Haunted Things to Do in London, England: Ghost Tours & Paranormal Walks
- Desirae-Haunted Traverse
- Apr 10, 2024
- 12 min read
Updated: Jan 26
London is one of the oldest and most haunted cities in the world. With centuries of history layered beneath its streets, London is home to countless ghost stories, paranormal legends, and haunted locations that continue to attract visitors from around the globe.
If you’re planning a trip and want to explore London’s haunted things to do and its darker side, this guide highlights some of the best ghost tours, haunted walks, and paranormal experiences available throughout the city — perfect for travelers curious about the unexplained.
BEST GHOST TOURS IN LONDON
Ghost tours in London run year-round, with evening walking tours being especially popular. Booking in advance is recommended during peak travel seasons and weekends, as many tours have limited group sizes.
London Jack the Ripper Guided Tour with Ripper-Vision
Time to visit the grizzly scenes of the infamous serial killer-Jack the Ripper. Du Du Duuuuuh! No seriously, I loved this tour so much. This tour separates the gossip from the truth, explores some of the original buildings from that time period, and of course incorporates the best theories of the identity of who this stalker of the night might have been.
Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Tour : Guided Tour with Boat Ride
Tour of the city’s royal parks via this walking tour at night. The tour's end comes with a short boat ride with views of the Two Tower Bridge (often confused with London Bridge) that takes you to the outside of the Tower of London. I enjoyed this tour because of the ambience of the night, my visit to the St. James Palace and the weaving of the history and ghost stories that brought the dead back to life.
The Cloak and Dagger Tour in London
Explore the South Bank area of London's ghostly happenings on this walking ghost tour. This unique tour explores Southwark’s George Inn and gives its guests the experience of watching the recreation of a true story of murder and revenge, told in the very room in which it happened.
My Biggest Regrets, Tours I Didn't Do
Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Bath from London
If you love the mysterious and history of London, Stonehenge is a must see. Sadly, I just did not plan my visit to London as efficiently as I should have and by the time I realized that Stonehenge was possible to visit from my stay in London, I didn't have the time. This will be a whole day commitment but should definitely be included if you want to explore beyond the paranormal to the supernatural-esque structures of Stonehenge.
Exploring the Interiors of Castles & Palaces
I stood on the outside and experienced the lore, but nothing will beat actually standing within the stone walls of some of the most haunted castles and royal houses in London. Here are tours that can get you in! Literally!
Hampton Court Palace
Tower of London-VIP Nighttime Tour
Pro Tip: There is so much to do in London in regards to exploring the paranormal. From haunted Underground Stations to haunted castles to haunted city parks. If you feel overwhelmed, I speak on my visit and what I did below here. You can start with my itinerary and replicate it or make changes to it.
HAUNTED PLACES YOU CAN VISIT IN LONDON
Here are some helpful guides on haunted locations in London. When planning your trip around the paranormal, these guides might help you create the ability to visit the most locations haunted as efficiently as possible.
The Magnificent 7 Cemeteries 👉 Link to my Cemeteries of London Article
Underground stations 👉 Link to my Haunted Underground Stations Article
Historic pubs 👉 Link to my Haunted Underground Stations Article
Pro Tip: Use the Underground to move from location to location, keep note of which ones have a haunted past, you can plan your route to take a few minutes to explore the haunted Underground of London as you move from one location to another.
Bonus Tip: Load a credit card onto your phone, and use your digital wallet to buy your Underground access. At the turn styles, there will be a digital scanner, you just simply pull up your digital wallet's credit card, scan it, and you are on your way to using London's Underground! The system calculates all of your ticket costs. There is a maximum cap per day so if you use the system alot, it is quite affordable.
WHY I EXPLORE HAUNTED PLACES LIKE LONDON
My spooky journey of ghost tours in London England was full of folklore, ghost stories, and walking in the shadows of the deep, rich history of this Capital. I enjoyed encounters with so many fun and engaging tour guides that were talented storytellers creating an entertaining atmosphere full of ghostly lore that included Jack the Ripper, William Shakespeare, Anne Boleyn, St. James Palace, the Tower of London, and more. All told in the shadows of London's fog filled nights in the city's alleys and historical centers.
For those drawn to paranormal symbolism and spiritual meaning, I create art and tools inspired by the unseen in my Haunted Traverse shop.
Follow My Itinerary for Explore London's Haunted Past
Ready to learn more about the ghost tours of London and choose your next adventure through the lens of a Ghost Tour owner herself? Let's begin!
