Everyone loves to be spooked – so if you want to be properly spooked, forget just visiting a haunted castle or a haunted house – to get the whole experience, you need to visit a haunted hotel for an overnight trip. England is full of haunted hotels, so take your pick from ten of the best below…
The Kirkstone Inn stands at almost 1,500 feet above sea level, making it the highest pub in England. It dates way back to the 15th century – meaning numerous travellers have passed through its doors, and quite a few of those travellers have decided to stick around. Some of the ghosts at the hotel are thought to be that of travellers who met their untimely death whilst getting to the hotel through the rather difficult hilly landscape surrounding the pub, whilst another of the ghosts is thought to be that of a mad woman who murdered her child. Another ghost was that of a coachman, thought to be from the 17th century – and the unusual thing is, he was actually photographed in 1993. But the coachman is no longer resident at the hotel – he took a particular liking to one of the families that visited the hotel and followed them home.
Many haunted hotels have a somewhat sinister history and the Ostrich Inn is no exception. In the 14th century, the owners of the hotel were a particularly nasty couple who liked to murder their guests – they would force alcohol into them, invite them upstairs to sleep in their special room, and would then murder them and throw their bodies through a trapdoor in the floor. 60 guests were thought to have perished this way at the hands of the couple. The couple were eventually caught for their crimes and hanged as a punishment, and now, it’s thought that the spirits of some of the victims and the murdering couple still roam the corridors of the hotel today.
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
Chillingham Castle is well known for the ghost of a blue boy, who haunts one room in particular. Excavation work was carried out at the hotel, and part of a skeleton and some blue clothing were found buried inside a wall in the room – perhaps this is why his spirit was restless? He’s known to moan and whimper, and some guests have reported seeing flashes of light inside the room. Another ghost resident at Chillingham is that of Mary Berkeley, who is known for making a rustling noise in the stairwell. Guests have also reported hearing voices in the chapel and a white lady has been spotted in the pantry.
The Maids Head dates way back to the 13th century and has a pretty Tudor façade – but that elegant façade hides some spooky secrets, that of two ghosts. One of the spirits is a woman believed to have been a maid at the hotel, who is seen as a figure in grey. She moves silently around the hotel, so you might not be able to hear her – but you’ll be able to smell her, as she trails the scent of lavender behind her wherever she goes. Another ghostly resident at the hotel is believed to be the spectre of one of the former mayors of the city – he is sometimes seen in the courtyard, shaking his head vigorously.
Chequers Inn is a small but sweet hotel dating back to the 14th century, but one of its rooms is haunted by a Napoleonic soldier. He didn’t die at war – instead, during a stay at the hotel, he was killed by one of the local women. She was infatuated with the soldier and plied him with drink in an effort to seduce him. She managed to seduce him, and when he was asleep, she decided it would be a good idea to rob him. He woke up and in the struggle, was killed by the woman – little did he know that she was carrying a knife. His ghost is said to make an appearance at the inn regularly.
The Holt was founded way back in 1475 with just 6 rooms, and today, it has another 80. The Holt is haunted by numerous ghosts, but the most notorious ghost is that of a highwayman named Claude Duval. Claude was the leader of a gang of highwaymen who were known for doing anything they had to to get what they wanted. Claude himself was thought to be responsible for many murders, including that of one of the previous owners of the hotel, Spurrier and his wife. He’s now seen roaming the corridors of the hotel, and some guests have reported seeing him in their rooms. Other guests, particularly women, have said that they felt watched in their rooms and have reported hearing loud footsteps outside of their room in the middle of the night. The landlord of the hotel has also heard voices in the attic, with no explanation for them.
The Jamaica Inn is one of the most well-known haunted hotels in England. It has a long and rather bloody history involving smugglers – and to help you get a feel of the hotel’s history, they now display a collection of smuggling artefacts. Many spirits have been reported at the hotel over the years, and the television show Most Haunted has even visited, calling it one of “the spookiest places they’ve ever investigated”. Strange sounds have been heard at the hotel for years with no apparent explanation, including the sound of horses’ hooves, the metal clink of carriages in the courtyard and pacing footsteps in the hallways. Numerous managers at the hotel have reported hearing foreign languages in several locations around the hotel, with no apparent source for the voices, and an investigation by the Ghost Society showed that almost all areas of the hotel were rife with spooky activity.
Schooner Hotel, Northumberland
The Schooner Hotel has been referred to by numerous publications as “one of the most haunted hotels” in England, and with good reason. Guests at the hotel often report spooky happenings, including strange noises in the middle of the night as well as their bedroom doors opening and closing of their own accord. Spooky things often happen with the electronics at the hotel too, with lights, radios and other electronics turning themselves on and off. The ghostly goings on prompted a Most Haunted investigation.
Talbot Hotel, Northamptonshire
The Talbot Hotel is thought to be haunted by Mary, Queen of Scots. She never actually visited the hotel, but it is home to a magnificent staircase that used to belong to the nearby Fotheringhay Castle. Fotheringhay was the location of Mary’s execution, and she was led down the staircase before her execution. Mary is often spotted by guests and staff alike slowly making her way down the staircase at the Talbot Hotel.
The Prince Rupert Hotel, Shrewsbury
The Prince Rupert hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in the Midlands, and it is home to numerous spectres. It’s a beautiful hotel, so guests might not expect the spooky happenings that occur in the middle of the night. Many guests have reported seeing objects moving in their rooms of their own accord, along with other ghostly goings-on. But the most grisly spectre is that of a woman who is sometimes glimpsed hanging from the ceiling in one of the guest rooms. Spooky!
Author Bio
Wesley McDermott is a contributor at HauntedRooms.co.uk – If you’re brave enough to stay a night in a haunted hotel, then Haunted Rooms can help. They also have a number of ghost hunting events available throughout the UK. Book now for something different this week/weekend!
