Best Haunted Houses and Ghost Tours in London

London is one of the most haunted cities on Earth — and that is not marketing copy, it is arithmetic. Two thousand years of history, a Great Fire, a Great Plague, centuries of public executions and a Victorian obsession with spiritualism have left the capital with more documented hauntings per square mile than almost anywhere else. At Halloween, that heritage becomes an industry: scare mazes, ghost buses, haunted pubs, candlelit cemeteries and after-dark palaces, all competing for your nerves.

This guide covers the best haunted houses and ghost tours in London — from full-throttle scare attractions like Thorpe Park Fright Nights to the genuinely historic hauntings of the Tower of London, Highgate Cemetery and the city’s most haunted pubs. Whether you want to be chased by actors in the dark or walk quietly through a 19th-century cemetery with a historian, London has the right flavour of fear for you.

Full-Throttle Scare Attractions

Thorpe Park Fright Nights

Best for: Maximum scares, thrill-seekers, groups of friends
Where: Chertsey, Surrey (40 minutes from Waterloo)
When: Selected dates 2 October–1 November 2026
Price: From £39 online; from £71 with scare mazes
Age guidance: 13+ (some mazes 15+)

The biggest Halloween event in the London area, and 2026 is its 25th anniversary year. Fright Nights keeps the park open until 9pm with coasters running in darkness, five scare mazes — including the new-for-2026 pitch-black Tenement — and scare zones like Purgatory Town and Lucifer’s Lair. This is the closest thing London has to America’s mega-haunts, and it compares well: for a transatlantic benchmark, see our roundup of the best haunted houses in the USA. Book the maze package in advance; individual mazes start from £8 and peak nights sell out.

The London Dungeon

Best for: Theatrical scares, teenagers, first-time scare attraction visitors
Where: South Bank, opposite the London Eye
When: Year-round; Halloween season intensifies the scares
Price: From around £25 online (varies by date)

The Dungeon is a 90-minute journey through a thousand years of London’s dark history — the Plague, the Great Fire, Sweeney Todd, Jack the Ripper, the Gunpowder Plot — performed by live actors in elaborate sets, with two rides thrown in. At Halloween the shows get extra actors, extended scares and late openings. It is more theatrical than terrifying, which makes it the ideal entry-level haunt: genuinely atmospheric, occasionally startling, never gratuitous. Under-16s must be accompanied by an adult.

The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs

Best for: History buffs who want real scares
Where: Tooley Street, London Bridge
When: Year-round; Halloween is peak season
Price: From around £30

Set in the vaults beneath London Bridge, this two-part attraction starts as a genuinely educational (and funny) history show covering 2,000 years of the area — Boudica, the Romans, the plague — then descends into the London Tombs, a full scare maze through plague pits and Victorian streets. It won “Best Year-Round Scare Attraction” at the UK’s scare awards multiple times, and the Tombs section is properly frightening. The Halloween-season late shows are the ones to book.

London Bridge… and Beyond: The Year-Round Haunts

Several London attractions run haunted experiences all year that peak at Halloween. The Ghost Bus Tours (see below) operate year-round; Madame Tussauds’ Chamber of Horrors section keeps its Victorian gloom; and the Clink Prison Museum on the South Bank offers a grim, genuinely historic dose of medieval punishment. But Halloween is when the special events land — always check what “Halloween season” programming each attraction is running before you book a standard ticket.

Historic Hauntings: The Real Thing

The Tower of London

Best for: Genuine history, iconic ghosts, all ages
Where: Tower Hill
When: Daytime year-round; after-hours events around Halloween

No “haunted house” in London — or arguably the world — has the Tower’s credentials. Nearly a thousand years of executions, imprisonments and royal intrigue have produced the most famous ghosts in Britain: Anne Boleyn (seen carrying her head under her arm), the two Princes in the Tower, the “White Lady”, and a phantom bear. Historic Royal Palaces runs twilight and after-hours events around Halloween, letting visitors explore the White Tower by torchlight. Even a daytime visit in late October, with the ravens and the low autumn light, is deeply atmospheric.

