Haunted Britain: A Guide to Britain's Haunted Hotels

Haunted hotels exist all over the world, and the United Kingdom is no exception. While some of the hotels listed don't advertise their ghostly residents, others use it as a selling point. We continue our journey of Haunted Britain with a look at some of the UK's haunted hotels. Are you beave enough to try them out?

1. The Highwayman Inn
Sourton
Okehampton,Devon
01837 861243
Highwayman Inn Website

Named the most unusual pub in Britain, the Highwayman is a good stopover point for people who are interested in exploring Dartmoor. The original building was erected as long ago as 1282, when it was also a farm. Over the years, the building expanded and it was named The Highwayman in 1959 by owner Rita Jones.

Haunting at the Highwayman Inn

The most common sighting at the Highwayman Inn is that of a ghostly man wearing green clothing and a feather in his hat. An eight year old girl visiting the Highwayman Inn once claimed she had had conversations with a man matching this description, whose name was Sam. A few months later during a séance, a medium said he had got contact with a man named Samuel. The medium went on to explain that Sam said he had died during a battle and couldn't leave the Inn. History shows that there was a battle in the area and Samuel may have entered the Inn as a means of escape.

Many other ghosts have been spotted at the Highwayman, some have even captured these sightings on video.

2. The George Hotel
High Street,
Crawley, West Sussex
01293 524215
George Hotel Website

The George Hotel was founded in the 15^th Century, but it didn't become an Inn until 1615. At that time, its location made it very popular with passing travellers. These days, it is still used for much the same reasons as it is close to Gatwick Airport, making it convenient for short stays.

Haunting at The George Hotel

It is believed that a former night watchman drank a glass of poisoned wine which was set up to catch a thief. It is not known whether the night watchman really was the thief or if he drank the glass of wine by mistake, but the poison killed him. After his death and up to the present day, a locked broom cupboard is often found to be open, and the bedroom doors in the old wing of the hotel mysteriously open and close.

3. The Red Lion Hotel
43 High Street
Colchester, Essex
01206 577986
Red Lion Hotel Website

Built in 1465, in the centre of Colchester, The Red Lion Hotel was formerly used as a place for Oliver Cromwell to hold parliament meetings. It is famed for being one of the longest standing inns in the region.

Haunting at The Red Lion Hotel

Alice Katherine Millar is thought to be the most active ghost at the hotel. Alice was murdered in 1638 and still remains there to this day. Two hundred years ago, the owner of the hotel was so scared on seeing her ghostly form that he bricked up the doorway to her old room in the hopes of keeping her out of the rest of the hotel. There are three rooms in particular where she likes to appear, but she has also been seen walking through the kitchen.

The ghost of a monk has also been spotted, as well as the ghost of a small boy which is often seen only by other children. The ghost of the small boy has been captured in many photos taken by guests at the hotel.

4. The Old Bell Hotel and Restaurant
Abbey Row
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
01666 822344
Old Bell Hotel Website

Known as the oldest hotel in Britain, The Old Bell Hotel has been standing since 1220 and is still as popular now due to its location in the picturesque Cotswolds.

Haunting at The Old Bell Hotel

A lot of weird happenings have occurred at this hotel including sightings of The Grey Lady, and a guest who saw a glass rise into the air, then smash against a wall. However, the strangest incident happened when a guest attempted to get into their hotel room, but found the door was jammed. The staff at the hotel had to climb a ladder and get into the room through the window. Inside they found a wardrobe had been pushed against the door, but there was nobody inside the locked room.

5. The Kirkstone Pass Inn
Ambleside, Cumbria
015394 33888
The Kirkstone Pass Inn Website

The Kirkstone Pass Inn is believed to have been in existence since 1496 AD. Formerly a coach house and a garage, it has now been converted into a small B&B.

Haunting at The Kirkstone Pass Inn
Due, in part, to the age of the hotel there have been many ghost sightings in the building and the surrounding area. Commonly seen ghosts are a 17th Century coachman, yet another Grey Lady, and the ghost of a lost hiker who plays tricks on passers by.

This is just a small sample of the haunted hotels in Britain. If you search, you will probably find at least one hotel with ghostly residents in every region of the UK. Of course, there are no guarantees that you will spot a ghost for yourself in any of these places but if you have a thing for the supernatural, it might be fun to try!

If you enjoyed this article, check out the others in this series:

Haunted Britain: A Guide to Britain's Haunted Castles

Haunted Britain: A Guide to Britain's Haunted Houses