Inside spooky UK location ranked 'world's most haunted'

09 October 2023 , 21:08

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Edinburgh's Mary King's Close has been ranked the world's most haunted destination (Image: Alamy Stock Photo)

When it comes to spooky cities hiding all manner of sinister, creeping things, Edinburgh is often the first that comes to any Brit's mind.

The Scottish capital in fact has as many ghosts as it has cobblestones, and the tourist hotspot is often dubbed the world's most haunted. Known for its ancient buildings and a history which includes beastly body-snatchers and macabre miniature coffins, it's the ideal spot for any tourist who loves all things ghoulish.

And there's one spot in particular which has become a favourite haunt for ghost-hunters. The Old Town's eerie Mary King's Close is so plagued by spirits that it's been identified as one of the most haunted destinations in the world, according to TripAdvisor data compiled by experts at Planet Cruise.

Joining the likes of Philadelphia's horrifying Eastern State Penitentiary and Paris' wickedly creepy catacombs, the Close is a centuries-old underground street which was closed off from the city in the 17th century to contain the spread of the deadly Bubonic Plague. Among its labyrinthine rooms is one said to be haunted by the spirit of a girl named 'Annie', where visitors over the years have left dolls and soft toys as offerings.

The subterranean network of houses is plagued with ghosts

The disorientating subterranean street was once open-topped, before the Royal Mile's Royal Exchange was built over the top. Despite this, all its houses have been preserved, showing the cramped conditions working Edinburgh residents once lived in.

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A spokesperson for Planet Cruise said: "Coincidentally, it also happens to be the most haunted hotspot in the world. Not only does it have the greatest number of 'scary' and 'spooky' mentions (583 and 497 respectively), but it also has a TripAdvisor rating of 4.5."

For those courageous enough to venture underground onto Mary King's Close after dark, the Lantern Led Tours will shed light (or rather, darkness) on Edinburgh's history, highlighting the lives and deaths of former residents over time. Guests will descend into complete darkness, with their only source of light being the flicker of their lanterns.

Other locations that made it to the top 10 list include The Stanley Hotel in Colorado, USA, known for its inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining, and the renowned Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana. The top 10 most haunted destinations are as follows:

1. Mary Kings Close

Edinburgh, Scotland

2. Eastern State Penitentiary

Philadelphia, USA

3. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park

Colorado, USA

4. Crumlin Road Gaol

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Belfast, Northern Ireland

5. St. Augustine Lighthouse

Florida, USA

6. Bhangarh Fort

Rajasthan India

7. Bonaventure Cemetery

Savannah, USA

8. Myrtles Plantation

Louisiana, USA

9. Catacombs of Paris

Paris, France

10. Tower of London

London, UK

* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]

Susie Beever