Whether thoughts of London conjure up a dirty, overpopulated city that's fraught with danger or a multi-cultural metropolis that pulsates with an atmosphere unmatched elsewhere, there's no denying that London is impossible to visit without emotions being aroused, whether good or bad.
But there's more to London than immediately meets the eye. With more ghosts and ghouls per square mile than any other city, London is an eldorado for the many thousands of ghost-hunters that flock to England's capital every year.Consider that London's history can be traced back to the Roman invasion in 43AD and it's hardly surprising that more than just a few souls have become caught in the city, unable, or perhaps unwilling, to let go.
The Tower of London
Built in 1098 by William the Conqueror and once used as a goal, The Tower of London is said to be rife with the ghosts of those who were tortured and executed there. Considered one of the most haunted collections of buildings in Britain, the Tower is home to the ghosts of some very famous and influential people as well as an infamous political activist.
Anne Boleyn
The most famous of the Tower's ghosts is undoubtedly that of Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England and wife to Henry VIII. If only Anne had known what her fate would be. In 1536, having grown tired with her and without the option of divorce, her husband ordered her beheaded. Her body was later buried in St. Peter's Chapel, within the Tower's grounds and Anne is said to regularly roam the grounds, scaring the guards at night.
Lady Jane Grey
Another unlucky queen was Lady Jane Grey who married Guilford Dudley at the tender age of 15. Her reign lasted just nine days before the English people proclaimed Henry VIII's daughter, Mary, Queen of England and Jane was marched past Traitor's Gate before being incarcerated at the tower. She was tortured in the hope that she would renounce her religion and join the Catholic church but refused. On the morning of her execution on 12th February 1554, she announced that she would die a "true Christian woman". Lady Jane is said to appear every year on the anniversary of her death.
The Two Princes
In 1495, almost sixty years before Lady Jane Grey was executed, two young princes, Edward (12) and Richard (10), were ordered killed at the Tower by The Duke of Gloucestershire (later to become Richard III). The children were eventually given a proper burial after workmen found the remains of the two boys in a chest during 1674 but still their spirits haunt the Bloody Tower.
Others
The spectral presence of English explorer and adventurer, Sir Walter Raleigh, is also said to haunt the tower along with Guy Fawkes and a number of lesser known spirits.
London's Theatres
Most visitors to London enjoy at least one night out at the theatre but few of them realize that they may well be spending the evening in the company of a ghost or two. It's understandable why actors, who enjoy being in the spotlight, find it difficult to leave the stage to move on to pastures new and heavenly. Why should a little thing like death stop them from entertaining the crowds?
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
The most unusual theatre ghost is probably that of "The Man in Grey." While most spirits and ghoulish apparitions tend to come out at night, "The Man in Grey" appears during daylight hours -- more specifically, between 10am and 4pm. Obviously the guy likes to be where the action is but has chosen to keep away from the rush hour traffic! Clever ghost! "The Man in Grey" haunts the oldest theatre in London whilst clothed in a long gray cloak and an old-fashioned three-cornered hat of the type often worn by 18th century gentlemen. On one occasion, more than a hundred and fifty people saw him simultaneously, although another hundred said they saw nothing at all. Some actors have said that they've felt a pat on the back during a performance and Harry Secombe said that he saw the ghost in his dressing room during the 1960s. In 1850, during re-building work, the skeleton of a man with a dagger in his ribs was found in a previously unknown room. It's within feet of this site that the man most often makes his presence known.Nobody knows who he is but it's said that if he's seen during rehearsals, the performance will be a great success.
The Adelphi Theatre
Back in 1897, a jealous rival, Richard Prince, murdered actor William Terriss outside the stagedoor of the Adelphi Theatre. Poltergeist activity is said to have been reported on numerous occasions and the ghost of Terriss, first reported in 1928, has been seen both on stage and backstage as well as at nearby Covent Garden tube station.
