As autumn settles in and the air turns crisp, we reveal a world of legends waiting to be rediscovered! Halloween may conjure images of costumes and candy, but its true spirit runs far deeper, and it began in the Celtic lands of Ireland and Scotland. Long before pumpkin lanterns glowed in windows and porches, the Celts celebrated Samhain, marking the end of the harvest and the night when the veil between worlds grew thin.
Today, that same ancient magic lingers in the streets, castles, and stories of Dublin, Edinburgh, and London: three cities where history, myth, and mystery intertwine. Join us on this Halloween ghost tour in UK & Ireland and uncover 8 unforgettable places where the past still whispers and the spirit of the season comes to life.
In Ireland, Halloween feels like a homecoming. This country embraces its Celtic roots with a mix of folklore, history, and supernatural tours in Dublin.
Dublin has many famous churches, like St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral. However, hidden on Church Street, there is an unassuming church whose crypts are among Dublin’s most fascinating and unsettling sites - St. Michan’s Church. The air down there is dry and ancient, preserving bodies that have lain in open coffins for centuries, so well kept that their skin has turned to parchment. Among them rests a crusader, his mummified hand once touched by visitors for good luck (a tradition now respectfully halted).
Insider tip: the crypts are small, so early arrival is best. The guides are friendly Dubliners who balance humor with reverence, adding a local touch to this truly atmospheric stop.
Few buildings in Ireland feel more haunted by history than Kilmainham Gaol. This 18th-century prison once held many of the leaders of Ireland’s rebellions, including those executed after the 1916 Easter Rising. Its empty corridors, pale stone walls, and echoing silence seem to carry the memory of the men and women who passed through here. Visitors often describe an uneasy feeling in the East Wing, where sunlight filters through narrow windows onto rows of heavy iron doors.
It’s a place of ghost stories, but more of emotional resonance. One that leaves you quiet when you leave. Worth knowing: this is one of Dublin’s most popular historical sites, and guided tours fill quickly, especially around Halloween, so it is important to book your tickets in advance.
It’s impossible to talk about Halloween in Dublin without mentioning Bram Stoker, the Dublin-born author of Dracula! Stoker grew up near Clontarf and worked at Dublin Castle, a place of mystery and political secrets that surely fueled his imagination.
Every year, Dublin celebrates its most famous Gothic writer with the Bram Stoker Festival (usually held around the last weekend of October). The event transforms the city with street performances, light installations, film screenings, and literary events, all inspired by the eerie elegance of Victorian horror. Many festival events are free, but locals book the paid evening shows early, especially the atmospheric candlelit concerts and outdoor spectacles. It is one of the spooky travel experiences in Ireland!
Edinburgh seems made for Halloween! Its dramatic skyline, misty weather, and folklore make it one of the best places for dark history tours in Europe, and one of the most atmospheric autumn destinations!
Perched high on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline, and its stories dominate Scottish history! From medieval kings to imprisoned nobles, its walls have seen centuries of drama. Some visitors swear they still sense the presence of restless spirits, a phantom piper lost in the tunnels, a headless drummer, and the footsteps of prisoners pacing long after their time.
Even without ghosts, the castle’s atmosphere alone is unforgettable! In the late afternoon, the light fades over and the wind carries the faint sound of bagpipes from the Royal Mile below. For a quieter visit, go early in the morning or late in the day, unless you want to hear the famous 1 p.m. cannon, fired daily from the ramparts since the 19th century.
A short walk down the Royal Mile, beneath the elegant façades, lies a buried city. Mary King’s Close is a labyrinth of preserved 17th-century streets sealed off for centuries and rediscovered in the 20th century. Here, families once lived and worked in cramped, dimly lit rooms… and some say they never truly left!
Walking through the close feels like stepping back in time. The air is cool, the walls rough with age, and your imagination fills in the sounds of daily life long gone. It’s one of the most atmospheric Edinburgh ghost and vault tours: haunting not because of what you see, but because of what you feel! Traveler’s note: Visits are by guided tour only, and spaces fill quickly. Book ahead, and bring a light jacket, as the temperature underground is always cool, even in summer.
Not far away, Greyfriars Kirkyard offers a quieter but equally haunting atmosphere. This historic cemetery, with its worn tombstones and twisting trees, captures the somber beauty of old Edinburgh, and perhaps a few restless spirits as well. In daylight, it’s beautiful, but at twilight, it’s otherworldly.
Locals tell stories of the “Mackenzie Poltergeist,” said to haunt the mausoleum of Sir George Mackenzie, though, for most visitors, the real fascination lies in the artistry of the stones and the view of Edinburgh’s old rooftops beyond the walls. Worth knowing: this is also where you will find the grave of Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal terrier who kept watch over his master’s grave for 14 years. It’s a sweet reminder that there is so much more to know in every Edinburgh ghost story!
Edinburgh fully embraces its reputation as one of the world’s most haunted cities. Every October, its cobbled streets flicker with candlelight, and the air hums with the excitement of ghost stories, theater, and autumn festivals.
You can feel the Halloween spirit simply by walking through the closes and courtyards lit by the glow of lanterns. You might catch the Samhuinn Fire Festival, a modern reimagining of the ancient Celtic celebration. With drummers, dancers, and fire performers parading through the Old Town, it’s both thrilling and deeply symbolic!
Beneath London's royal pageantry and grand architecture lies a city shaped by centuries of intrigue, crime, and whispered legends.
Few landmarks in Britain hold as much history, or as many ghost stories, as the Tower of London! For nearly a thousand years, it has been a royal palace, a prison, and even a place of execution. The ghosts said to linger here are as famous as the figures themselves: Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, and the mysterious Princes in the Tower.
The true power of the Tower lies in its atmosphere! Standing by the Traitors’ Gate or looking up at the White Tower, it’s amazing to feel the weight of history pressing in. Traveler’s tip: Arrive early to avoid the crowds and catch the Yeoman Warders’ morning ceremony.
If the Tower represents power, Highgate Cemetery captures the poetry of decay. This sprawling Victorian necropolis in north London is one of the most atmospheric places in the city. Its ivy-clad tombs, overgrown paths, and Gothic architecture evoke an eerie romanticism rather than fear.
Among its famous residents are Karl Marx, George Eliot, and a few whispered ghosts said to wander the shaded lanes. Good to know: There is a fee for entering the cemetery, but the West Cemetery is accessible only by guided tour. It’s the most evocative part, filled with crumbling angels, Egyptian-style vaults, and winding catacombs. It is a perfect haunted history walking tour!
Just off Spitalfields Market, the Ten Bells Pub looks like any other East End tavern, until you know its story! This was the haunt of several women murdered by Jack the Ripper in the late 19th century, and it has since become one of London’s most infamous pubs.
Inside, you find Victorian tiles, flickering lights, and perhaps the faint sense that history still lingers after closing time. For a local insight, visit in the late afternoon before the evening crowd arrives. It’s the best time to appreciate the pub’s period details and its view toward the old market, for a taste of London’s Jack the Ripper and haunted walks!
If you are drawn to mysteries and magical stories, embark on a journey to the very origins of Halloween itself. Step beyond the surface, listen to the echoes of history, and discover haunted tours in Dublin, Edinburgh and London! Legend and memory shape the places we love to explore, so follow the path where Celtic rituals met royal drama, where castles and folklore still stir the imagination! We invite you to travel from Dublin to Edinburgh and London on a captivating journey filled with history, culture, and just the right touch of mystery!