We built a scoring system from scratch to work out which UK cities and towns are actually the most haunted — not just the ones with the best ghost stories. The 'scary score' is based on four hard data points:
- Paranormal reports
- Number of cemeteries
- Total vacant properties
- Prevalence of houses built before 1918
To keep comparisons fair across cities of very different sizes, we normalised everything per 10,000 people. That's what makes the rankings actually meaningful — and why a few results will surprise you.
The most haunted places in the UK
Let's get straight into it. These are the most haunted places in the UK if you're looking to get spooked.
1. Salford (8.5 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 3
Cemeteries: 41
Vacant properties: 1,010
Houses built before 1918: 21,750
Salford, located in Greater Manchester, is our first stop in exploring the most haunted places in the UK, with a haunted score of 8.5 out of 10. In Salford, you'll find 41 cemeteries, over 1,000 vacant properties, and more than 21,000 houses that were constructed over a century ago. To put it in perspective, that's 139 vacant properties for every 10,000 people and 2,990 houses built before 1918 for every 10,000 people.
Wardley Hall is the one locals won't stop talking about — a 13th-century manor tied to the legend of the Wardley Witch, where staff still report unexplained noises in the upper floors and the persistent feeling of being watched.
2. Bolton (8.4 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 15
Cemeteries: 31
Vacant properties: 1,642
Houses built before 1918: 32,520
Bolton takes the second spot. Although it has fewer cemeteries compared to the first-place Salford, it stands out with a higher number of paranormal reports (15), vacant properties (1,642), and old houses (32,520). However, when considering these figures per population, Bolton has 116 vacant properties and 2,031 houses built before 1918 per 10,000 people, which is lower than Salford's count.
Smithills Hall leads Bolton's paranormal hit list, with reported sightings including the ghost of Lady Green — said to haunt the hall to this day, with visitors and staff noting her presence particularly around the older wing of the building.
3. Chichester (8.2 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 11
Cemeteries: 14
Vacant properties: 194
Houses built before 1918: 11,020
In the third spot for the most haunted places in the UK, we have Chichester, scoring 8.2 out of 10 on the spookiness scale. Chichester boasts just 11 paranormal reports and 14 cemeteries, translating to 3.5 and 4.4 per 10,000 people, respectively. However, Chichester has higher numbers for vacant properties (194) and over 11,000 houses constructed more than a century ago, at 61 and 3,481 per 10,000 people, respectively.
Chichester Cathedral has a documented history of paranormal reports dating to the 12th century — a monk's apparition is the most frequently cited. Priory Park sits on Roman ground, which may explain the period-dress figure visitors have described near the north wall.
4. Brighton and Hove (8.1 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 36
Cemeteries: 69
Vacant properties: 1,596
Houses built before 1918: 54,420
In the ranking of the most haunted places in the UK, Brighton and Hove secured the fourth position with a haunting score of 8.1 out of 10. This seaside city boasts a notable number of paranormal reports (36) and an array of cemeteries (69). Additionally, there are 75 vacant properties per 10,000 residents and a substantial count of 2,541 houses built before 1918 per 10,000 residents.
The Royal Pavilion is most commonly associated with the ghost of Henry Pescod, a kitchen worker from the Regency era whose apparition has been reported near the kitchens. Staff have also noted cold spots and doors that open unprompted in the Music Room.
4. Lancaster (8.1 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 3
Cemeteries: 15
Vacant properties: 658
Houses built before 1918: 17,130
Tying for fourth place with Brighton and Hove is Lancaster, scoring 8.1 points out of 10. While Lancaster may have fewer total spooky elements, it outshines Brighton and Hove when we consider these elements per population. Lancaster surpasses Brighton and Hove in two aspects: vacant properties and old houses. Specifically, Lancaster boasts 140 vacant properties and 3,632 houses built before 1918 per 10,000 people.
Among the most chilling sites in Lancaster are Lancaster Castle, The Three Mariners (one of the city's oldest pubs, where regulars have long swapped tales of unexplained footsteps on the upper floors), and St. Mary's Churchyard.
