As the leaves turn crisp and the nights stretch further into the afternoon, it’s time to start looking for some spine-tingling Halloween plans. Forget about the costume parties, the pumpkin carving, the tricks, and the treatin’, because you can embark on London’s most haunted pub crawl for a spooktacular deep-dive into the capital’s more sinister stories and eerie history.
Our ancient city is teeming with petrifying tales and restless spirits, with some famed watering holes to prove it. Gather your bravest friends to explore London’s most haunted pubs, featuring storied lore from villainous landlords, ghost barmaids, and even some historical figures that were either celebrated, feared, or were just plain mysterious!
1. The Viaduct Tavern, City of London
The atmospheric Viaduct Tavern is a Victorian gin palace in the heart of the City that possesses a dark and sinister side. Situated directly opposite the Old Bailey, this pub stands on what was once the notorious Newgate Prison, where life sentences and executions were commonplace.
Some say the spirits of the former prisoners still linger in the pub to this day, with ghost sightings and unexplainable happenings to boot. Located in the pub’s basement, the remains of the prison’s cells still echo eerie vibes throughout the entire building, making it the perfect place for a pint or two this Halloween.
📍126 Newgate St, London EC1A 7AA
2. The Ten Bells, Spitalfields
This is a pub that lives and breathes the more menacing side of London’s history, being none other than The Ten Bells in Spitalfields. Infamous for its mysterious connection to the Jack the Ripper murders, this Victorian pub is said to be haunted by two of the Ripper’s victims.
Dedicated patrons and unassuming visitors alike have reported seeing the two ghostly figures, who have been identified as Annie Chapman and Mary Kelly. From inexplicable cold drafts to eerie whispers, a pint here may come with some paranormal activity connected to the capital’s most notoriously feared character. Read more about it, here.
📍84 Commercial St, London E1 6LY
3. The Flask, Highgate
A short walk away from Highgate Cemetery, The Flask is a pub that’s become synonymous with the spooky and unexplained. One of the boozer’s most famous ghoulish residents is said to be that of a Spanish barmaid, who killed herself following a failed love affair with the landlord. Her mysterious shadow is often found lingering in the pub’s darkest corners, so keep an eye out if you’re brave enough to visit. For more information on the other hauntings at this pub, check out our article here.
📍77 Highgate W Hill, London N6 6BU.
4. The Spaniards Inn, Hampstead
Housed in a Grade II listed building that dates back to 1585, The Spaniards Inn has been a staple in Hampstead for generations. So much so, it’s famous for being one of the most haunted pubs in London, with more than a fair few stories to tell. From the infamous criminal Dick Turpin, whose father once owned the pub, to other ghostly figures, this place is steeped in local legend with a plethora of peculiar sightings. As well as Turpin, a woman is white is said to haunt the pub and wander its fabled rooms.
📍Spaniards Rd, London NW3 7JJ.
5. The Grenadier, Belgravia
Tucked away down the quiet mews of Belgravia, The Grenadier may look like your typically charming and traditional British pub from the outside, sure. But in reality, it harbours a chilling past that remains very much alive to this day. It’s said that the ghost of a young soldier name Cedric haunts the pub after being beaten to death by his comrades.
You might feel some cold spots, or hear some stage footsteps, with some people even claiming that they can smell cigarette smoke in certain spots of the pub. To appease the restless spirit of Cedrid, customers leave coins and currency pinned to the wall and ceiling, so it’s best to join in and submit to superstition.
📍18 Wilton Row, London SW1X 7NR
6. The Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
There’s few pubs that possess an execution noose and gibbet in its beer garden, let along a fantastic views of the River Thames. The Prospect of Whitby is London’s oldest riverside tavern, once known as the ‘Devil’s Tavern’. This was once a favourite watering hole amongst smugglers and pirates, with a few of them now known for haunting the very same pub.
However, their most famous ghost is ‘Hanging Judge’ Jeffereys, who used to live nearby and send countless people to their execution and death, hence why there’s that chilling noose out back. For more information on this fascinating pub, read our article here.
📍57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SH.
7. The Carpenters Arms, Bethnal Green
Photo: @thecarpentersarmse2 via IG
The Carpenter Arms has a bloody history that’s tied to the ill-famed Kray twins Ronnie and Reggie, English gangsters from Haggerston who were prominent in the fifties. The twins not only owned the pub, but they were involved in armed robberies, arson, assaults, and two high-profile murders, with their criminal connections leaving behind some unwanted spirits.
This hotspot for paranormal activity mainly gets its reputation from its famously creepy basement, but spectral sightings and eerie occurrences are par for the course here. So, the next time you’re heading east to Bethnal Green or Brick Lane, keep this pub in mind for some bevvies with a phantasmic pressence in what was once a gangster’s paradise.
📍73 Cheshire St, London E2 6EG.
8. The Morpeth Arms, Pimlico
Another riverside pub that’s laden with ghostly legends is The Morpeth Arms in Pimlico, said to be haunted by the former inmates of a prison that previously occupied the space. There’s even some ruins of the former cells beneath the building in their cellar (which is sometimes live streamed on the telly), adding a surrealist chill to your blood-curdaling escapades this Halloween.
Morpeth Arms is also known for being an MI5 pub, boasting incredible views of the not-so-secret headquarters located directly across the river. This intruiging connection has caused whispers and tales of covert operations and mysterious figures lurking in the pub’s shadows.
📍58 Millbank, London SW1P 4RW.
9. The World’s End, Camden
As one of Camden’s most beloved pubs, known for its kick-ass nights of punk, metal, and rock n’ roll, some say that the pub’s darkness was unavoidable with its horrible history. The World’s End dates back to the 1400s, previously known as The Old Mother Redcap and proudly standing as one of London’s oldest pubs.
The Old Mother Redcap was named after Jenny Bingman, a former witch who resided in a cottage in the area when Camden was nothing but a country road to Hampstead. She is said to not only haunt the pub but also Camden Underground Station, with loud shrieks and calls being heard echoing throughout both; and it was definitely not the metal music.
📍174 Camden High St, London NW1 0NS
10. The Bow Bells, Bow
Back in East London, The Bow Bells is said to be the home of one of the capital’s most unusual and invasive ghosts – that of a Victorian man who frightens women in the bathroom by flushing the toilets. Legend has it, that this mysterious figure dressed in 19th-century garb is often causing paranormal mischief, leaving patrons, specifically the ladies, both thoroughly spooked and flushed in the face (if you’d pardon the pun).
📍116 Bow Rd, Bow, London E3 3AA.
11. The Old Bull & Bush, Golders Green
Nestled in between Hampstead and Golders Green, The Old Bull & Bush is the final spot on our round-up of the most haunted pubs in London, and it’s a doozy! This former farmhouse was originally built in the 17th century, before coming a pub that’s crawling with ungodly energies.
Another one connected to Jack the Ripper, owners of the pub once found a skull and skeleton hidden, all dressed in Victorian clothing. Of course, the conspiracy theories blew off, and whether or not you believe the spirit to be that of Jack the Ripper, there’s certainly some darkness lurking inside this beautiful building.
📍N End Way, London NW3 7HE.