The Witchery, Edinburgh

Spooky stays: Haunted hotels to book for Halloween

22 Oct 2024 | | By Annie Lewis

Scare your socks off at these luxury hotels around the world renowned for their permanent ghostly residents…

Fancy sleeping in a former prison cell? Or walking in the footsteps of guests long since departed? Welcome to the world’s spookiest haunted hotels, promising plenty of mysteries, secrets and ghoulish stories that take the meaning of ‘after dark experiences’ to a new level. Dare to step inside? From Colorado to Scotland, and Dublin to Finland, here are the surprisingly high-end hotels boasting a haunted history that are ready to welcome you this Halloween and beyond. 

Rusacks St Andrews, Scotland

Rusacks St Andrews – part of the Marine and Lawn collection, known for reviving historical seaside golf hotels in Scotland – is first and foremost a golfing hotspot. A sporting paradise, overlooking the 1st and 18th holes of the Old Course, the 120-key property features Highland-inspired interiors, a rooftop restaurant led by celebrated chef Derek Johnstone, and first-in access to multiple tees in Fife. 

It’s also the perfect spot from which to discover St Andrews’ haunting past. Known among locals as a hive for mysterious activity, the region is supposedly home to more than 300 ghosts, making it one of the most haunted locations in the world by size. Reported sightings include monks, phantom coaches, and spritely horses as well as the famous Veiled Nun of St Leonards. For guests looking to immerse themselves in the world of ghosts, book local historian and author Richard Falconer’s Exploration of Ghosts tour via the hotel’s concierge. Having had his first paranormal experience in St Andrews at the age of six, Falconer has uncovered 134 new haunted locations and more than 262 previously unknown ghosts in St Andrews. Happy ghostbusting!

From £219 per night. 

Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada

Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada
Image: Shutterstock

Located in the heart of Canada’s breathtaking Banff National Park, which doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the world-famous, uber-luxury Fairmont Banff Springs is a landmark within its own right. At the heart of the picturesque alpine town of Banff, this ‘castle in the Rockies’ has been a stalwart of five-star hospitality since 1888, offering a 27-hole championship golf course, exceptional skiing experiences, an award-winning spa, and countless dining outlets. 

Grand and gothic, it’s unsurprising this historic mountain retreat has a few ghoulish guests on its books. For example, ‘the bride’ dates back to the 1920s, and is rumoured to have died after falling down the hotel’s grand staircase on her wedding day, while Sam the bellman, who worked at the hotel until 1975, is said to have returned to haunt his beloved hotel by helping guests with their luggage before disappearing into thin air. 

From £562 per night. 

The Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall

Fancy sleeping in a former prison cell? Now you can thanks to the luxurious Bodmin Jail Hotel, Cornwall’s most historic and haunted hideaway. The 18th-century prison has been lovingly transformed into a 70-bedroom hotel, preserving its enviable history – it housed the Crown Jewels during World War One – while inviting guests to embark on ghost tours, or experience afternoon tea in the dark. After a day filled with witches, ghosts, and tales of the past, unwind in rooms that combine historic charm with modern comfort, and dine on hyper-local menus at the Chapel Restaurant. 

This Halloween, the hotel will host an adults-only Paranormal Evening diving into the supernatural, with exclusive after-hours access to the eerie halls of Bodmin Jail and state-of-the-art paranormal equipment to interact with the unseen. Elsewhere, those brave enough to face the darkness will enjoy the hotel’s award-winning scare attraction, challenging brave thrillseekers to navigate pitch-black corridors and eerie rooms filled with terrifying surprises. Finally, don’t miss the Ultimate Halloween Experience, featuring a bespoke spooky cocktail, tarot card reading, ghost walk, and spine-chilling séance in the jail’s basement.

From £179 per night. 

The Witchery, Edinburgh

There’s no better place to embrace the supernatural than Edinburgh, often hailed as one of the most haunted cities in the world. Situated on the Scottish capital’s Royal Mile and a stone’s throw from Edinburgh Castle, The Witchery, with its gothic charm and rich history, is the perfect match for fans of the supernatural, and for anyone looking to immerse themselves in the eerie beauty of Scotland's capital. 31 October marks both Halloween and the hotel’s 45th anniversary and will see it host an impressive pumpkin display for a slice of autumnal magic. Step inside one of The Witchery's nine luxurious suites to transport yourself into a world where history and fantasy blend together, with its darkly romantic décor adding to the allure.

