Our most haunted places

We look after many ancient buildings. So it's no surprise that some play host to a few ghost stories. Meet the headless phantoms, strange apparitions, tormented souls and one kindly spirit with a fondness for children.

From grand mansions to cottages, castles and follies, pubs and even a regency playhouse, the buildings we care for are many and varied. With some dating back to as early as the 12th century, they’ve plenty of stories to tell. Some may even be home to a ghost or two.

We’ve been working hard to reopen as many of our houses to visitors as possible. The majority of the houses listed below are currently open but please check the property homepage for further details and to book your visit.

In England, we're pleased to have been able to keep our gardens, parks and outdoor spaces open through the current lockdown. From 2 December, we'll be able to reopen some houses and welcome you to sit in our cafés again. In tier 3, indoor areas will remain closed and cafés will be takeaway only. Please follow your area's tiering system and government guidance when planning a visit.

Following Welsh government guidance, all places in Wales are now open for Wales residents, and we're pleased to be welcoming many of you again.

In line with Northern Ireland Executive circuit break restrictions, our gardens and parks in Northern Ireland will open from 28 November. All houses, shops and visitor centres will stay closed during the circuit break until 11 December, and cafés will be takeaway only.

Before visiting, please always check local and national government guidance on travelling. You can check the property webpage in case of local restrictions. We're following government advice closely and will reopen more places as soon as we can. 

The Vyne in the winter light Play Video
Video

Hear real life ghost stories from The Vyne

Dominique Shembry, Collections and House Officer, retells some of the real life ghost stories from The Vyne in Hampshire, a Tudor home with links to Henry VIII. From ghostly apparitions, to spooky voices coming from nowhere, these tales will send shivers down your spine.

This grand Norfolk residence is home to the ghost of Anne Boleyn

The headless ghost of Anne Boleyn 

The doomed wife of King Henry VIII is just one of the ghosts believed to reside at Blickling Hall, Norfolk. It's said she reappears every year, on the anniversary of her execution.

Meet the ghosts of Blickling
Buckland Abbey, Devon, is said to be haunted by Sir Francis Drake

Is Buckland Abbey haunted by the doomed spirit of Sir Francis Drake? 

Did the man who defeated the Armada really sign a pact with the Devil at Buckland Abbey, Devon? And does his ghost still lead a supernatural pack of baying dogs?

Discover the spectre of Buckland Abbey
Corfe Castle, Dorset, is full of ghostly stories and tales of murder

Treachery, murder and a phantom on the battlements 

A woman in white, believed to have performed an act of treason during the Civil War, is said to stalk the battlements at Corfe.

Read more about the ghosts of war at Corfe Castle
Croft Castle, Herefordshire, is reputed to be the most haunted house in the Midlands

'The most haunted house in the Midlands' 

The spirit of Welsh freedom fighter Owain Glyndwr is one of six ghosts said to still walk the halls of Croft Castle in the West Midlands. Those who've seen the spectral figure say he's seven-feet tall and clad in a leather jerkin.

Get to know the seven spectres at Croft Castle
Newton House at Dinefwr, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

Echoes of a centuries-old murder 

Are reports of ghosts at Newton House, Carmarthenshire linked to a brutal crime of passion? People have reported strange sightings and happenings.

Find out about the ghostly hands at Newton House
Many ghostly happenings have been reported at Dunster Castle, Somerset

Phantom soldiers and a terrifying presence 

Floating lights, strange apparitions and skeletons found chained together in the dungeon are just some of the unnerving encounters experienced at Dunster Castle, Somerset. Who is the man in green and why do dogs act strangely around the gatehouse?

Discover the ghosts of Dunster Castle
Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, is haunted by a phantom book lover

A haunted library and a bookish ghost 

The ghostly presence at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk is linked to a tragic death and an unquenchable thirst for the written word. The phantom figure has often been glimpsed in the library.

Read about the phantom book-lover of Felbrigg
Ham House, Surrey, is thought to be one of our most haunted places

A woman in black and a haunted mirror 

Cold spots, the sound of footsteps and an inexplicable scent of roses have been reported at Ham House in Surrey. It's said that the sinister presence of a ruthlessly ambitious former occupant is at the centre of the paranormal activity.

Find out who haunts Ham House
Springhill, County Londonderry, is haunted by a friendly ghost

Haunted by a friendly spirit who loves children 

Stricken with guilt and grief after her husband’s suicide, the kindly spirit of Olivia Lenox-Conyngham is said to remain at Springhill, Londonderry. She seems particularly fond of children and has appeared to some of our youngest visitors.

Please note, the house is currently closed.

Meet the benign presence at Springhill
Treasurer's House, Yorkshire, is haunted by the ghosts of Roman soldiers

'By the look of you, you’ve seen the Romans!' 

The marching Roman military phantoms seen at Treasurer's House, Yorkshire, may be our oldest known ghosts. Many people have reported encountering the spectral soldiers in the cellars.

Please note, the house is currently closed.

Encounter the spectral army of Treasurer's House
Visitors stood on the bridge over the moat at Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire

Listen to the National Trust Podcast: Halloween special

In episode 67 of the National Trust Podcast, recorded in 2019, curator James Grasby visits 500-year old Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire, to find out how the Tudors protected their homes against evil. James meets house staff who reveal strange relics of our past.

Download on Apple Podcasts
The cauldron at Lacock Abbey.

Cauldrons to coffins: creepy curios in our collection 

To get into the Halloween spirit, we've put together a selection of macabre and creepy objects from our collection to send shivers down your spine.

Discover the darker side of our collection