Buzz
Places marked by significant violence often develop a reputation as haunted locations. Many such places worldwide are believed to be haunted due to their bloody pasts. This list presents the ten most haunted rooms across the globe.
10. Room One—Vulcan Hotel New Zealand
The Vulcan Hotel is a historic New Zealand landmark, constructed in the 19th century during the gold rush in Central Otago. It is now a popular destination for ghost hunters and those intrigued by the paranormal.
The haunting of Room One at the Vulcan Hotel is attributed to the spirit of Rose, a prostitute who was strangled in the room’s bed in the late 1800s. Her tragic death is said to linger in the room.
There have been numerous accounts of strange phenomena, such as flickering lights, sudden cold spots, creaking doors, phantom footsteps, eerie groans, appliances operating on their own, and doors mysteriously locking.
Interestingly, Rose is said to haunt only men. It is believed that, due to the gender of her killer, she seeks vengeance on all men. Visitors to Room One who are male have reported waking up in the middle of the night with the sensation of being pinned down, accompanied by fingers gripping their throats.
9. Cell 17—Old Melbourne Gaol Melbourne
The Old Melbourne Gaol was a notorious prison for eighty years, housing tens of thousands of inmates and witnessing over a hundred executions during its operation.
The most haunted spot in the prison is known as Cell 17, often referred to as the center of the supernatural activity within the gaol. Many who have entered this cell report feeling a choking sensation, as if someone is grabbing their throat and obstructing their breathing. Others have experienced being stroked, their clothes tugged, or even scratched.
One chilling account comes from a woman who, intrigued by the haunted reputation of Cell 17, locked herself inside during a prison tour. Initially, she felt nothing unusual, but as she reached for the door to leave, she felt a sudden tug on her neck. Upon looking down, she found that the chain of her necklace had snapped in two.
The prison has a dark history, with even children as young as ten being incarcerated for criminal acts. Many prisoners took their own lives within its grim walls due to the harsh and inhumane conditions they endured.
8. Basement—Newton House Wales
Horror movies often teach us that the basement is the place where ghosts or monsters hide, and this is certainly the case at Newton House, frequently regarded as one of the most haunted homes in Britain.
The servants’ basement is considered one of the most paranormally active areas in the house, with numerous reports of ghostly apparitions. One ghost, in particular, is often seen: Walter the Butler, a former servant of the house. People have reported smelling tobacco, hearing voices, and witnessing the lights flickering on their own in the basement.
In the 18th century, Newton House became the site of a brutal murder when Lady Elinor Cavendish, cousin of the lady of the house, was strangled by a spurned lover. It is believed that her restless spirit still haunts the estate. In the 1980s, a film crew member reported the sensation of being strangled while in Lady Elinor’s former room.
7. The Gothic Library—Felbrigg Hall North Norfolk, England
Felbrigg Hall, a grand estate built in the 17th century, lies within the scenic parklands of North Norfolk. However, beneath its picturesque exterior, the hall conceals a dark and troubled history.
The library is haunted by the ghost of William Windham, a former resident of Felbrigg Hall. William had an immense love for books and spent countless hours in this stunning library, which was designed by the renowned English philosopher, Thomas Paine.
One fateful night in 1809, William was returning home when he learned that his friend's house was ablaze. Knowing that his friend owned a valuable book collection, William rushed to save the books. During the rescue, he injured his hip, which later developed into a tumor. Despite efforts to treat it, the operation failed, and William passed away due to the complications, a testament to the perilous nature of surgeries in that era.
William's body was laid to rest near Felbrigg Hall at Felbrigg Church. Some claim that his ghost can still be seen haunting the shadows of the Gothic Library, typically standing near the table with his beloved books or beside the fireplace late at night.
6. Room 410—Queen Anne Hotel San Francisco
The Queen Anne Hotel is one of the most haunted locations in San Francisco. In the late 1800s, it was a girls' boarding school, home to a headmistress named Miss Mary Lake. A rumor swirled that she had an affair with James Fair, a local senator, a tale that persisted long after her death.
Room 410, which was once Mary Lake's office, is believed to be the epicenter of the hauntings linked to her restless spirit, even though her body was buried thousands of miles away. One guest recalled waking up on the floor with the sheets neatly tucked around them after staying in Room 410. Other visitors have reported hearing a voice singing to them while they tried to sleep, being tucked into bed, and finding their suitcases mysteriously unpacked. Mary seems to be a kind and attentive ghost.
5. Room 314—Omni Mount Washington New Hampshire, USA
The Mount Washington Hotel was constructed in 1900 by Joseph Stickney. However, shortly after the hotel's grand opening, Joseph became ill and passed away. His widow, Carolyn, remarried a European prince but made it a tradition to return to her late husband's hotel every year. She would always stay in the same room—Room 314. After Carolyn's death in 1936, strange occurrences began at the hotel.