First Stop: London's Ghost Bus
My first stop in London, after visiting 221B Baker street of course (Sherlock Holmes fan here), was to hop on the London Ghost Bus. This tour was on one of the famous double decker buses. This brave soul chose the upper deck and was looking over her shoulder the entire time to see what ghostly specter was hitchhiking a ride next to her.
Pro Tip for Travelers: New to a Location? Get your bearings my taking a comprehensive tour of the city via a vehicle. You can see some of the major locations, get valuable insights from the local guides on what not to do or do or best times to visit a location. I look at it like starting at 20,000 ft up and then working my way into the minutia of the area.
The ride was everything I could hope for and more! And this ghost tour participant highly recommends this tour if only for the hijinks and shenanigans our driver and guide got up to. It was also a fast paced and exciting adventure filled with theatrics, jokes, chilling ghost stories and more!
What I loved the most was the ambience of the bus itself. The old fashioned mode of transportation with a variety of seating arrangements for groups large and small. The dim lighting that never quite chased the shadows away from within the bus.
I only had to sit back and watch London pass by, ferried by the competent local driver below, while enjoying the onboard entertainment via the television monitors (which play out some of the better theatrics found in the night) as well as a tour guide that never stood still a moment while the tour unfolded in the foggy, London night and from within the shadowed bus' confines.
As a tour owner myself, I was envious of the presentation, the energy of my tour guide, and the ambience of the double decker bus. I would highly recommend this tour company's Ghost Bus Tour.
Quick Summary
The entertainment is theatrical in nature and the focus is toward a moving theater on wheels. If true local ghost stories toward history and in depth paranormal discovery is more to taste, this may not be the tour for you.
I would say this is family friendly, but the bus lighting is dim, periods of complete darkness, and the theatrical elements may leave younger children a bit on the scared side from this tour. For adults, sit back and get ready for some laughs and just a genial spooky good time.
Overall, my experience of taking this tour left me wanting more. Which recommends itself to a fun time had by myself. Enjoy the Ghost Bus while in London, Edinburgh, or York.
Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Walking Tour with Boat Ride on the Thames
My next stop in London was on the Ghost, Ghouls and Gallows Walking tour with an adventurous boat ride on the Thames as well. Get ready for incredible night photography shots of Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and St. James Palace.
My tour guide was a doctoral student of history studying in London and was very well informed on the history of this Capital of England. I am an avid historian and even I was amazed at the new history I learned on this ghost tour. Plus, given my curious nature, I explored further the history and lore presented during this tour well after the tour had concluded.
The ghost stories ranged from the haunting of St. James Palace and its royal members that resided there to Anne Boleyn's ghost walking to the gallows at the Tower of London.
The tour guide captures a group picture of everyone on the tour at St. James Palace. I was feeling shy and self conscious about my lack of make-up and did not participate and the tour guide was very gracious about it. I felt this was a good sign on how accommodating the tour is for guests that have different needs and may just want to lurk in the shadows of the ghost tour.
What I loved the most was the easy pace through some of the Buckingham Palace gardens leading us right up to the dock where the guide handled everything needed for tour guests to board. The trip along the Thames at night was not to be missed and I was in awe of the chance to take a selfie at the famous Tower Bridge (which is often mistaken for London Bridge). The tour guide was spot on when suggesting the perfect location just after exiting the boat for the perfect selfie. So extra bonus on the guide trying to help guests get those great Instagram worthy shots for lasting memories.
As a tour owner myself, I was envious of the rich historical sites visited but not entered, the energy of my tour guide was laid back but engaging, and the ambience of the tour was not rushed, comforting, with rich storytelling that unfolded at an enjoyable pace.
Quick Summary
The entertainment is geared toward true local ghost stories with depth of ghostly lore explored with the vivid history of the London sites visited expanding the tales with depth and intrigue.
I would say this is family friendly, but the walk is a bit on the long side for the younger persons in the family. The meeting point also differs on where the tour ends just outside the Tower of London, but fear not, the Underground is located just across the street within a few short minutes from the Tower of London.
Overall, my experience of taking this tour left me wanting more of it. I enjoyed the tour and am thankful I was able to attend. I do wish that entrance to the Tower of London had capped this tour. But I also understand that including an interior tour of the Tower of London late at night is not feasible.
For this, I will be including a Tower of London Tour that I would advise that guests on the walking ghost tours of London take. That way there is a trifecta of experiences that best accumulate a depth of visit to these sites. The ride on the Thames, the view of the Tower of London at night, and then the next day, the exploration of the Tower of London internally.
