Five Haunted Hotels in England

Anyone can visit a Halloween haunted house but for a real ghost experience why not stay in a haunted hotel. With Halloween comes low fall airfares to England and what better place to spend a haunted Halloween than overnight in one of England’s most haunted places.

Here are my picks for the five most haunted hotels in England:

Jamaica Inn, Cornwall
Centuries ago, the inn was the infamous haven for pirates and smugglers. They made their loot from luring ships into the rocky Cornwall coast, and then looting the cargoes. It’s the setting for author Daphne du Maurier’s book, “Jamaica Inn”, popularized in a 1930s Charles Laughton movie and later as a British TV series.

The most famous ghost at the inn is of a leader of an 18th Century smugglers’ gang. He also roamed the nearby roads as a highwayman. Guests have reported seeing him swashbuckling through the hallways, often passing through walls and closed doors.

Jamaica Inn
Bolventor, Launceston
PL15 7TS, UK
jamaicainn.co.uk

The Georgian House Hotel, London
Now 160 years old, this quaint former posh residence, is now a charming bed and breakfast in the heart of London. Through the years there have been many reports of ghosts. However, unlike the scary kind that go bump in the night, this hotel is said to be haunted by laughing children.

Several times late at night, guests have complained to the front desk of noisy little ones running up and down the hallways. The confused guests were told there were no children registered at the hotel.
A more frightening incident happened when an employee was assigned a room for the night. She claimed she was frightened awake by the image of an old man sitting on the foot of her bed. When she screamed, he disappeared.

The Georgian House
35-39 Saint George’s Drive
London SW1V 4DG, UK
georgianhousehotel.co.uk

Bestwood Lodge Hotel, Nottingham
This 14th Century grand hotel was originally a royal hunting lodge near famed Sherwood Forest. As recently as World War II, it was an Army headquarters, and recent guests have reported hearing ghostly generals talking war strategies.

The lodge was once owned by England’s King Charles II, where he met with his commoner mistress, Nell Gwynn. Her presence is reported to be detected by the smell of oranges, a reminder that before she met the king, she sold oranges in Piccadilly. No guest has yet reported seeing the ghosts of Robin Hood nor any of his Merrry Men.

Bestwood Lodge
Country Park
Nottinghamshire NG5 8NE, UK
bestwoodlodgehotel. co.uk.

The Ram Inn, Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire
Many English hotel staffs claim to see ghosts from Victorian times and earlier. The Ram Inn is allegedly haunted by spooky characters from thousands of years ago.

The reason, we’re told, is that the current inn was built on the site of a pre-Christian Druid ceremonial encampment. Originally it was used for black magic and human sacrifice and torture. Guests report seeing horrible apparitions of ancient tribal priests and witches. Publicity for the inn claims there have been many recent authentic ghost sightings there by experts in paranormal activities.

The Ram Inn
Potters Pond, Wotton Under Edge
Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL12 7HF
theancientraminn.com

The Talbot Hotel, Oundle
How would you react if you were walking the halls of the Talbot at midnight and were confronted by the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots? Dressed in royal finery, she would be an attractive figure, except that she’d be carrying her bloody head in her hands. The Talbot’s oaken staircase is from the ruins of Fotheringhay Castle, where in 1587, the unfortunate Mary walked down them to the execution block.
Apparently, Mary has never forgiven cousin Elizabeth I of England for ordering her beheading. She walks the night at the Talbot to let guests know how eternally unhappy she is.

The Talbot Hotel
New Street
Oundle, Northamptonshire, PE8 4EA
english-inns.laterooms.com

You can follow travel writer Ted Sherman on twitter, @travel4seniors and check out his blog, travel4seniors.com

More from this contributor:

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5 Most Haunted Hotels in America
Four Incredible Dream Hotel Suites Around the World
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