6. Winchester (8.0 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 20
Cemeteries: 23
Vacant properties: 313
Houses built before 1918: 10,450
Ranked next among the most haunted places in the UK is Winchester, with a haunting score of 8.0 out of 10. In Winchester, you'll discover a collection of paranormal reports (20) and cemeteries (23), but what sets The City of Kings and Priests apart is its count of over 10,000 houses constructed before 1918. Additionally, the city boasts more than 3,000 memorials, yet another factor considered in our study. This translates to 789 memorials per 10,000 people.
Winchester Cathedral draws the most reports — shadowy figures have been described near the nave at closing time. At Wolvesey Castle, also known as the Old Bishop's Palace, visitors have shared accounts of encountering those same shadowy presences moving through the ruins, particularly along the east wall.
7. Wakefield (7.6 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 1
Cemeteries: 18
Vacant properties: 1,522
Houses built before 1918: 25,420
With just one recorded paranormal report but over 25,000 old houses, Wakefield secures the seventh spot with a score of 7.6 out of 10. This cathedral city in West Yorkshire has 18 cemeteries and 1,522 vacant properties, translating to two cemeteries and 193 vacant properties per 10,000 residents, respectively.
Theatres attract ghost stories the way cemeteries do — and Wakefield Theatre Royal and Opera House has accumulated enough that it earned a dedicated paranormal investigation in recent years. Dating back to the 19th century, the building has a documented history of ghostly encounters that goes well beyond the usual theatre folklore.
7. Lichfield (7.6 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 8
Cemeteries: 7
Vacant properties: 486
Houses built before 1918: 4,700
Tied for seventh place with Wakefield is Lichfield. In comparison to Wakefield, Lichfield holds a higher number of paranormal reports, totalling eight, which equates to 2.4 per 10,000 people. However, it falls short in terms of vacant properties (486) and old houses (4,700), with figures amounting to 148 and 1,430 per 10,000 people, respectively.
The Erasmus Darwin House is where the grandfather of Charles Darwin once lived and worked — and reportedly still lingers. The Georgian townhouse has accumulated a steady stream of visitor accounts over the years, making it a genuine draw for anyone interested in where history and the unexplained overlap.
9. Newcastle upon Tyne (7.4 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 32
Cemeteries: 33
Vacant properties: 1,729
Houses built before 1918: 26,060
Newcastle upon Tyne secures the ninth position with a score of 7.4 out of 10. This city in the north is notable for its abundant memorials, totalling over 28,000, as well as 1.7 paranormal reports per 10,000 residents, and just over 26,000 old houses constructed before 1918.
The Castle Keep earns its place on this list — a 12th-century structure where reported incidents include unexplained sounds in the lower galleries and, on at least one documented occasion, a figure in medieval dress witnessed by multiple visitors on the same afternoon.
10. Barnsley (7.3 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 4
Cemeteries: 16
Vacant properties: 1,011
Houses built before 1918: 23,080
Finishing the top 10 most haunted places in the UK is Barnsley with 7.3 out of 10. In Barnsley, you'll find 16 cemeteries and 4,236 memorials, along with a creepy count of 3,230 old houses per 10,000 residents. Additionally, there are four paranormal reports and over 1,000 vacant properties.
Locke Park may not be a conventional haunted building, but it has a consistent track record — visitors have reported shadowy figures appearing near the park's ornamental lake at dusk, and the stories have been circulating long enough to feature in local ghost walk itineraries.
The standout finding isn't which cities topped the list — it's how consistently the per-capita figures reshuffle the rankings. Salford beats Bolton on cemeteries per head, despite Bolton's larger absolute count, which is exactly the kind of distortion raw numbers hide.
The least haunted places in the UK
If you'd rather sleep soundly, here are the UK's least haunted towns...
1. Crawley (0.7 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 3
Cemeteries: 7
Vacant properties: 105
Houses built before 1918: 1,080
According to our study, Crawley stands out as the least haunted place in the UK. It is a substantial 7.8 points less scary than Salford, which claims the top spot for most haunted. In Crawley, there are merely three paranormal reports and seven cemeteries, translating to 0.2 and 0.4 instances per 10,000 people. Additionally, Crawley has just 5.8 vacant properties per 10,000 people.
