We all love spooky season, and what better way to celebrate Halloween than a fiendishly frightening night away in a haunted hotel? Combining ghoulish fun with things that go bump in the night, the UK is home to a number of haunted hotels perfect for Halloween holidays. Join CrossCountry on our ghostly tour of the creepiest haunted hotels in the UK.
Jamaica Inn, Bodmin
If you know anything about Bodmin, you’ll know that it is the perfect spooky setting for a ghoulish night away – at any time of year! From drowned fisherman and UFO sightings to zombies and the beast of Bodmin, the wild scenery makes a magnificent backdrop to supernatural sightings. In Bodmin, the best place to spot a spirit is the 18th Century Jamaica Inn. Perched on the edge of the inhospitable Bodmin Moor, the Inn has a history of smuggling and offers paranormal energy. The most popular ghost story here features an old pirate in a tricorne hat who quickly appears and vanishes through the solid doors in the bar. Managers have heard creepy whisperings in the old Cornish dialect and the Inn has been investigated by the Ghost Society. Listen out for footsteps patrolling the hallways in the dead of night…
How to get to the Jamaica Inn:
The Jamaica Inn is in the heart of Bodmin Moor, so the nearest train station is Bodmin Parkway. You can take a 20-minute taxi from the station to the Inn.
Black Swan Hotel, York
Swarming with spirits, the Black Swan Hotel has been part of historic York since the fifteenth century and is famed for being home to supernatural beings. The half-timbered black and white exterior and the rich draperies on the four-poster beds add to the spookily old-fashioned mystery of the building.
If you’re eager to go spirit-spotting, head to the bar where an apparition of a businessman dressed in a bowler hat resides. Those who have seen him in the past say that he looks like he is impatiently waiting for someone – could he have died while waiting? Nobody knows, but the incessant sound of his watch is creepy enough for us…
Believe it or not, the businessman is not the only apparition haunting the Black Swan. When the fireplace is roading, a young lady in a flowing white dress can be seen standing with her back to the bar staring into the flames. Not enough? Keep your eyes peeled for the resident ghost whose feet walk around the hotel detached from its body!
How to get to the Black Swan Hotel:
The Black Swan Hotel is located less than a mile from York station, so you can reach it with a walk or a bus ride; each taking around 20 minutes.
Ettington Park Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon
The 12th Century Ettington Park Hotel has a beautiful exterior, but don’t be fooled into thinking its all sweetness and light. Inside you will find something a little more spooky. The most famous spectre in this hotel is a howling black dog, often accompanied by a shadowy male figure. This gruesome pair has often been spotted by ghost hunters and unsuspecting guests!
When you know the ghoulish history of the hotel, the architecture takes on an eerie feeling. The looming turrets, arched windows, and multicoloured brickwork gives the hotel a mysterious beauty – it is a striking neo-gothic mansion.
Rumour has it that Ettington Park is also haunted by ethereal figures of former servants, a woman in a flowing white robe, and monks who used to live nearby. It is the perfect spot for a spooky night away.
How to get to Ettington Park Hotel:
Ettington Park Hotel is in Statford-upon-Avon, located 20-minutes from Stratford-upon-Avon station by taxi or 30-minutes by bus.
Dalhousie Castle Hotel, Edinburgh
Edinburgh is a deeply historic city, so you won’t be surprised to see it on our list of haunted hotel locations. Packed to the rafters with history, Dalhousie Castle Hotel houses relics, antiques, and old-fashioned features that create the perfect backdrop for supernatural activity.
A number of apparitions have been reported over the years in this 13th Century castle. Perhaps the most notable ghost is that of Sir Alexander Ramsay, who famously starved to death here in 1342. As well as Ramsay’s spirit, the sad figure of Lady Catherine, who died at just 16 years old, has also been spotted in the dungeons beneath the castle. Also known as the Grey Lady, she has been seen keeping a watchful eye over the grounds from the towering castle turrets.
As well as the resident spectres, pacing footsteps have been heard in the corridors in the middle of the night, objects have moved in rooms, and there have been plenty of unexplained sounds. Stay overnight if you’re brave enough!
How to get to Dalhousie Castle Hotel:
From Edinburgh Waverley station, you can take a 30-minute taxi ride to get to Dalhousie Castle hotel.
Lumley Castle, Chester-le-Street
With a deep history dating back six-hundred years, staying at Lumley Castle hotel can be a magical experience – but can be a little ghoulish too! The medieval décor immediately puts you in an eerie mood, but if that’s not enough then their resident ghost surely will do the trick.
Lily Lumley, the ghost of the castle, was secretly married to Ralph Lumley before he met his wife in the 14th Century. According to legend, two priests threw Lily down a well on the castle grounds when she refused the Catholic faith, and Lily still haunts the castle to this day. In 2005, visiting cricket teams reported sighting Lily – they were so frightened that they checked out early! They are not alone in sighting Lily; the halls of Lumley Castle are now well-known for being haunted by the ghoulish young woman, so staying at Lumley is a must for ghost-hunters.
How to get to Lumley Castle:
Lumley Castle is located between Newcastle and Durham, so you can reach it with a 30-minute taxi or 40-minute bus ride from either station.
If you’re planning a visit to a spooky hotel, don’t forget to book an Advance ticket via our website or the CrossCountry app. If you need more information, you can contact us here.
Written by Julia