Exploring The Spirits Within The Tower Of London

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: October 21, 2024
  • Last Updated: September 19, 2025

The Tower of London

The Tower of London, officially known as ‘His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London‘, is a famous castle complex on the banks of the River Thames. Today, it’s undoubtedly one of London’s most-visited tourist attractions thanks to the Tower’s fascinating and somewhat bloody history.

The stone walls are steeped in hundreds of years’ worth of spooky stories that tell of deaths, betrayals, and imprisonments. Author Lauren Tarshis once described the Tower as a place “where they used to chop off your head if the king didn’t like you“. Based on the many beheadings that took place within the complex, this is a fairly accurate description!

In this article, we’ll tell you more about the Tower’s rich history and introduce you to the many ghosts who still haunt the Tower of London to this day.

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Tower Of London’s Petrifying Ghost Stories

While only 22 people were executed within the Tower itself, over 100 people were executed at the nearby Tower Hill. These deaths, alongside the many imprisonments at White Tower, contribute to the Tower’s plethora of ghostly rumours.

Let’s take a closer look at the spirits that haunt London’s iconic castle:

Guy Fawkes

Guy Fawkes is one of the most famous ghosts said to haunt the White Tower dungeons. After he attempted to assassinate James I in 1605, Guy Fawkes was brought to the Tower of London, where he was tortured mercilessly. Many people claim they can still hear his screams echoing throughout the dungeons.

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Henry VI

After the disastrous Battle of Towton, Edward IV took the throne from Henry VI. Henry VI was then held in the Wakefield Tower before he died in the King’s Private Chapel. Henry VI’s death took place close to midnight and it is believed that Henry’s ghost can be seen haunting the Wakefield Tower at the stroke of midnight each night.

Anne Boleyn

Henry VIII broke away from the Roman Catholic Church when he dismissed his first wife, Catherine Howard, and took on a second wife.

This second wife was the young Anne Boleyn, but the marriage didn’t last long. After she was accused of adultery just three years into the marriage, Anne Boleyn spent some time in the Tower of London before she was beheaded in the infamous Tower Green. Her headless figure is said to still haunt the grounds to this day.

A Ghostly Bear

Henry III was an avid collector of wild and exotic animals. He had cages filled with tigers, jackals, pumas, and even a polar bear. People travelled from far and wide to see these animals and watch bear-baiting activities. The Holy Roman Emperor, Frederick II, is said to have presented Henry III with three leopards.

There have been many reports of a ghostly bear guarding the crown jewels in the Jewel Room. Some say it is a polar bear while others say it is a black bear.

Arbella Stuart

Cousin to Elizabeth I, Arbella Stuart was imprisoned in the Tower of London for marrying William Seymour without royal consent. William Seymour was the famous nephew of Lady Jane Grey. Arbella was either starved or refused to eat and she eventually died while imprisoned. Her ghost can be seen drifting through the Queen’s House, looking for her lost husband.

Sir Walter Raleigh

The famous explorer Sir Walter Raleigh was held in the Bloody Tower three times before he was eventually beheaded outside the Palace of Westminster. One of his confinements lasted thirteen years, during which time he attempted suicide. According to legend, his ghost can still be found wandering the winding staircase of the Bloody Tower.

It is not entirely certain why the poet and explorer ended up in the Tower, but some say it is because he fell out of Elizabeth I’s favour.

The Young Princes

Edward IV died in 1483 and his young son was meant to become King Edward V. In an unexpected turn, the decision was opposed with many declaring young Edward illegitimate. The boy and his brother, Richard, were sent to the Tower while their uncle ascended the throne as Richard III.

The two young princes mysteriously disappeared and when their skeletons were later discovered, they were given a royal burial. When visiting the grounds, you may see the ghosts of the young brothers frolicking throughout the gardens.

Other ghosts

  • Lord Guildford Dudley: Executed at Tower Hill in 1554, Lord Guildford Dudley was the husband of Lady Jane Grey.
  • ‘The White Lady’: Lady Jane Grey, also known as ‘The White Lady’, was executed soon after her husband. The smell of her ‘cheap perfume’ is typically an indicator of her ghostly presence.
  • Henry VI: Henry VI was stabbed while he was praying in the Wakefield Tower. His ghost is said to haunt the tower to this day.

Tower Of London: History

Built in 1078 by William the Conquerer, the Tower of London has a long, rich history. The building complex resides within two rings of walls and a moat, originally designed to keep intruders out. Various kings expanded the complex throughout the 12th and 13th centuries to make it more impressive.

The Tower of London consists of three main areas, including the South Battlements, the East Battlements, and the North Battlements. Some of the most well-known locations within these battlements include the Medieval Palace, St Thomas’s Tower, St John’s Chapel, Salt Tower, Martin Tower, White Tower, Beauchamp Tower, and the Guard Room.

Over the centuries, the Tower of London has served as a royal residence, a prison, a library, a public records office, and more. Plenty of famous people have lived or been imprisoned at the Tower, including Margaret Pole of the Church of St Peter ad Vincula. The grounds have also been home to Yeoman Warders and their families for the past 500 years.

In the 1500s, the Tower began welcoming visitors interested in its fascinating history. In 1988, the Tower of London was officially named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, thousands of visitors walk the Tower’s stone floors every year and it is one of the most-visited historical attractions in the UK.

FAQs

How can I visit the Tower of London?

To visit the Tower of London, you’ll need to purchase a ticket online or at the onsite ticket office. There is no need to book a tour as the Yeoman Warders provide free tours of the grounds. However, if you want to learn more about the Tower’s supernatural aspects, you may want to consider booking a ghost tour.

What part of the Tower of London is the most haunted?

Many people say that Tower Green is the most haunted area on the grounds. This is where dozens of famous executions took place, so it only makes sense that Tower Green is filled with ghosts.

Is there any proof that the Tower of London is haunted?

It is very difficult to provide tangible proof that the Tower of London is haunted. With that being said, plenty of paranormal investigators have explored the grounds, armed with ghost-detection equipment. There have also been hundreds of reported ghost sightings by visitors. At the end of the day, only you can decide if you want to believe the ghost stories.

What are some of the most haunted places in London?

London is filled with dozens of haunted locations, with some of the most infamous being Westminster Abbey, the River Thames, the Tower Bridge, Highgate Cemetery, Ragged School Museum, and the Clink Prison.

Final Words

The Tower of London will always remain one of the most iconic locations in the UK. Steeped in rich history and spooky stories, the grounds are well worth a visit. If you want to try to detect paranormal activity during your time there, you may want to invest in a ghost communicator or an EDI meter.

Remember to keep a lookout for the headless Anne Boleyn, the ghost of Lord Guildford Dudley, and the ‘White Lady’, who often appears in a window waving to those visiting the grounds. Even those who don’t have an interest in the supernatural will enjoy a visit to the Tower of London as there is so much to discover.

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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!