Have fun! I know you will if you combine these two tours in London. As an extra bonus and to save funds, consider the duel Jack the Ripper and Tower of London tours I included below.
Jack the Ripper Walking Tour in London
This tour has come highly recommended by my own guests on my own ghost tours in Traverse City Michigan. For that alone, I have included this macabre tour that explores the grisly murders of London's most notorious serial killer.
The tour guides are clever, thoughtful historians that engaged their guests to ponder the mystery behind Jack the Ripper legacy of death and mayhem in the dark streets of Victorian London.
As the tour unfolds, the sites where the murders take place are explored and the details and theories recollected by the guides to draw their guests back into time when "murder" was screamed from darken alleys and the panicked, hush of London's citizens fell under the grip of fear at the hands of a killer.
The stories here are centered around Jack the Ripper and his victims. Which understandably has guests gathered around the tour guide hanging on the tour guides every word. The tension from time-to-time is broken by some well timed and tasteful humor which keeps the guests on this emotional roller coaster of an experience.
The tour is 2 hours in length that balances suspense, humor, and the grisly facts of the murders leading its guests to want more when the tour concludes.
As a tour owner myself, the materials from the historical unfolding's of these crimes is a rich platform to create a tour that is engaging and worth the time to explore with the right guides of course.
Jack the Ripper Tour in London has been a stand by for many decades when it comes to a walking tour that best represents London. This is a must not miss tour when visiting. Be warned, this tour is very popular so the moment you make up your mind to visit London, book this tour. Good luck and may Jack the Ripper's spirit pass you by!
Quick Summary
The entertainment is geared toward the macabre due to the nature of a serial killer and its victims and may not be suitable for all. Ages limits are in effect for this tour.
I would say this tour is a must not miss when visiting London. Please book the moment you find your plans set in motion to visit London.
Overall, this tour ticks off all of the checklist for a person seeking mystery, macabre, rich history, and some humor to keep you on your toes. Good luck traveling back into the Victorian Times of murder, mayhem and mystery that is Jack the Ripper.
Overall, my experience of just how difficult booking the popular Jack the Ripper Tour was, I have created a listing of several other tour companies that provide tours on the subject.
If mysteries are truly your hobby, the Jack the Ripper and Sherlock Holmes tour may be just up your dark alley of London. Have fun!
My visit to London England was full of mystery, murder, and ghostly lore and that was just on my tours! I enjoyed my many explorations of this city before heading off to Edinburgh Scotland for more ghostly tales!
Be sure to follow my helpful tips when booking! Some of these tours are very popular and sell out, some need an additional daytime experience to round out the ghostly tales with the history, but all were enjoyable to take part in during my visit to haunted London England. Enjoy your visit and here are some FAQ and helpful tips below.
~Dez
Tour Guide and Owner of Haunted Traverse Tours
Traverse City Michigan
FAQ
What is the best ghost tour in London?
For theatrical entertainment I recommend the Ghost Bus Tour.
For Murder Mystery, the Jack the Ripper. (Most tours have an age limit so expect the gruesome)
For your traditional history that provides depth to the haunting tales unfolding in London, plus the added boat ride, I recommend the Ghost, Ghouls, and Gallows walking tour.
How long are the London Ghost tours?
Expect the tours to run about 2 hours in length.
What is the cost of the London Ghost tours?
Depending on the tour, 25-35 London Pounds.
What is the best time to take a London Ghost tour?
Definitely evening for the London locations. London lit up at night is beautiful and the views are an added bonus. The real theatrical player that leads to a spooky good time is the chilling London Fog that creeps from the River Thames' banks at night. Good luck!
Conclusion: London is Full of Spirit
Where to start! London is thousands of years of history built era after era on top of itself. The tragedies, the murders, the lore weave legends of the supernatural and paranormal stories that are shared today on some of the best ghost tours found in the world. This guide was to help paranormal enthusiasts plan their visits to London. I hope this article was helpful.
Safe and spirited travels, my Dear Readers. ~Dez
More Haunted Destinations to Explore
Haunted travel doesn’t stop here. I’m continuing to explore some of the most paranormally active destinations across the U.S., including Savannah, Salem, Charleston, and beyond.
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For those drawn to paranormal symbolism and spiritual meaning, I create art and tools inspired by the unseen in my Haunted Traverse shop.
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