Guests began to report sightings of a woman floating through the hotel at night, lights flickering unexpectedly, and a mysterious woman appearing in the background of photos taken by visitors.
Room 314, also known as the Princess Suite, is regarded as the epicenter of paranormal activity at the Omni Mount Washington. Many guests have woken up to find a woman standing at the foot of the bed, sometimes quietly sitting, other times slowly unpinning her long hair. Others have experienced the scent of sweet floral perfume filling the room. The four-poster bed in Room 314 was Carolyn’s original bed, perhaps she still has an attachment to it.
Paranormal enthusiasts flock to Room 314, hoping for the chance to encounter the gentle spirit of Carolyn.
4. Room 333—Langham Hotel London
Often referred to as the most haunted hotel in London, the Langham Hotel is believed to be haunted by not just one, but several spirits.
Perhaps the most notorious room in the hotel is Room 333.
Legend has it that a doctor murdered his wife in Room 333 before taking his own life. Now, his restless spirit is said to haunt the room, terrifying those who dare to stay there. One guest reported waking up to see a glowing orb that eventually transformed into a man without legs. The legless apparition slowly advanced toward the guest, who fled the room in fear. Others have claimed that the taps turn on by themselves and that an oppressive, suffocating atmosphere fills the room.
The Langham Hotel is said to house numerous other spirits. Among them are the ghost of a butler who continues to assist guests on the third floor, still performing his duties in the afterlife; a faceless phantom who roams the halls; and the most fascinating spirit of all, that of Napoleon III, who once stayed at the Langham and is now believed to haunt its basement.
3. Torture Chamber—Chillingham Castle England
Dating back to the 1300s, Chillingham Castle has a reputation for its brutal history, much of which unfolded in its infamous Torture Chamber. The chamber was once under the control of John Sage, a notorious torturer known for his sadistic acts. Sage is said to have tortured and killed thousands of Scots for the English, even creating his own gruesome devices to carry out his cruel deeds.
Visitors today can still explore this dark chapter in history. The original torture devices remain on display, including the rack, the barrel (a device in which victims were placed inside a barrel with nails and rolled down a hill), and the terrifying Iron Maiden. It is certainly not a place for the faint-hearted.
It is believed that John Sage never truly left his chamber. His malevolent spirit is said to still haunt the chamber, with guests reporting feelings of pure evil and aggression. An overwhelming sensation that someone intends to harm them often fills the air. Some visitors have also heard the screams of past victims, perhaps the souls of those who suffered at Sage's hands. According to legend, Sage met his end when a group of Scots, seeking revenge for his cruelty, hung him from a tree.
2. The Lost Dungeon—Leap Castle Ireland
Leap Castle, built in 1250 (though some sources say it was the early 1500s), is known for its history steeped in death and violence. One particular area of the castle, the secret dungeon, holds the most tragic stories.
A hidden dungeon was found beneath the Bloody Chapel, accessed through a small trapdoor. It is believed that prisoners were dropped through this door and left to starve to death. This type of dungeon, known as an oubliette (from the French word 'oublier,' meaning 'to forget'), became the final resting place for hundreds of victims. During excavations in the early 1900s, 150 individual skeletal remains were discovered, a chilling reminder of the dungeon's tragic past.
The Bloody Chapel above the dungeon is also said to be haunted, particularly by the spirit of an old priest. This priest was murdered by his own brother within the chapel, and now his ghost is said to haunt the staircase leading up to it. Witnesses have reported seeing the chapel windows glowing with bright lights in the middle of the night, even though no one was inside.
Leap Castle is often referred to as the most haunted castle in Ireland, and visitors daring enough can explore the haunted Bloody Chapel during their visit.
1. Room 8—Russell Hotel Sydney
Regarded as one of the most haunted hotels in Sydney, the Russell Hotel has a dark history buried in its foundations. Built in 1887, the hotel was constructed over the site of a former convict hospital, where many perished, including those who succumbed to a deadly bubonic plague outbreak in the 18th century. The building also served as a sailors' residence and is rumored to have once been a brothel.
The hotel has a grim past, stained with bloodshed, including several murders. In the 19th century, a sailor was killed by a prostitute, and Senior Constable Henry Murrow also met his untimely death within the hotel. Guests have reported strange happenings, such as hearing footsteps late at night, lights flickering on and off by themselves, sudden temperature drops, and unsettling screams emanating from empty rooms.
While the entire hotel is rumored to be haunted, Room 8 stands out as a hotspot for paranormal activity. This was the scene of the sailor’s tragic death. Guests, particularly lone female ones, have reported waking up to find the ghostly figure of the murdered sailor standing at the foot of their bed.
