Halloween – The Most Haunted Counties in the UK Revealed

As Halloween approaches, it’s the perfect time to explore the darker corners of the UK, where ghostly legends and spectral sightings linger in the shadows. From misty moors to ancient graveyards, every county has its share of spooky tales, but which ones truly stand out as the most haunted? 

Using data from the Paranormal Database and cemetery records from FindAGrave.com, we’ve uncovered the UK’s most haunted hotspots. Join us as we take a spine-tingling journey through the most haunted counties in the UK to make your Halloween extra spooky – you might just find your next ghost-hunting destination!

By adding the total number of haunted locations and cemeteries in each county together, we determined the ‘Total Haunt Score’ for each county.

---

Yorkshire is far and away the most haunted region in the UK. With over 1000 more cemeteries than any other region on our list and the most haunted locations in the UK, it leads the nation in Total Haunt Score. The city of York is filled with paranormal activity, with buildings such as the Treasurer’s House, Ye Olde Starr Inne and the Golden Fleece Pub all having a reputation for spooky goings on, as well as the famous York Minster which is home to a whole host of ghosts.

Greater London appears in second place on our list, and is known for some of the most famous haunted places in the world. One of these is the Ten Bells pub, where two of Jack the Ripper’s victims were known to frequent. Both Mary Kelly and Annie Chapman’s ghosts have been seen by modern pub goers here. Also, the famous Tower of London is a well known haunted hotspot and is said to be the home to many ghosts, including famous historical figures Henry VI, Anne Boleyn and Sir Walter Raleigh.

Show More

Despite its population of just 916,200, Norfolk comes in third in Total Haunt Score in the nation, far ahead of some counties with far more people. In the National Trust’s list of the top eight most haunted places in the UK, Norfolk has two entries – Blickling Estate and Felbrigg Hall.

The preserved county of Dyfed is by far the most haunted in Wales, with 155 haunted locations and 685 cemeteries within its boundaries. The people of Pembrokeshire have long feared the wrath of ‘Hwch Ddu Gwta’, an enormous red-eyed black beast that stirs fear into locals.

The most haunted region of Scotland is Highland, and it’s more than just the Loch Ness Monster that torments this part of the world. It has 235 haunted locations, one of which is in the infamous Tantallon Castle, a ruin since the 17th century that is home to a wandering spirit that was even caught on camera in 2009.

Mapped – which county has the most haunted locations in the UK?

While Gloucestershire is only 20th in terms of the most haunted locations in the UK, it may well be home to the most haunted building. The Ancient Ram Inn in Gloucestershire is a pub which dates back to the 12th century and is said to be the location of historical black magic rituals, child sacrifice and crime. The Bishop’s room is said to be the epicentre of the paranormal activity in the pub, where multiple ghosts, spirits and apparitions have been seen.

Yorkshire has the most haunted locations in the UK and one of those is world-renowned amongst ghost hunters. Whitby Abbey is so spooky that Bram Stoker famously set part of his classic vampire novel Dracula here. The Abbey’s founder St Hilda has been seen floating around the premises, as well as Constance de Beverley, a nun who broke her vow of chastity and was bricked up alive within the walls of the abbey. Visitors to this day have been known to hear her screams.

Mapped – which county has the most cemeteries in the UK?

Yorkshire is home to over double the amount of cemeteries of second place Lincolnshire, one of which is Fountains Abbey in Ripon, which is haunted by the daughter of Sir Stephen Proctor who built the hall and witnessed all of his evil doings. 

​​Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is known by many as the world’s most haunted cemetery. According to legend, most of the hauntings are linked to the ghost of George Mackenzie – a merciless 17th century judge known as “Bloody Mackenzie”. In 1999, a homeless man broke into his vault in the “Black Mausoleum”, unleashing an evil force upon those who come near it.

Highgate Cemetery in North London also has a grisly reputation. “The Highgate Vampire” is known to float through the grounds and is blamed for the deaths of animals in the cemetery. He is said to be a Romanian medieval nobleman that was known to practise black magic and has been haunting visitors ever since satanists supposedly performed a ritual at Highgate.

---

Methodology

To determine the most haunted county in the UK, we used the Paranormal Database and findagrave.com to find out which county has the most cemeteries and highest number of locations where paranormal activity has occurred. We then added those numbers together to give us an overall ‘Total Haunt Score’.

Fair Use Statement

The data, visuals, and other content provided on this page are available for use by journalists for the purpose of reporting in connection with non-commercial editorial content. You may reproduce and distribute this material, provided that:

1. Proper attribution is given to Slotswise as the original source.
2. The materials are not altered or used in a misleading context.
3. Use is strictly for non-commercial purposes such as news reporting, analysis, or commentary.

For any press enquiries, please contact matthew.banks[at]qih-group.com