2. Basildon (1.0 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 2
Cemeteries: 3
Vacant properties: 596
Houses built before 1918: 840
Slightly spookier than Crawley by a mere 0.3 points is Basildon, securing the second spot for the least haunted locations with a score of 1.0 out of 10. Within this Essex town, there are just two paranormal reports and three cemeteries, with a minimal count of 58 houses constructed before 1918 per 10,000 people.
However, when compared to Crawley, Basildon does exhibit a significantly higher number of vacant properties, with 41 per 10,000 people compared to Crawley's 5.8.
3. Slough (1.1 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 1
Cemeteries: 7
Vacant properties: 347
Houses built before 1918: 2,960
Slough secures the third position for the least haunted places in the UK, with just a 0.1-point difference compared to Basildon. Slough registers a mere 0.1 paranormal reports and 0.4 cemeteries per 10,000 people.
Interestingly, it boasts the highest number of memorials among the top five least haunted UK locations, totalling 6,204 (equivalent to 379 per 10,000 people). Additionally, Slough surpasses Crawley and Basildon with a creepy count of older houses, boasting 2,960, which amounts to 181 houses constructed before 1918 per 10,000 people.
4. Mansfield (1.1 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 2
Cemeteries: 7
Vacant properties: 517
Houses built before 1918: 8,080
Tying for the third spot with Slough is Mansfield. While Mansfield has fewer memorials compared to Slough, totalling 1,812 or 105 per 10,000 people, it stands out with a larger count of vacant properties and older houses, totalling 517 and 8,080, respectively. This translates to 30 vacant properties and 470 houses constructed before 1918 per 10,000 people.
5. Luton (1.6 out of 10)
Paranormal reports: 5
Cemeteries: 9
Vacant properties: 1,006
Houses built before 1918: 11,090
Wrapping up the list of the top five least haunted places in England is Luton, scoring 1.6 out of 10. Interestingly, Luton boasts one of the lowest figures for the number of cemeteries per 10,000 people (0.3). On the flip side, it ranks among the highest counts for vacant properties (39 per 10,000 people) and older houses (430 per 10,000 people).
The most haunted places in Scotland and Wales
Among the list of the most haunted places in the UK, there are a few noteworthy locations outside of England. In our study, we found that Aberdeen and Glasgow were the only two Scottish cities to make the cut. Of the two, Aberdeen takes the title for the spookiest place, earning a chilling score of 7.2 out of 10, while Glasgow scores slightly lower at 5.9.
Aberdeen stands out for its eerie attributes, including the number of memorials (2,152) and vacant properties per population (242).
Turning our attention to Wales, we examined four locations: Wrexham, Swansea, Cardiff, and Newport. Among these, Wrexham and Swansea share the honour of being the most haunted, each earning a score of 4.7 out of 10.
When we assessed the factors contributing to the spooky reputation of these places, Wrexham outperforms Swansea in various aspects. Wrexham boasts a higher number of cemeteries per 10,000 people (2.3), a greater number of memorials (6,461), and older houses (35) per population too.
On the other hand, Swansea surpasses Wrexham when it comes to the number of vacant properties per 10,000 people, with 110 compared to Wrexham's 46.
If you're planning a ghost-hunting trip to Scotland, Aberdeen is the clear pick — not just for the score, but because the combination of a high vacant-property rate and a concentrated old town gives it an atmosphere Glasgow's spread-out layout can't match.
Places with the highest number of paranormal reports
Exeter, located in England, tops the list with an impressive 61 paranormal reports, translating to 5.2 reports per 10,000 residents. Winchester is second, with 20 reports and a rate of 4.3 per 10,000 residents.
St. Albans comes next with 33 reports, registering a rate of 3.9, marking a 60% difference compared to the leading city, Exeter. Chichester, with 11 reports, has the lowest total in the top five but averages 3.5 reports per 10,000 residents, which is slightly higher than York. Interestingly, Chichester exhibits the most significant contrast with Exeter, with 139% fewer paranormal reports.