Her Majesty's Theatre, Haymarket
It isn't only actors who find it difficult to leave the world of acting. Former manager of "Her Majesty's Theatre," John Buckstone, died over 120 years ago but still haunts the old but beautifully appealing theatre.Margaret Rutherford, Micheal Flanders, and Dame Flora Robson have all experienced the ghostly phenomenon that appears in the theatre, often heard whispering in the dressing rooms backstage. Even members of the audience are said to have commented on the appearance of a tall gentleman wearing an old frock coat who appears on stage from time to time. Legend has it that the spirit of Buckstone only appears if the performance is to be particularly well received thus offsetting any nervousness that may be experienced by the performers when his presence is seen. This could, of course, also be an example of wishful thinking.
The Palladium
There are few performers who haven't dreamed of performing at The London Palladium but how many of them knew they'd be sharing the theatre with a beautiful lady in a marvelous crinoline dress? Helen Campbell was a former resident of Argyll House, a building that once stood of the site of the theatre. Common belief is that the ghost that haunts the Crimson Staircase is that of Helen although there are different opinions, with some believing that she's a member of the Royal family. This idea probably came about because she's also said to occasionally watch a show from the "Royal Circle." Whoever she is, she's always impeccably dressed and never appears to deliberately scare anybody.
Drinking Establishments
Weird goings-ons, ghoulish howling and the rattling of chains and bars are all part of London's pub culture -- and that's before "time gentleman" has been called!
The Spaniard's Inn, Hampstead
Built in 1585, this is a building that's steeped in history and has changed little during recent times. The wonky wooden floor still creaks and the main bar looks out onto a well-established garden.The pub is said to be haunted by more than one ghost, the one most likely to appear being that of Juan Porero who died in a dual over a woman and whose body is buried in the garden.The most famous ghost at the pub is that of highwayman Dick Turpin. He's said to have been born on the premises and although this has never been proven, his father was landlord at the time and what is certain is that he spent his early childhood years here. Two of his pistols were once displayed in an upstairs room but unfortunately somebody stole them. People just can't leave anything alone!
A third ghost is that of Jack Sheppard, petty criminal and multiple prison escapee. Even though a record 200,000 Londoners eventually attended his hanging at Tyburn, he still feels it necessary to make his presence known inside the pub.
The ghost of a horse haunts the car-park and quite often, overnight guests have said that they've felt pinned to the bed. An upstairs room turns icy cold for no apparent reason and drinkers sometimes feel somebody tugging at their sleeves. A woman in a white dress walks the garden and a male figure appears through the wall of the bar. In other words, if you're looking for a haunted pub, make sure you find time to pop into 'The Spaniard' for a pint or two.
The Grenadier, Belgravia
Said to be home to the ghost of a young guards officer who was flogged to death following the discovery that he had been cheating at a game of cards, The Grenadier is probably one of the most famous haunted pubs in the world.
The ghost is said to become particularly active in September, around the anniversary of his death, when plenty of poltergeist activity has been recorded. On more than one occasion, guests have been known to run from the pub, to frightened to go back inside.Just as a matter of interest, The Duke of Wellington mounted up on one of the mounting blocks that still exist outside the pub before leaving London for Waterloo.It's also worth noting that The Grenadier serves a legendary Bloody Mary!
The Gatehouse, Highgate
Although now part of the Wetherspoons chain, the pub originally dates back to 1306. The upper gallery is said to be home to one Mother Marnes, a lady who was murdered for her money. Evidently, she's a very nice lady and while she often appears before the pub's guests, she never turns up when either animals or children are on the premises.
The Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich
Before the Trafalgar Tavern was built in 1837, the site was home to an old Waterman's pub called The George. It's from this pub that the resident ghost is said to originate. A man is often seen sitting in the bar or at the piano, wearing Georgian dress and drinking beer. As ghosts tend to remain in their own time, when he's finished drinking, he gets up and walks out through the fireplace, the location of the original pub door.
The Morpeth Arms, Pimlico
This attractive pub with its riverside views and idyllic beer garden hides a history that's less than pleasant. The pub was originally built in 1845 to serve the wardens of notorious Millbank Prison. One poor prisoner is said to have tunneled for months, hoping for escape, only to find himself trapped in the vaults beneath the pub. The prisoner perished and his ghost is said to haunt the cellars to this day.
