkshire. Luxury Historic Hotel, Tudor Manor House

Haunting: Mother murdered baby; ‘Wild Man’

Atmosphere: Steeped in history

3. Tutbury Castle

Essential Booking: Book Glamping (Tudor tents) or limited B&B in the Gatehouse Book directly with the site.. Check their tour schedule.

The ruins of Tutbury Castle in Burton upon Trent in Staffordshire.

Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. This is more about the views of the castle ruins but what ruins they are! Glamping site

Haunting:  Mary Queen of Scots and ‘Keeper’ ghost.

Atmosphere: Holiday vibes

4. The George Hotel

Essential Booking: Standard luxury hotel stay; request rooms in the oldest Tudor or Georgian wings for greater atmosphere

The George Hotel with it's sign over the road, an ancient luxury coaching Inn at Stamford, Lincolnshire.

Stamford, Lincolnshire. Ancient Luxury Coaching Inn

Haunting: Former chambermaid and spectral activity. A fat monk, cold spots, disembodied laughter

Atmosphere: Unexplained noises

5. The Swan Hotel

Essential Booking: Luxury hotel stay; due to its iconic appearance, book well in advance, particularly for weekend breaks

The Swan Hotel, Lavenham in Suffolk.

Lavenham, Suffolk. Luxury Historic Hotel

Haunting: Ghost of chambermaid and WWII airman. Try room 15 for extra haunts, jilted bride from 200 years ago will not leave

Atmosphere: Inherited history