Highgate Cemetery

Best for: Atmosphere, photography, gothic romance
Where: Highgate, North London
When: Guided tours; twilight tours around Halloween
Price: From around £15–£20 for standard tours

The West Cemetery — Egyptian Avenue, the Circle of Lebanon, angels crumbling under ivy — is one of the most beautiful and genuinely eerie places in London, accessible only by guided tour. The East Cemetery holds Karl Marx, George Eliot and Douglas Adams. The cemetery’s own history includes the famous 1970s “Highgate Vampire” panic, when crowds hunted a supposed vampire among the tombs. Twilight tours at Halloween are unforgettable but book out extremely fast; daytime tours in late October are nearly as atmospheric.

Hampton Court Palace

Best for: Families by day, genuine chills after dark
Where: East Molesey, Surrey
When: Halloween trail 24 October–1 November 2026

Henry VIII’s palace has some of Britain’s best-documented hauntings: Catherine Howard’s screaming ghost is said to run the Haunted Gallery, and the “Grey Lady” Sybil Penn has been seen (and her spinning wheel heard) for centuries. The palace’s Halloween event (24 Oct–1 Nov 2026) uses projections, sound design and storytelling rather than actors jumping out — a classier, more historical flavour of haunting that works brilliantly for families in the early evening and gives adults genuine goosebumps after dark.

Dennis Severs’ House

Best for: Quiet, uncanny, deeply unusual
Where: Folgate Street, Spitalfields
When: Candlelit “Silent Night” tours (limited dates)

Not a ghost tour in the conventional sense — something stranger. Dennis Severs’ House is a Georgian townhouse preserved as a “still-life drama”: ten rooms arranged as if the 18th-century Huguenot silk-weaver family who lived there have just stepped out. Visited in silence by candlelight, with the smell of oranges and cloves in the air, it is one of the most haunting experiences in London without a single actor or special effect. The limited “Silent Night” openings are the ones to catch at Halloween.

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Best for: Theatre lovers, ghost-story connoisseurs
Where: Covent Garden

London’s oldest theatre site (1663) is famously haunted by the “Man in Grey” — a powdered-wig ghost who appears in the upper circle as a good omen, and whose skeleton was reportedly found bricked up in a wall in the 19th century. The theatre runs occasional backstage ghost tours; even without one, knowing the stories transforms a night at the theatre. Several West End theatres claim ghosts, but Drury Lane’s are the most storied.

Ghost Tours: London After Dark on Foot

The Ghost Bus Tours

Best for: Families with older children, first-time visitors, comedy-horror
Where: Departs Northumberland Avenue, off Trafalgar Square
When: Year-round; Halloween is peak season
Duration: Around 75 minutes

The classic. A 1960s Routemaster painted black, a conductor who blends genuine dark history with theatrical scares, and a route past Westminster, the City and the Tower. The tour covers the Plague, the Great Fire, public executions and the Tower’s ghosts, with the bus’s upper deck giving a brilliant night-time view of illuminated London. It is the rare ghost tour that works for a ten-year-old and a forty-year-old simultaneously — funny, creepy and informative in equal measure. Halloween-night departures are the definitive experience; book weeks ahead.

Jack the Ripper Walks, Whitechapel

Best for: True crime, Victorian history, atmospheric streets
Where: Whitechapel and Spitalfields, East London
When: Nightly; Halloween walks are the most atmospheric

The 1888 Whitechapel murders remain the most famous unsolved crimes in history, and the streets where they happened — Mitre Square, Goulston Street, Hanbury Street — are still walkable. Good Ripper walks are serious social history: Victorian poverty, the birth of forensic policing, the birth of tabloid journalism. The walk typically ends at the Ten Bells pub in Spitalfields, where two of the victims drank. Choose a guide with genuine historical credentials; the best walks use original photographs and police reports. Note that this is true crime and social history, and some of the subject matter is disturbing — check age guidance before bringing teenagers.

Hidden London: Clapham South — Ghosts of the Underground

Best for: Something completely different, history lovers
Where: Clapham South deep-level shelter
When: 21 October–1 November 2026 (Halloween special)
Price: From £39 adults; minimum age 10

Eleven storeys beneath south London, the Clapham South deep-level shelter — built in the Second World War, later a hostel for Windrush-generation arrivals — opens for torchlit Halloween tours through the London Transport Museum’s Hidden London programme. Cold, dark, and steeped in real 20th-century history, it is genuinely chilling without a single costumed actor. Wrap up warm; it is cold down there in a way that catches people out.

