Have you ever wondered if ghosts are real? Many places around the globe whisper tales of eerie encounters and spectral residents, especially those with a history soaked in sorrow or violence. If you’re brave enough, join us as we unlock the doors to the top ten most haunted rooms in the world. These aren’t your average hotel stays!
10. Room One—Vulcan Hotel, New Zealand
The Vulcan Hotel in New Zealand stands as a historic landmark from the 19th-century gold rush. Today, it attracts ghost hunters keen to experience the paranormal, particularly in Room One. This room is infamous for its dark past, believed to be haunted by the spirit of Rose, a prostitute reportedly strangled in the room’s bed during the late 1800s.
Visitors and staff have reported a host of unsettling phenomena: lights flicker without cause, cold spots appear suddenly, doors creak open, and phantom footsteps echo in empty halls. Some have heard groans, seen appliances switch on by themselves, and found doors mysteriously locked. Interestingly, Rose’s ghostly activities seem exclusively directed towards men. Men staying in Room One have recounted waking to a crushing pressure on their chest and the sensation of fingers tightening around their throats, a chilling reminder of her tragic end. [1]
9. Cell 17—Old Melbourne Gaol, Melbourne
For eighty years, Old Melbourne Gaol housed tens of thousands of prisoners and witnessed over a hundred executions. Its most haunted spot is Cell 17, considered the heart of the prison’s supernatural activity. Those who dare enter have described feeling an invisible force grabbing their throat, making it hard to breathe. Others report being stroked, their clothes pulled, or even scratched by unseen hands.
One terrifying account comes from a woman who, curious about Cell 17’s haunted reputation, shut herself inside during a tour. When she decided to leave, feeling nothing unusual, an unseen force yanked her back by the neck. She then discovered her necklace chain had been snapped in two. [2] The prison’s dark past includes incarcerating children as young as ten and prisoners taking their own lives due to the extremely harsh conditions.
8. Basement—Newton House, Wales
If horror movies have taught us anything, it’s that basements are prime real estate for spooky entities. Newton House in Wales, often called one of Britain’s most haunted houses, certainly lives up to this. The servants’ basement is particularly infamous, with numerous paranormal sightings reported. One frequently seen ghost is Walter the Butler, a former employee. People often smell tobacco, hear disembodied voices, and see lights flicker on their own in this area.
The house also witnessed a gruesome murder in the 18th century. Lady Elinor Cavendish, cousin to the lady of Newton House, was strangled by a spurned lover. Her spirit is said to haunt the property as well. In the 1980s, a film crew member reported a terrifying experience of being strangled while in Lady Elinor Cavendish’s former room. [3]
7. The Gothic Library—Felbrigg Hall, North Norfolk, England
Felbrigg Hall, a magnificent 17th-century stately home in North Norfolk, hides a dark secret within its beautiful library. The Gothic Library is said to be haunted by William Windham, a former resident with a profound love for books. He spent countless hours in this library, which was designed by the famous philosopher Thomas Paine.
In 1809, while returning home, William saw a friend’s nearby house ablaze. Knowing his friend had a valuable book collection, he rushed to help save them. During the effort, he fell and bruised his hip. This injury unfortunately developed into a tumor, leading to his death during an attempted operation—a much riskier procedure back then. His body rests near Felbrigg Hall, at Felbrigg church. Some report seeing his ghost lurking in the library’s shadows late at night, often by a table with his favorite books or near the fireplace. [4]
6. Room 410—Queen Anne Hotel, San Francisco
The Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco is renowned as one of the city’s most haunted locations. In the late 19th century, it served as a girls’ boarding school under headmistress Miss Mary Lake. Rumors circulated about an affair between her and local senator James Fair, a story that outlived her.
Her former office, Room 410, is now believed to be the focal point for hauntings by Mary Lake’s restless spirit, even though her remains are buried some 3,000 miles away. One guest in Room 410 reported waking up on the floor, yet neatly tucked into the bedsheets. Others have heard someone singing as they try to sleep, felt themselves being tucked into bed, or found their suitcases unpacked. It seems Mary is a rather considerate and helpful ghost. [5]
5. Room 314—Omni Mount Washington, New Hampshire, USA
Joseph Stickney built the Mount Washington Hotel in 1900. Tragically, he fell ill and passed away shortly after its grand opening. His widow, Carolyn, later remarried a European prince but continued to visit her late husband’s hotel annually, always staying in Room 314. After Carolyn’s death in 1936, strange occurrences began at the hotel.