Finally, York completed the top five with 52 reports, resulting in a rate of 3.4 reports per 10,000 residents.
The cities and towns with the most cemeteries
These counties in the UK are home to an astonishing number of cemeteries, making them the final resting places for countless souls.
Salford leads the paranormal pack with a total of 41 cemeteries, equating to a substantial 5.6 cemeteries for every 10,000 residents.
Winchester secures the second spot once again, with 23 cemeteries and a rate of 5.0 per 10,000 residents.
Chichester follows with 14 cemeteries, marking a significant 98% difference compared to Salford's top position, with an average of 4.4 cemeteries for every 10,000 people.
York is notable for its 63 cemeteries, which is 42% more than Salford's count. However, when considering population size, this results in a rate of 4.1 cemeteries per 10,000 residents, which is 1.5 points less than Salford's rate. York is tied with Exeter, which also boasts 4.1 cemeteries per 10,000 residents.
The cities and towns with the most vacant properties
These are the places in the UK with the most vacant properties, making them perfect destinations for those looking to connect with the supernatural.
Aberdeen takes the top spot not only as the most haunted place in Scotland but also as the leader for the most vacant properties in our entire study! The city boasts a remarkable 4,766 vacant properties, resulting in a high rate of 242 vacant properties per 10,000 residents.
Securing the second position is Wakefield, situated in England, with 1,522 vacant properties and a rate of 193 per 10,000 residents. This is notably 103% lower than first-ranked Aberdeen.
Bury, another English town, follows behind with 1,086 vacant properties, making for a rate of 178 per 10,000 residents. Gateshead is not far behind, with 1,332 vacant properties and a rate of 172 per 10,000 residents.
Rounding out the top five is Lichfield, with 486 vacant properties. This marks a substantial difference of 163% compared to Aberdeen, resulting in a rate of 148 vacant properties per 10,000 of the population.
The cities and towns with the oldest houses
Across the UK, these counties hold an eerie secret within their historic architecture. These are places with the most houses built before 1918, offering a wealth of spooky abodes to explore.
Lancaster leads the pack with an impressive 17,130 houses built before 1918, translating to a remarkable 3,632 such houses per 10,000 residents.
Chichester secures the second position, with 11,020 houses constructed before 1918, resulting in a rate of 3,481 per 10,000 people. Barnsley closely follows with 23,080 houses built over a century ago, and a rate of 3,230 per the population.
Wakefield stands out with 25,420 houses constructed before 1918, giving it a rate of 3,219 per 10,000 residents.
Rounding out the top five is Bury, with 19,310 houses built before 1918, which is approximately 12% higher than first-ranked Lancaster. Yet Bury's population rate comes in at 3,163 per 10,000 residents, which is lower than Lancaster's.
Methodology
- The number of cemeteries and memorials in UK cities was obtained from findagrave.com.
Note: This data is community-driven, meaning the data could be inaccurate or incomplete in some areas. - The number of paranormal reports was obtained from paullee.com.
- The data for the empty properties in England was taken from the UK government website.
Note: Table 615 was used for this work, which particularly provides information on vacant properties in England. 'All long-term vacants' are considered here. - Data on empty properties and second homes was taken from the Scottish Government website.
- The number of houses aged more than 100 years ago (built before 1918) in England and Wales was collected from the UK government website.
Note: The number of houses aged more than 100 years was not straightforwardly available for Scotland. Therefore, the number of houses built pre-1918 for Scottish cities was estimated using the total number of dwellings from Scottish Gov data multiplied by 19% (which according to the Scottish House Condition Survey 2021 is the percentage of homes in Scotland that were built before 1918).* - All the parameters were normalised by population to get the values per 100,000 people, which were then used to find the scores.
- Data is correct as of 10/10/2023.
*Limitation: By using the 19% across all of Scotland, it is assumed that the distribution of age of buildings and building patterns across all of Scotland is similar. This is an assumption used here to estimate the number of households built before 1918.