Haunted Pub Crawls and Ghost Walks

London’s oldest streets are best explored on foot with a guide who knows the stories. Operators run haunted pub tours combining ghost stories with stops at genuinely haunted historic pubs (see the pub section below), and City of London ghost walks through the medieval alleyways around St Paul’s, Smithfield (site of public executions) and the old plague pits. The London Walks programme and specialist ghost-tour companies run these year-round with extra departures at Halloween. Our dedicated guide to Halloween pub crawls in London covers the best routes and tickets.

Greenwich and the Riverside Ghosts

Greenwich is criminally underrated for Halloween. The Cutty Sark, the Old Royal Naval College (built on the site of the old Palace of Placentia, birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I) and the riverside pubs all have documented hauntings, and the riverside on a foggy October night is pure gothic. Several operators run Greenwich ghost walks at Halloween; the area also makes a superb self-guided evening walk, ending in a haunted pub.

London’s Most Haunted Pubs

A haunted pub crawl is one of the great London Halloween traditions — history, ghost stories and a pint, all in one evening. These are the essential stops:

• The Grenadier, Belgravia: Hidden in a Wilton Row mews, this tiny pub is said to be haunted by Cedric, a young soldier beaten to death for cheating at cards. Visitors traditionally pin banknotes to the ceiling to settle his supposed gambling debt. One of the most haunted pubs in London, and the setting is pure period drama.
• The Ten Bells, Spitalfields: The Jack the Ripper pub — two of his victims drank here, and in 1996 the landlord claimed the ghost of Annie Chapman had taken up residence. Poltergeist activity and inexplicable gusts of wind have been reported by staff. The classic end-point of a Ripper walk.
• The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead: Dating from 1585 on the edge of Hampstead Heath, mentioned by Dickens in The Pickwick Papers and associated with the poet Keats — and with the highwayman Dick Turpin, whose ghost is said to haunt the inn. Perfect after an autumn walk across the Heath.
• The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping: London’s oldest riverside pub (1520), with a history of smugglers, pirates and executions at nearby Execution Dock. A hanged woman is said to haunt its dim corners, and the pewter-topped bar and Thames views are worth the trip alone.
• The Viaduct Tavern, Holborn: A Victorian gin palace built on the site of old Newgate Prison cells — the cellars reportedly still contain original prison cells. Shadowy figures and unexplained noises are the standard reports.
• Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, Fleet Street: Rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, this warren of low-ceilinged rooms was Dickens’ and Dr Johnson’s local. Grey ladies, spectral monks and the odd disembodied voice — plus one of the best-kept pints of ale in London.

London’s Most Famous Ghost Stories

Behind every haunted attraction are the original stories. These are the legends that made London famous:

The Princes in the Tower

In 1483, the 12-year-old Edward V and his 9-year-old brother Richard vanished inside the Tower of London after their uncle seized the throne as Richard III. Two small skeletons found beneath a Tower staircase in 1674 are widely believed to be theirs. Guards and visitors have reported seeing two small figures in nightshirts, holding hands, in the White Tower — and their appearances are said to cluster around times of national crisis. It is the most poignant haunting in London.

The Man in Grey at Drury Lane

The Theatre Royal’s resident ghost is a powdered-wig gentleman in a grey cloak who materialises in the upper circle — and is considered a good omen: spotting him before a performance supposedly guarantees a successful run. When the theatre was renovated in the 19th century, workmen reportedly found a sealed room containing a skeleton with a dagger in its chest, dressed in grey. Actors still speak of him with genuine respect.

The Highgate Vampire

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Highgate Cemetery became the centre of a genuine vampire panic. Reports of a tall, dark figure gliding among the tombs drew occultists, television crews and eventually hundreds of “vampire hunters” to the cemetery on Friday 13 March 1970 — an event covered by national media. Whether ghost, hoax or mass hysteria, the story cemented Highgate’s reputation and still colours every twilight tour.

The Black Nun of the Bank of England

The Bank of England on Threadneedle Street is said to be haunted by the “Black Nun” — Sarah Whitehead, whose brother was executed for forgery in 1811 and who haunted the Bank searching for him for decades afterwards, dressed in black crepe. Staff reported sightings well into the 20th century. It is a reminder that in the City of London, even the financial district has ghosts.

Planning Your Haunted London Halloween

Match the scare level to your group

London’s haunts span a wide intensity range. For maximum terror: Thorpe Park’s scare mazes and the London Tombs. For theatrical spookiness: the London Dungeon and the Ghost Bus. For atmosphere without jump scares: Highgate Cemetery, Dennis Severs’ House, Hampton Court after dark, and the historic pubs. For families with younger children, stick to the daytime and early-evening options — most scare attractions are 13+ or 15+.

