Every country has its ghost stories, its mythical monsters and its ghoulish urban legends. But the UK may stake a claim to being the most haunted country on Earth.

Every country has its ghost stories, its mythical monsters and its ghoulish urban legends. But the United Kingdom – the home of the Gothic novel and the birthplace of paranormal investigation – may stake a claim to being the most haunted country on Earth.

With one of the world’s highest concentrations of castles and no shortage of centuries-old pubs and coaching inns, there are plenty of reputedly haunted places to enjoy a drink or a meal, or even lay your head for the night – if you’re feeling brave.

In addition, the country’s relatively small size means it’s possible to combine several of these places into one ghost-heavy itinerary. Here’s where travellers with a penchant for the paranormal should head to get spooked this Halloween…

  • Skirrid Inn, Abergavenny, Wales
  • Chillingham Castle, Northumberland
  • Whitby, North Yorkshire
  • Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire
  • Edinburgh Castle, Scotland