Stay The Night
For those who are really fascinated by ghosts and ghouls, there can be no better place to stay in London than at a haunted hotel.
The Langholm Hotel, West End (Oxford Circus)
Situated in Portland Place, the elegant Langholm Hilton Hotel is said to be London's most haunted. The most active ghost in the building is that of a silver-haired Victorian doctor who committed suicide at the hotel after murdering his wife during their honeymoon. Another ghost is the spirit of a German Prince who committed suicide by hanging himself from the balcony during the early part of the 20th century. Room 333 is said to be the most haunted room in the hotel with more than just a few guests having fled the room in fear. Even a BBC newscaster is said to have woken up in the black of night to see a glowing ball of light transform into a human shape before his eyes. Who or what was the apparition? The newscaster didn't stick around long enough to find out but if you really want the answer, why not book yourself into room 333 and find out yourself?
The London Elizabeth Hotel, Bayswater
Although the resident ghost appears relatively often to both staff and guests alike, he only ever appears for a few seconds at a time, always in a corridor and unless you're expecting to see him, you'd probably not even notice him. After all, would you find it odd to walk past a perfectly innocuous gentleman in the corridor? The proprietor of the hotel situated in Lancaster Terrace never reveals the ghost's appearance but more often than not, when a guest says they've seen him, their description will perfectly match what others have reported. Unfortunately, nobody has yet been able to discover who he was.
And The Rest...
Cleopatra's Needle
Although not what one would usually expect to find in a British city, along the Thames Embankment stands Cleopatra's Needle, a 3,500 year old original Egyptian obelisk. Of the many people who have drowned by throwing themselves into the Thames, a statistically greater number have done so by launching themselves from the Embankment close to the obelisk than anywhere else along the river. It's said that a phantom resides by the obelisk, protected by the two large bronze sphinxes that are positioned on either side, goading the depressed into ending their lives.
Runway One at Heathrow Airport
It isn't only alleyways and dark quarters that are haunted. Heathrow's premier runway is modern and its ghost appears during daylight.On 2nd March 1948 a Belgian DC2 aircraft crashed and caught fire. Following the crash, a man wearing a bowler hat inquiring of the whereabouts of his briefcase approached those working at the site. Had anybody found it? The man disappeared and as there were no survivors, nobody could explain who he might have been.The passenger still walks the runway and is sometimes picked up by radar even though officials looking for the person reported to be putting himself and others in danger are unable to located him.This was first documented in 1970 when an airport inspector received a message stating that radar units had detected someone walking on the runway. On closer inspection, the official saw nobody but the radar office were adamant that the person was still there. In fact, at one point they radioed saying that the team must surely have run over him.
The Bank of England
Famous for it vaults of gold bullion, the Bank of England is also home to two ghosts, one of which is the spirit of a worker who was buried in a courtyard within the bank's grounds. Being 7' 6" tall, it was feared that the corpse of William Jenkins, a former clerk at the bank, would be stolen by grave robbers either to be sold for experiments or to be brought back to life by revivalists if buried in a public graveyard. His ghost, easily recognizable by its height, is said to still roam the corridors of the bank today.Close to the Threadneedle Street entrance, Sarah Whitehead still mourns her brother Philip. A former employee, he was convicted of fraud in 1838 and hanged. Sarah refused to accept his death and for twenty five years she waited outside the bank asking employees about Philip's well being. She was eventually paid to keep away from the bank but it seems she no longer felt obliged to stick to the agreement following her death.
And finally...
Broadcasting House is home to the BBC and can be found in London's Regent Street. It's home to the ghost of a limping butler.
Vine Street Police Station is haunted by Sergeant Goddard who hanged himself in a cell.
Scotland Yard's Black Museum is haunted by the ghost of a nun. What's really scary is that she has no face beneath her veil.
A ghoulish horse drawn bus is said to be driven down Bayswater Road alongside Hyde Park.
There's no denying that London has more than its share of ghoulish stories and the results of a recent survey conducted by Fortean showed that a whopping 42 percent of Britons believe in ghosts and supernatural apparitions.Perhaps these stories are simply the products of over lively imaginations or then again, perhaps they're not. It's up to you to decide.