10 Most Haunted Hotels In London

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: December 31, 2024
  • Last Updated: September 20, 2025

The Langham Hotel

With a history spanning almost 2,000 years, you are bound to run into a ghost or two when in London.

Now, narrow your search down to one of the capital’s old and famous hotels, and you’re almost guaranteed to encounter a lost soul, long-departed, stuck on this side of the veil between the living and the dead.

Read here to learn about the ten most haunted hotels in London, the sordid stories behind their otherworldly guests, and what to expect when you spend a night in one of these haunted establishments.

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The 10 Most Haunted Hotels In London

1. The Langham Hotel

Arguably the most haunted hotel in London, the Langham Hotel first opened its doors in 1865.

This upscale, 500-room hotel has had its fair share of famous guests. The likes of Princess Diana and the famous writer Oscar Wilde frequented the establishment.

However, the Langham also has a long list of visitors who never checked out:

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  • Emperor Napoleon III: The emperor stayed in the Langham after being exiled from France. Since he died in 1873, there have been regular eyewitness reports of his ghost wandering through the basement.
  • The German prince: The ghost of a young German prince – who took his own life by jumping from the fourth floor – is often seen walking through the hotel’s walls. Guests have complained of a cold draught when he is around.
  • The Room 333 ghost: One of the UK’s most haunted and well-known hotel rooms, Room 333 is said to house the ghost of a doctor who, after killing his wife, took his own life in this suite. Dressed in Victorian-era clothing, the ghost once appeared to a BBC reporter as a floating light globe which morphed into a man-like shape. Several guests of Room 333 have complained after violently being thrown from the bed.
  • The wounded man: Some eyewitnesses have also reported running into a man in the hallways. With a massive wound across his entire face, this is a ghostly encounter that’ll make your blood run cold!
  • The old butler: Still doing duty years after his passing, the ghost of a butler, dressed in hotel uniform, is often seen walking from room to room to check if all guests are okay.

2. The Cadogan Hotel

This Cadogan Hotel is most famous for housing the ghost of the famous 1900s actress Lillie Langtry.

Langtry had a well-publicised affair with the Prince of Wales and often secretly met up with the prince in one of the hotel’s rooms. Her ghost wanders the hallways of the Cadogan Hotel every year during Christmas.

3. The Savoy Hotel

Overlooking the Thames, this haunted hotel has had many reports of a little girl bellhop, who haunts the lift on the fifth floor.

Her ghost often roams the corridor in front of Room 502 or plays in the lift.

4. The Grange Blooms Hotel

Another favourite among ghost-hunting fans, the Grange Blooms Hotel (nestled on the grounds of the British Museum) boasts its fair share of history and paranormal activity!

One of the many spirits that call the 1700s, 26-room hotel their home is that of Dr John Cumming. Dr Cumming was obsessed with conspiracy theories and reading the Bible, and today can still be spotted in the lounge area, pondering the end of the world.

5. The Georgian House Hotel

This small hotel reported its first paranormal event in the latter part of the 1980s.

At the time, a manager, annoyed and enraged by a bunch of kids playing and making a noise on one of the upper floors, spoke to front-desk staff to address their parents, only to find out there weren’t any families with kids booked in.

Since then, many guests of the Georgian House Hotel have complained of the unruly kids running around and slamming doors on the top floor, only to hear no children are in the building.

6. Brown’s Hotel

This luxury hotel in Mayfair hosted the likes of Queen Victoria, Theodore Roosevelt, and Winston Churchill in its heydays.

One of the ghosts often seen in Brown’s Hotel is that of a maid who fell to her death from one of the upper floors. Guests and staff say they have seen her ghost wander the hallways and reported strange movements and noises in their rooms.

The most famous guest of the hotel – who seems yet to have to check out – is Rudyard Kipling. He was a frequent guest of the hotel and even though he passed away in 1936, many people have said they heard the sounds of a typewriter coming from Kipling’s favourite room.

7. The Dorchester Hotel

Located in the heart of Mayfair, The Dorchester Hotel has long been synonymous with luxury whispers of the paranormal.

Guests have reported eerie encounters in the corridors—ranging from the glimpse of a figure in period attire to sudden, inexplicable cold spots near the elevators. Late at night, some even claim to hear classical music through the empty halls.

Whether these tales are the remnants of its past or merely the imaginations of its visitors, The Dorchester remains a captivating stop for ghost hunters and lovers of London’s haunted history.

8. The Great Northern Hotel

This King’s Cross hotel, built in 1854, is home to two well-known ghosts.

The ghostly apparition of a woman who committed suicide in one of the rooms in the 1920s often roams the hallways, emitting a blue aura.

Another ghostly guest, a man who was poisoned by a business partner, has also been seen by several guests and staff members.

9. The Royal Horseguards Hotel

With guests and staff reporting several ghost sightings, this luxury haunted hotel in Westminster is another must-visit for ghost hunters.

Interestingly, the Royal Horseguards Hotel also has a haunted Room 333. It’s in this room where a young girl, heartbroken because her father disapproved of her relationship with a soldier, killed herself. Her ghost has since been seen wandering the hotel’s corridors.

There have also been many eyewitness reports of the ghost of a soldier in uniform floating through the hallways.

10. The Ritz Hotel

Located in Piccadilly, the Ritz has been a mainstay for many famous living and non-living guests.

The hotel houses many ghosts, including that of the long-passed Duke of Wellington, who, according to staff and guests, taps his cane on the floor of the Waterloo Suite early every morning.

Guests have also told stories of seeing a cloaked figure with a top hat roaming the hotel’s corridors. Others have said they saw the ghost of a chambermaid floating down the hallways.

FAQs

Which other famous haunted locations are there in London?

When in London, remember also to visit these five haunted places:

  • Westminster Abbey. This centuries-old church is the burial site of hundreds of monks. Visitors often report seeing the ghost of a long-passed monk floating around the grounds.
  • Tower Of London. Used by the Royal Family as a prison, this historic building is known for regular sightings of the ghost of Anne Boleyn walking around the hallways with her head under her arm.
  • Bruce Castle Museum. Every year on the 3rd of November, the ghost of Lady Coleraine, who died after jumping off the parapet, can reportedly be seen taking her final leap.
  • Spaniards Inn. This London pub is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Dick Turpin and a lady dressed in white.
  • Bleeding Heart Yard. Visitors have reported hearing the blood-curdling screams for help of Lady Elizabeth Hatton, who was brutally murdered here.

Final Thoughts

If an afternoon of ghost-hunting is more your cup of tea, then London does not disappoint.

“If you’re curious, London’s an amazing place.” – David Bailey

The city is steeped in history and offers a great selection of haunted hotels – perfect for ghosthunters who don’t mind staying up late and roaming the corridors to run into a ghostly guest.

Remember to use SpiritShack’s range of ghost-hunting equipment, like our spirit boxes, infrared cameras, or EMP meters, to make your ghost-hunting adventure extra scary and special.

Sources:

Sam Ashford
Sam Ashford - Author

Hey, I'm Sam Ashford! I'm a ghost-hunting expert, writer and founder of SpiritShack. My mission is to help people like yourself learn about spirituality and how to hunt ghosts!