I'm not typically a fan of big cities, but I found myself in London, England unexpectedly for a few days due to an airline strike. My flight back to the United States had been rerouted, and instead of going from Dublin, Ireland to Chicago, I had to fly to London first, and could not get a flight out for several days. Instead of pouting about my predicament, I decided to make the most of it.
I remembered hearing that the Tower of London was one of the most haunted places in the world. That gave me an idea. I love history, and I'm fascinated by the paranormal. I went online at the airport to do some research, and came up with a list of places to visit. What was a potential nightmare turned out to be a fun and exciting adventure.
Here are some of the best haunted places to visit in the city of London.
The Viaduct Tavern
I decided to start my ghostly tour in a pub that was known to be haunted. After the hassles experienced by airline travel, a pint of Guinness is always in order.
The Viaduct Tavern is a pub that was built in the Victorian style, dating back to 1869. It was originally a Victorian gin palace. The tavern was built on a site where part of the infamous Newgate Prison stood, and this particular area belonged to what was called Giltspur Street Compter, which was used as a debtors prison and also a "holding station" for those who were awaiting execution.
This "new" prison had been here for nearly 200 years before it was demolished, and before that time, there was a jail at the site that dated back to at least the 12th century. An average of 30 people a year died at Newgate Prison, and with some quick multiplication, that could mean that 21,000 or more people may have died in that miserable place.
Passersby held their nose when they walked by Newgate, and many physicians refused to go inside. The prison was crowded and unhealthy, with a limited amount of water and air, and diseases flourished.
Apparently, the pub's cellars are where some of the original jail cells were, and of course, this is the area where the most paranormal activity has occurred.
There are many ghost stories relating to the tavern's cellar, some of the old jail cells in the cellar are currently used as storage. The staff doesn't like to be in the cellar alone, especially at night. Many have experienced the pitch black darkness as lights turn off by themselves and doors suddenly lock, along with a high pitched moaning sound. A manager of the tavern was cleaning in the cellar when he found himself a victim of this unusual activity.
The manager started screaming for help when the door suddenly shut and all the lights went out. He tried to open the door, but could not. Fortunately, his wife was upstairs and heard him. She came running downstairs to find the door easily opened from the outside.
I found this building and the pub itself strikingly beautiful, but the dark energy that is present is a contradiction of the cheerful atmosphere here.
The Viaduct Tavern is located at 126 Newgate Street in London.
Baker Street and Volunteer Bar
Baker Street in London is reputed to be one of the most haunted streets in London. Today, 228 Baker Street is an electrical substation, but the site belonged to the home of British actress Sarah Siddons from 1817 until the time of her death in 1831. It is said that her apparition haunts the current building as well as some of the theaters in the area.
The Volunteer Bar sits at 247 Baker Street, just down the street from the former residence of Sherlock Holmes. The bar sits on property that was home to a mansion formerly owned by a hated mob family, The Nevilles, in the 17th century. Much of the mansion was mysteriously burned to the ground in 1654, but the original cellars are still in use today by the Volunteer Bar.
Here there have been numerous sightings of a man dressed in breeches and fancy stockings, and he is said to be a member of the Neville family, possibly Richard or Rupert Neville.
The Grenadier Pub
The Grenadier is known as the most haunted pub in London. It's located just a couple miles south of Baker Street on the other side of Hyde Park, at 18 Wilton Row.
Many enlisted men frequented the pub in the old days, as the cellar was used to house a place for the common soldiers to drink and gamble, while the upper floors were used as the barracks. Apparently, a young officer was caught cheating in a game of cards, and was beaten so badly that he died.
There have been numerous sightings of a ghostly spirit, said to be the beaten soldier. Objects frequently disappear or are mysterious moved, and an apparition has been said to slowly move across the low hanging ceilings. Sometimes tables and chairs begin to shake without a soul nearby.
A man who was a Superintendent at Scotland Yard was in the pub one night for a drink, when a puff a smoke suddenly appeared around him. He put his hand out to try and determine where it was coming from, and felt the burn of a cigarette, yet no one was there.
Tower of London
Less than two miles from the Grenadier, in the center of the city, is the famous Tower of London. The tower was the home to many political prisoners, who were tortured and subsequently executed.
It is said that the Wakefield Tower is haunted by King Henry VI, who was imprisoned in the tower and died on May 21, 1471. Most accounts state that he was murdered by the man who took his place as King after his death, Edward of York, but there are those who believe that his death was ultimately caused by his severe mental illness.
The colossal White Tower is the oldest tower, with construction completed in 1097. The tower seems to emit an eerie feeling with its stark white appearance and winding stone corridors. Several guards here have experienced a strange sensation of being crushed after entering the room in which Henry VIII's suit of armor is on exhibit.
Tour guides will be sure to tell you some of the many other paranormal encounters that have happened here over the years.
Admission is about $32 USD, but well worth the experience. Admission includes a guided tower and admission to the tower, historical re-enactments, exhibitions and more.
There are many other places in the city and the surrounding villages that report supernatural activity, and visiting them all might take months.
I was happy to have been able to explore some of the most fascinating historic and haunted places in London, as sometimes, what feels like the beginning of a travel horror story, can turn quickly into good fortune.
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