A key highlight near the hotel is the Witches' Well, a haunting memorial to the victims of Edinburgh's witch trials. For those eager to explore more of Edinburgh’s spooky side, the city offers plenty of haunted tours, from ghostly vaults to medieval streets, and the lively Samhuinn Fire Festival, celebrating the ancient Celtic tradition of Samhain.

From £575 per night. 

Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli, Finland

Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli, Finland

Located in the heart of Finnish Lakeland and dating back to 1903, the atmospheric Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli is famed not only for its striking architecture but also for its ghostly tales. Since the early 20th century, guests and locals alike have reported eerie sightings, the most famous being the Grey Lady. The origins of the story centre around a heartbroken young woman who, after discovering her husband's infidelity, took her own life, leaving behind a letter that mysteriously vanished before reaching him. Her distraught spirit is said to still wander the halls of the hotel. 

Willing to risk a run in with the Grey Lady? Set in an elegant castle, Hotel Imatran Valtionhotelli offers guests the choice of historic castle rooms or more modern hideaways. With an indoor pool, hot tub, warm rock beds, and a traditional Finnish sauna, its spa offers the perfect winter bolthole to unwind in after a day exploring Imatra’s stunning landscapes – or perhaps after encountering one of its ghostly residents.

From £99 per night. 

Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago

Congress Plaza Hotel, Chicago
Image: Shutterstock/Pictor Pictures

Few people know that Al Capone – the most famous American gangster of the 1920s, and boss of the Chicago Outfit – set up the headquarters for his criminal empire in the Congress Plaza Hotel. Many guests have reportedly seen the ghost of ‘Scarface’ (Al Capone’s nickname) roaming the halls near his old suite on the eighth floor. He isn’t the only ghost to have set up camp here either, with reports naming other apparitions including Peg Leg Johnny and Dr. H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer. Some travel to the Congress Plaza Hotel just to experience a ghostly visitation, with room 411 being a popular choice thanks to the female ghost who reportedly kicks guests awake from the foot of the bed each night. 

Spooky reputation aside, the hotel is deemed a Chicago icon, having stood in the heart of the city near Grant Park for more than 125 years. Home to a whopping 871 rooms, head downstairs after check-in to get your fill of American fare at the two in-house restaurants before stepping outside to discover the Magnificent Mile: Chicago’s vibrant, bustling neighbourhood home to luxury outlets, cool restaurants and landmarks such as the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower and the 100-storey John Hancock Center, which has a rooftop observation deck with fine dining and panoramic city views.

From £71 per night. 

The Drake Hotel, Chicago

The Drake Hotel, Chicago
Image: Shutterstock

Preceded by its luxurious reputation in the Windy City, The Drake is also known as Chicago’s second most haunted hotel and the home of the Lady in Red: a woman in a crimson dress who discovered her husband with another woman during a New Year’s Eve gala at the hotel. She was so heartbroken that she jumped from a window on the 10th floor and, ever since that night, has supposedly roamed The Drake’s hallways and elegant Palm Court, which was previously visited by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana for afternoon tea. Joining the Lady in Red among The Drake Hotel’s ghostly clientele is the Woman in Black. It’s said that in 1944, socialite Adele Born Williams entered her room at the hotel to discover a woman dressed in black who pulled a gun from her purse and shot Williams dead – a case that remains unsolved to this day. Perhaps as penance for her crimes, the killer is still said to roam the eighth floor of The Drake.

Inside the hotel, old world charm meets quintessential friendly Chicago service throughout its restaurants, 535 rooms and 74 suites. It oozes as much glamour as it did when it first opened on New Year’s Eve at the dawn of the Roaring Twenties, having since hosted Marilyn Monroe, Joe DiMaggio, Aretha Franklin, Walt Disney, and Charles Lindbergh. It’s also one of the only hotels in the city to offer direct access to the shores of Lake Michigan and Oak Street Beach. Don’t miss a drink or two at the Coq d’Or Bar – the second establishment in Chicago to receive its liquor licence post-prohibition – and the 3,000 square foot health club. 

From £171 per night.