People reported seeing a womanly figure floating through the hotel at night, lights would flicker, and an unknown woman would appear in the background of photographs taken at the hotel. Room 314, known as the Princess Suite, is the epicenter of this paranormal activity. Guests have woken to see a woman at the foot of their bed, sometimes sitting quietly, other times slowly unpinning her long hair. Others have detected a sweet floral scent in the room. The four-poster bed in Room 314 is Carolyn’s original, suggesting she might still be attached to it. Paranormal enthusiasts eagerly book Room 314, hoping for a glimpse of the lovely Carolyn. [6]
4. Room 333—Langham Hotel, London
Often described as London’s most haunted hotel, the Langham Hotel is reportedly home to several ghosts, not just one. And the most haunted room of all is said to be Room 333. According to stories, a doctor murdered his wife in this room before taking his own life. His spirit is now believed to haunt guests who stay overnight.
One guest recounted waking to a glowing orb that transformed into a man without legs. This legless apparition glided towards the terrified guest, who quickly fled the room. Others have reported taps turning on by themselves and a suffocating, malevolent feeling upon entering Room 333. [7] Other spirits at the Langham include a butler on the third floor still trying to perform his duties, a ghost with a facial wound wandering the halls, and, most notably, the spirit of Napoleon III, who once stayed at the Langham and is now said to haunt the hotel’s basement.
3. Room 8—Russell Hotel, Sydney
The Russell Hotel in Sydney, considered one of the city’s most haunted, has a dark history embedded in its very structure. Built in 1887, its foundations once supported a convicts’ hospital where many perished, some during an 18th-century bubonic plague outbreak. It later housed sailors and is rumored to have been a brothel.
Its past is blood-soaked, with murders occurring within its walls. A sailor was killed by a prostitute in the 19th century, and Senior Constable Henry Murrow also met his end at the hotel. Guests report hearing footsteps at night, lights turning on and off, sudden temperature drops, and screams from empty rooms. While the entire hotel is thought to be haunted, Room 8 is a paranormal hotspot. This was where the sailor was murdered. Guests, particularly lone women, have reported waking to see the slain sailor standing at the foot of their bed. [8]
2. The Lost Dungeon—Leap Castle, Ireland
Leap Castle in Ireland, built around 1250 (though some sources say the early 1500s), has been a site of immense death throughout its long history. One particularly grim spot is the secret dungeon, known as an oubliette. This small dungeon was discovered beneath the Bloody Chapel. It’s believed that prisoners were dropped through a trap door into this dark space and left to die of starvation—the word oubliette comes from the French word oublier, meaning ‘to forget’.
Excavations in the early 1900s uncovered skeletal remains of around 150 individuals, testament to the hundreds who spent their final moments there. The Bloody Chapel above is also said to be haunted, notably by a priest murdered by his own brother within its walls. His spirit reportedly haunts the staircase by the chapel, and people claim to see the chapel window blazing with bright lights at night, even when empty. [9] Leap Castle is often called the most haunted castle in Ireland, and brave visitors can explore the Bloody Chapel.
1. Torture Chamber—Chillingham Castle, England
Dating back to the 1300s, Chillingham Castle boasts an exceptionally bloody history, much of which unfolded in its infamous Torture Chamber. This chamber was overseen by John Sage, one of history’s most notorious torturers. A sadistic man, Sage is said to have gleefully tortured and killed thousands of Scots for the English, even inventing his own torture devices.
Today, visitors can tour this dark historical site, where original torture implements like the rack, the barrel (in which victims were placed in a nail-studded barrel and rolled down a hill), and an Iron Maiden are still displayed. It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted. Legends say John Sage never left his chamber; his malevolent spirit is believed to linger. Guests report feeling an evil presence and overwhelming malice, as if someone intends to harm them. Screams are also heard, perhaps from Sage’s victims still haunting the place of their suffering. It is said Sage was eventually killed by a group of vengeful Scots, hanged from a tree for his atrocities. [10]
These rooms are steeped in dark histories and lingering energies, making them some of the most terrifying places on Earth. From vengeful spirits to helpful phantoms, each location offers a unique and chilling glimpse into the unknown. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories behind these haunted rooms are undeniably fascinating and spine-chilling.
Which of these haunted rooms would you dare to visit? Or do you know of an even scarier one? Leave your comment below and share your spooky thoughts!
