From ancient Celtic beliefs in the spirit world to the legend of Jack the Ripper, the UK has a fascinatingly dark history.
Britain is home some of the world’s oldest surviving buildings, with many carrying the legacy of a painful past.
And with Halloween weekend fast approaching, a study by QR Code Generator has revealed the UK’s most popular haunted locations that you can visit – measured by the number of social media uploads.
Read on to find out which places top the ranking, as well as their eerie history and the ghosts that are rumoured to haunt the spots.
London Bridge
London Bridge, a former public execution site, was found to be the most popular haunted attraction in the UK on social media.
The original London Bridge has a history dating back to Roman times, with various versions of the bridge being built and rebuilt over the centuries.
Up until the 17th century, the heads of ‘traitors’, including William Wallace, were displayed on the bridge as a warning.
Unsurprisingly, London Bridge, a former public execution site, was found to be the most popular haunted attraction in the UK
The iconic tourist destination, which has amassed over 1.6million uploads on social media, is known for its reports of paranormal activity with some locals claiming to have seen ghostly figures along the River Thames at night.
In 2007 a former plague pit containing hundreds of skeletons was uncovered during construction for the London Bridge Experience.
Some of the skulls found had holes in them, suggesting they may have been impaled on spikes.
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle, ranked the the second-most popular haunted attraction, is pictured
Standing on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle was ranked the second most popular haunted attraction, and is often regarded as one of Scotland’s most haunted locations.
As a military fortress, Edinburgh Castle has witnessed some of the most violent and gruesome events in Scotland’s history.
Visitors and staff alike have claimed to have witnessed apparitions and shadowy figures while walking around the tourist attraction.
Tower of London
The Tower of London, a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames, is pictured
The Tower of London is one of history’s most famous sites for executions and imprisonment and numerous ghost sightings have been reported around the area.
Visitors and ceremonial guards have reported hearing unexplained sounds and chilling sensations throughout the historic castle.
The most famous ghost sighting is that of Queen Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536.
Hampton Court Palace
Pictured: Hampton Court Palace in Richmond, London, is rumoured to be haunted by two of Henry VIII’s ex-wives
Hampton Court Palace is rumoured to be haunted by two of Henry VIII’s ex-wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard.
Visitors and staff have frequently reported paranormal activity within the iconic Tudor landmark, so much so that one of the palace’s rooms is referred to as the Haunted Gallery.
Eerie sightings have also been captured on CCTV, making the palace one of London’s most haunted destinations.
Whitechapel
A blue plaque on Cable Street in London, UK, marking where the body of Jack the Ripper victim Elizabeth Stride was taken from to the mortuary in 1888
Whitechapel is closely associated with Jack the Ripper, who murdered several women in the area in 1888.
Haunted locations include the Ten Bells Pub, where Jack the Ripper’s victims were last seen, and Mitre Square, said to have glowing cobblestones on the anniversary of a murder.
The area also features a historical building on Cable Street, once a Victorian mortuary.
Numerous Jack the Ripper walking tours operate within the area, taking tourists around some of Whitechapel’s creepiest sites.
Highgate Cemetery
Pictured: Highgate Cemetery, next to Waterlow Park, in the London Borough of Camden
Another London site takes the sixth spot in the ranking.
Highgate Cemetery, known for being the resting place of influential figures like Karl Marx and Christina Rossetti, is the subject of numerous folklore myths, including the Highgate Vampire.
The cemetery’s Gothic architecture, abandoned status after WWII, and a legend of cult activity fueled the rise of paranormal tales and reports of spectral figures, a woman in white, and even a winged creature in the 1970s.
York Minster
The 7th century York Minster, a popular spot for ghost hunters, is pictured
York Minster is known as one of Yorkshire’s most haunted buildings and is a popular spot on ghost tours of the historic city.
The impressive 7th century cathedral is widely associated with the gothic aesthetic and ghosts sightings have been reported within the building.
Visitors have reported ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena, including Roman soldiers in the crypt, monks gliding through the aisles and a naval officer appearing to a young lady just before his death.
Chislehurst Caves
The Shambles in York (pictured) was once an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market
The Chislehurst Caves have been named as the UK’s eighth most popular haunted destination.
The manmade caves in Kent have been the subject of multiple ghost stories over the years, especially the famed White Lady apparition.
The caves have also been the focus of two Most Haunted investigations, showcasing the area’s famed eerie reputation.
The Shambles
Walking down the narrow, twisting lanes of the medieval Shambles in York feels like stepping back in time.
The street was once an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror.
Ghostly figures and apparitions have reportedly been sighted in shop windows along the street, making it another essential stop on one of the city’s ghost tours.
Warwick Castle
The 11th-century Warwick Castle has been the subject of multiple ghost stories, including reports of a large black dog with glowing red eyes
Coming in at number 10, the 11th-century Warwick Castle has been the subject of multiple ghost stories, including reports of a large black dog with glowing red eyes.
The castle itself was built in 1068, and its survival through various conflicts and changes in fortune has contributed to its legendary status and associated ghost stories.
In particular, the castle’s dungeons are well-known for having an eerie presence.
Multiple visitors claim to have experienced the overwhelming sensation of being watched and the feeling of being touched or dragged.
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