Fancy a haunted Halloween adventure? These are the UK castles where Tripadvisor visitors talk about ghosts, hauntings and the paranormal the most.
With Halloween fast approaching, Britain’s historic castles are taking on an even eerier atmosphere. From ancient fortresses and medieval ruins to old prisons and shadowy corridors, the UK is home to plenty of locations with suitably spooky reputations.
But which castles are visitors actually talking about when it comes to ghosts and hauntings?
@stevebrodt Chillingham Castle was featured on Scariest Places On Earth in the early 2000’s & for good reason😨 Could you sleep here? #HauntedNights #paranormalactivity #haunted #ghosts #hauntedcastle
A new study from Go Smoke Free has analysed English-language Tripadvisor reviews for castles across the UK, searching for spooky terms including “ghost”, “haunted”, “haunting”, “spooky”, “eerie” and “paranormal”.
The results reveal the castles where supernatural stories appear most frequently in visitor reviews – and one Northumberland castle has emerged as a particularly spooky standout.
Chillingham Castle Is Officially The UK’s Spookiest Castle
Taking the top spot is Chillingham Castle in Northumberland, with an impressive 406 Tripadvisor reviews mentioning the word “ghost”.
Of the 1,421 searchable English-language reviews analysed, 28.57% mention the castle’s leading spooky term. That means more than one in four reviews brings up ghosts, making Chillingham Castle the clear winner for supernatural chatter.
For anyone planning a Halloween day trip, it certainly sounds like one to add to the list.
The UK’s 10 Spookiest Castles
Here are the castles that topped the ranking based on the number of Tripadvisor reviews mentioning their most common spooky term:
| Rank | Castle | Location | Country | Spooky mentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chillingham Castle | Alnwick | England | 406 |
| 2 | Warwick Castle | Warwick | England | 168 |
| 3 | Glamis Castle | Glamis | Scotland | 163 |
| 4 | Pembroke Castle | Pembroke | Wales | 98 |
| 5 | Muncaster Castle | Ravenglass | England | 88 |
| 6 | Oxford Castle Prison | Oxford | England | 87 |
| 7 | Alnwick Castle | Alnwick | England | 66 |
| 8 | Dunster Castle | Dunster | England | 63 |
| =9 | Dudley Zoo and Castle | Dudley | England | 62 |
| =9 | Berry Pomeroy Castle | Totnes | England | 62 |
| 10 | Dover Castle | Dover | England | 51 |
Warwick Castle Takes Second Place
Coming in second is Warwick Castle, with 168 reviews mentioning ghosts.
While Warwick has a much larger review base than Chillingham – with more than 17,000 searchable English-language reviews – the number of individual visitors mentioning ghosts still places it comfortably in second position.
It demonstrates an interesting difference between the castles at the top of the list. Chillingham has a much higher proportion of spooky reviews, while Warwick’s sheer number of visitors means supernatural mentions still add up quickly.
Glamis Castle Gives Scotland A Spooky Top-Three Finish
Scotland takes third place thanks to Glamis Castle, where 163 Tripadvisor reviews mention ghosts.
Around 9.07% of its searchable English-language reviews contain the term, giving the historic castle one of the strongest proportions of spooky mentions among the larger attractions featured in the study.
Meanwhile, Pembroke Castle puts Wales on the map in fourth place, with 98 reviews mentioning ghosts.
Completing the top five is Muncaster Castle in Ravenglass, England, with 88 ghost mentions.
Oxford Castle Prison And Alnwick Castle Make The Top 10
Sixth place goes to Oxford Castle Prison, where 87 reviews mention ghosts.
Given its centuries of history and former prison setting, it perhaps comes as little surprise that the attraction has inspired plenty of supernatural conversation among visitors.
Alnwick Castle follows in seventh with 66 ghost mentions, giving Northumberland two castles in the top seven.
The county’s spooky credentials don’t stop there, either. Bamburgh Castle ranks 15th, with 29 reviews mentioning ghosts, meaning Northumberland has three castles among the higher positions in the wider ranking.
Dunster Castle takes eighth place with 63 ghost mentions, followed by a tie between Dudley Zoo and Castle and Berry Pomeroy Castle, both of which record 62.
Berry Pomeroy Castle Has One Of The Highest Spooky Percentages
While Berry Pomeroy Castle only just makes the top 10 based on the total number of mentions, its percentage is particularly striking.
Its 62 ghost mentions come from just 470 searchable English-language reviews, meaning 13.19% of reviews mention the word “ghost”.
@grimstonenay this place looks too unreal to be on earth… #darkfantasy #castle #goldenbrown #fog #fyp
That puts it among the most consistently spooky locations in the study when the size of each castle’s review base is taken into account.
Dover Castle also features in the ranking, with 51 reviews mentioning ghosts.
Its dramatic clifftop location and centuries of history already make it an atmospheric destination – and apparently plenty of visitors have left thinking about its supernatural side too.
Where Is Northern Ireland’s Spookiest Castle?
For those looking for a spooky castle experience in Northern Ireland, Dunluce Castle in Portrush is the highest-ranked entry.
It comes in at 25th, with 18 reviews containing its leading spooky term, “haunting”.
The dramatic ruins sit on the north coast, making Dunluce an atmospheric destination for anyone looking to combine spectacular scenery with a little Halloween intrigue.
Why Do Visitors Keep Talking About Ghosts?
According to Go Smoke Free, the results show just how differently spooky reputations can appear in visitor reviews.
A spokesperson explained that Chillingham Castle is “really in a league of its own”, with more than one in four searchable English reviews mentioning ghosts.
Warwick Castle, meanwhile, demonstrates how a huge visitor base can generate significant numbers of spooky reviews even when the percentage is relatively small.
Berry Pomeroy Castle is another interesting example, with its smaller review base producing a much higher proportion of ghost mentions.
The study also highlights the geographical spread of Britain’s spooky castles, from Chillingham and Alnwick in Northumberland to Glamis in Scotland and Pembroke in Wales.
Of course, a Tripadvisor review mentioning a ghost isn’t proof that anything supernatural actually happened. But when hundreds of visitors independently leave reviews talking about ghosts, it’s easy to see why these historic locations continue to inspire Halloween stories.
Planning A Spooky UK Day Out?
Whether you’re a dedicated ghost hunter or simply looking for something different to do this Halloween, Britain’s castles offer plenty of opportunities to explore the country’s darker history.
@amyscrypt Your very own haunted castle for the night 🏴🏰👻 It might be haunted but the history and views cannot be beaten. Would you brave a night in Neidpath Castle? 😳
From Chillingham Castle’s impressive ghost-review tally to the atmospheric ruins of Dunluce, there’s no shortage of destinations where history and folklore collide.
And if you’re brave enough to visit after dark, perhaps you’ll have a spooky story of your own to add to Tripadvisor.
Photos Courtesy of Depositphotos.com