Book Halloween-night slots early

The Ghost Bus, Highgate twilight tours, Clapham South and Thorpe Park all sell out their 30–31 October slots. As a rule of thumb, book headline attractions by early October. Midweek dates in the half-term week (26–30 October 2026) are slightly easier and often cheaper.

What to wear and bring

Ghost walks and cemetery tours happen outdoors in late-October weather: wear warm, waterproof layers and sturdy shoes (Highgate’s paths are uneven; Clapham South is cold underground). Bring a torch for self-guided walks. And if you are doing a haunted pub crawl, pace yourself — the ghosts are patient; you do not need to be drunk to see them.

Beyond London

If London’s haunts leave you wanting more, Britain is full of haunted destinations: York’s ghost walks, Edinburgh’s underground vaults and Samhuinn Fire Festival, and Salem, Massachusetts’ month-long Haunted Happenings for the American perspective. New Orleans’ haunted and ghost tour scene offers a fascinating transatlantic comparison — voodoo and above-ground cemeteries versus plague pits and Victorian ghosts.

In Pictures: Haunted London

Two thousand years of history make London one of the world's most haunted capitals — best explored after dark with a lantern and a guide.

A caped guide leads a lantern-lit ghost walk through a misty Victorian alley — the classic way to meet haunted London.

Watch: Haunted London

A chilling tour of the City of London's haunted hotspots — eleven places where ghosts are reportedly seen, from old churches to underground tunnels.

At a Glance: Haunted London

The capital's most storied haunted spots and scare attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scariest haunted house in London?

For pure scare-maze intensity, Thorpe Park Fright Nights’ mazes — especially the new-for-2026 pitch-black Tenement — are the most intense in the London area, recommended for ages 13+ (some 15+). In central London, the London Tombs beneath London Bridge is the most full-on scare attraction. For historical dread rather than jump scares, the Tower of London after dark and Highgate Cemetery at twilight are unmatched.

Are there any real haunted houses in London you can visit?

Yes — several. The Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Spaniards Inn, the Grenadier and the Ten Bells all have long-documented hauntings and are open to visitors. 50 Berkeley Square in Mayfair is famously called London’s most haunted house, but it is privately owned and not open to the public — admire the stories, not the building.

What is the best ghost tour in London for families?

The Ghost Bus Tours are the best all-rounder for families with older children (around 10+) — funny, theatrical and informative without being genuinely frightening. For younger children, stick to daytime options like Hampton Court Palace’s Halloween trail or the London Dungeon’s less intense daytime shows.

How much do London ghost tours cost?

Walking ghost tours typically run £12–£20 per person. The Ghost Bus is around £25–£35. Premium experiences cost more: Hidden London’s Clapham South tour is from £39, Thorpe Park Fright Nights from £39 (£71 with mazes), and Highgate Cemetery tours from around £15–£20. Halloween-night slots often carry peak pricing.

Can you do a self-guided haunted walk in London?

Absolutely — and it is free. The City of London’s medieval alleyways (around St Paul’s, Smithfield and the Tower), Highgate and Hampstead, and the riverside at Wapping and Greenwich all reward a self-guided evening walk with a good ghost-story podcast or guidebook. Finish in a haunted pub for the full experience.

Are London’s haunted attractions suitable for teenagers?

It depends on the attraction. The London Dungeon and the Ghost Bus Tours are ideal for teenagers (the Dungeon admits under-16s with an adult; the Ghost Bus suits ages 10+). Thorpe Park Fright Nights is recommended for 13+ and is genuinely intense — some mazes are 15+. The London Tombs are properly frightening and best for older teens. Walking ghost tours and haunted pubs are generally fine for teenagers accompanied by adults, though Ripper walks deal with disturbing true-crime subject matter — check with the operator first.

What should I wear on a London ghost tour at Halloween?

Warm layers, waterproofs and comfortable shoes — late October in London is cold and often wet, and cemetery and underground tours involve uneven ground. Costumes are welcome on the Ghost Bus and at Thorpe Park, but for walking tours prioritise warmth; you can always add a cape or mask over practical clothes. For costume inspiration, see our Halloween costume ideas guide.