Parador de Jaén, Spain

Parador de Jaén, Spain
Image: Shutterstock

At the top of the hill of Santa Catalina, next to the imposing eponymous castle, stands boutique hotel Parador de Jaén, renowned for its panoramic views of the Sierra Morena and Sierra Mágina. A destination for discovering the 16th-century Andalusian Renaissance, Parador de Jaén is a sight to behold, largely thanks to its façade of huge stone walls and impressive interior vaults – which certainly have a few spooky stories to tell. Legend (the hotel’s website) has it that, during the 1980s, a guest in room 22 woke one night to hear a woman crying and someone knocking on the door. A team of paranormal investigators were called in to check the room and found it was haunted by the spirit of a heartbroken young woman who had died in the fortress several centuries before. While her crying has supposedly stopped, the hotel is also home to the spirit of Terrible Lizard: the nickname of a prisoner who died of hunger while locked up in the fortress.

Away from the ghosts, rooms retain many original 18th-century features, including arched ceilings, wooden beams and tiled floors. Bask in the Andalusian sunshine at the hotel’s outdoor pool and dine on local dishes at the in-house restaurant. Beyond Parador de Jaén’s four walls, discover the nearby Villardompardo Palace and its Arab baths – the largest and best-preserved in Europe – and the beautiful olive groves in Sierra de Cazorla and la Sierra de Mágina.

From £86 per night. 

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel, Colorado
Image: Shutterstock

Having played the fictional Overlook Hotel in the film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining, The Stanley Hotel is steeped in spooky history. Famed not only for its Hollywood-approved backdrop but also its preserved Georgian architecture and world-renowned whiskey bar, the hotel opened in 1909 and is set strikingly against a backdrop of peaks in Estes Park: the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Comprising a spa, in-house Cascades restaurant specialising in American fare, and on-site shop, it’s also home to 140 rooms – the most popular being room 217, where Stephen King stayed and which is rumoured to be the most haunted. 

Leaning into its spooky reputation, the hotel offers a The Shining Tour, which features a visit to The Shining Suite, otherwise known as the Caretaker's Cottage, where you can snap a photo of the re-created bathroom, and catch a glimpse of one of the axes from the film set. Beyond the silver screen, many other ghostly sightings have been reported at the hotel, as well as mysterious piano music. For those who wish to delve deeper, embark on one of the nightly ghost tours or book a psychic consultation with the in-house clairvoyant. 

From £176 per night. 

The Shelbourne, Ireland

Dublin’s finest hotels don’t get much more historic than The Shelbourne. Famous for witnessing the drafting of the Irish Constitution – which guests can get a peek at for themselves in the hotel’s Constitution Room, where a copy of the original document is available for viewing – the Victorian building dates back to 1824, and oozes luxury at every turn thanks to its array of prized antiques, glass chandeliers and 32 intricate stained-glass windows – one for each Irish county – dotted throughout the hotel. Inside its suites – named in honour of the hotel’s most memorable guests – expect separate sleeping and seating areas and marble bathrooms. Unwind at the Horseshoe Bar, the Lord Mayor's Lounge, known as Ireland's most famous drawing room, the Saddle Room and the new 1824 Bar, famous for its top-shelf whiskey and whimsical mural by artist Paul Slater.

Rumour has it that the hotel has one permanent resident on its fifth floor: seven-year-old Mary Masters. It’s been said that she died from cholera in 1846 inside the building, and enjoys playing havoc with some guests, mischievously turning on taps and slamming doors. Psychic Sybil Leek claims to have been contacted by her, and Hollywood actress Lily Collins also states she saw the girl in 2013 during her stay at The Shelbourne, retelling the story to US talk-show host Jimmy Fallon and explaining she heard giggling and felt a “presence” in her room.

From £334 per night. 

The Langham, London

London’s most haunted hotel is also one of its most luxurious, with The Langham’s ghostly residents having scared the socks off the English cricket team in 2014 so successfully that they decided to share rooms. Regular sightings include a Victorian gentleman who appears in room 333 during the month of October, the figure of a man in military dress who stands by a window on the fourth floor and is said to be the ghost of a German prince who jumped from the window before World War One, and the ghost of former guest and French president Napoleon III, who enjoys residing in the basement when in town. 

Don’t allow its paranormal activity to put you off as The Langham is a real treat. Situated just a three-minute stroll from Oxford Street and a stone’s throw from the glamorous neighbourhood of Marylebone, hunker down in the hotel to sample cocktails at Artesian – voted the World’s Best Bar for four years in a row – Chez Roux by acclaimed French chef Michel Roux, the casual but fun Wigmore gastropub and the subterranean Chuan Spa. Just watch out for Napoleon while taking a dip in the 16-metre indoor swimming pool… 

From £464 per night. 

Read more: The holiday hot list: Where to travel in October