This Halloween, give yourself a real life thrill by staying in one of the UK’s Most Haunted Hotels. Not for the faint hearted, just reading about them is enough to freak me out! But, if ghosts and ghouls are your thing then you’ll jump at the chance to get up close and personal with those tortured spirits of yesteryears. Enter, if you dare...
The Langham Hotel, London
Image: Richard Leeming
A former home of the BBC, this hotel is reportedly crawling with the supernatural. The most well known tale of horror is from a guest who stayed in room 333 and awoke to find a ball of light in his room, slowly transforming into a human outline. Upon questioning this frightful apparition, the figure allegedly began moving towards the bed with arms outstretched, at which point the terrified guest ran out of the room. I don’t blame him!
Double rooms start from £350 a night.
Ballygally Castle Hotel, Northern Ireland
Image: Kenneth Allen
After failing to provide her husband with a male heir, Lady Isabella Shaw was allegedly imprisoned with her daughter in the upstairs room of the castle. Lady Shaw reportedly threw herself from a turret window to her death, leaving the wails of her baby to haunt the hotel’s “Ghost Room”. With doubles from £165 a night, would you pay to run the risk of running into Lady Isabella’s spectre outside the castle?
Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl...
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Image: Jo Jordan
This castle remains unaltered since its days of battle. But don’t let this placid appearance fool you. If you fancy bumping into the infamous “Blue Boy”, or a tortured child, or any of the plethora of Knights who were hanged, drawn and quartered on the grounds, this is the hotel for you. This Halloween, why not take one of the hotel’s Ghost Tours? Maybe because, like me, the idea of ghosts makes me want to curl in a ball and cry...
Elvey Farm, Pluckley
Image: Jonathan Day
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Pluckley is the Most Haunted Village in the UK. So it stands to reason that if its ghosts you’re after, Elvey Farm is the place to stay. Haunted by various figures, among whom “the Weeping Wanderer” and a phantom coach and horses, this place is sure to set your teeth on edge. Plus, there’s a place called Fright Corner. You can’t get spookier than that really...
If (unlike me) you love the idea of being scared out of your wits, soaking up some supernatural spooks and meeting murdered spirits, these hotels and others just like them are the perfect getaway this All Hallows Eve. Or, you know, you could just watch a scary movie from behind the sofa?
For more info on all of these hotels and their ghouls, check out The Telegraph’s article here
Happy Halloween!
Tessa Pillar is a second year English Literature student from South Devon. An avid reader, Tessa has a real interest in writing and is currently undertaking an internship. When not studying or writing she can be found socialising with friends.
Featured image by AndYaDontStop
