On a dark winter’s night, there’s nothing quite like a cozy English ghost story—wait, did we just say “cozy”? We meant downright terrifying. In this video 10 creepy English hauntings, we wander through the misty moors that inspired The Hound of the Baskervilles and the fog‑laden streets that haunted Charles Dickens’s own signalman. The very places that fuel classic literature are also home to genuine, blood‑curdling legends, and we’re about to lock the doors and explore the most spine‑tingling specters that have ever roamed Britain.

video 10 creepy: English Ghost Stories Unveiled

Don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube Channel for more chilling tales, or read the original list on the site. If you crave more goosebumps, check out these other frightful collections:

• 10 Creepy Urban Legends From Around The USA
• 10 Truly Creepy Demonic Hauntings
• 10 Eerie Chinese Paranormal Stories
• 10 Eerie Slave Hauntings From The Deep South

When you hear the classic theater wish “break a leg,” you might also hear a whisper about restless spirits. The world of stagecraft is riddled with superstition, and the phrase “top ten hauntings” barely scratches the surface of the spectral drama that unfolds behind the curtains. From the misty backstage corridors of historic playhouses to abandoned vaudeville halls where the lights flicker on their own, every venue seems to have its own phantom player. Below, we walk you through each of these ten eerie locales, sharing the chilling details that keep actors, crew, and audiences on edge.

Top Ten Hauntings Overview

10 The Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon

Established in 1935, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival isn’t a single auditorium but a trio of performance spaces that light up from February through October, presenting roughly eleven productions each season. Though its name pays homage to the Bard, the festival’s repertoire stretches far beyond Shakespeare, featuring an eclectic mix of modern works since its 1960 debut. Yet one lingering soul remains attached to its stage: the legendary English actor Charles Laughton, who never got to fulfill his dream of playing King Lear before his untimely death in 1963.

Born in Scarborough in 1899, Laughton launched his acting career at twenty‑seven, first gracing the West End of London. Over the next three decades he dazzled on Broadway and in Hollywood, finally landing the coveted role of King Lear at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in 1961, alongside a comedic turn as Falstaff in The Merry Wives of Windsor. Tragically, his life was cut short by pancreatic cancer in 1963, moments before he could bring Lear to life on that very stage.

Nevertheless, the show went on. During the run of The Merry Wives of Windsor, cast members reported hearing a deep, resonant chuckle echoing through the wings—an unmistakable Falstaff laugh. Some even claimed to glimpse a figure in full Falstaff costume backstage, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Laughton himself.

The haunting intensified with the production of King Lear. Actors recounted hearing a mournful, anguished voice during pivotal scenes, and several audience members swear they saw Laughton materialize in the balcony during Lear’s tragic death. To this day, the specter of Laughton is said to linger, especially during Lear performances, where his forlorn presence is felt more strongly than ever.

9 The Variety Theater in Cleveland, Ohio

The Variety Theater opened its doors in 1927, originally offering vaudeville extravaganzas reminiscent of Ziegfeld’s famed Follies. Over the decades, its programming evolved to include film screenings and concerts, maintaining a reputation for eclectic entertainment.

In 1984, the metal band Möterhead shattered records by blasting a deafening 130 decibels, briefly earning the title of world’s loudest concert. The sheer volume caused plaster to cascade from the ceiling, prompting a flood of noise complaints and safety concerns from the surrounding neighborhood. Two years later, the theater shuttered its doors, falling into disrepair and becoming a magnet for urban explorers.

Even in abandonment, the Variety Theater refuses to stay silent. Local ghost‑tour guide Chuck Gove claims the building hosts nineteen distinct spirits. Visitors report erratic lights flickering, disembodied backstage chatter reminiscent of a tech crew, and a shadowy figure perched in the upper balcony, its eyes glowing a menacing red.

8 The Kalamazoo Civic Theater in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Constructed in 1929, the Kalamazoo Civic Theater stands as a cultural cornerstone in its Michigan hometown, delighting patrons with plays and musicals for over ninety years. Yet one spectral presence is said to haunt its historic halls.

Legend speaks of a woman named Thelma, who allegedly fell to her death from the upper balcony during a performance. While the tale was later revealed to be a creative fabrication by summer‑camp students, many still report inexplicable phenomena that suggest a lingering poltergeist.

The activity often manifests as ghostly piano melodies or unbidden singing echoing through an empty auditorium, and mysterious props appearing in odd locations. During a 1990s staging of Singin’ in the Rain, actor Janet Gover described a force tugging at her tightly pinned hat, while a monitor inexplicably displayed an image of a woman in a black coat standing onstage when the house was empty.

Another unsettling encounter involved the backstage prop master, who, during the off‑season, saw an older woman in a black coat and poofy hat. When she asked if the woman was lost, the apparition replied, “Oh no, I know exactly where I am,” before vanishing before her very eyes.

7 The Palace Grand Theater in Dawson City, Canada

Although the first entry beyond the United States, the Palace Grand Theater feels more like a northern outpost than a distant foreign land. Built in 1899 during the Yukon Gold Rush, the theater emerged as a beacon of entertainment when the frenzy of prospectors began to wane. Its shows, affectionately dubbed “The Good Time Girls,” featured lavish Follies‑style performances.

One of the most storied hauntings involves the theater’s founder, Arizona Charlie Meadows—a charismatic showman comparable to Buffalo Bill. Though he died in his namesake state, his ghost is said to roam the Yukon, lingering in the very walls of the Palace Grand.

Patrons report classic hauntings: lights flickering after hours, echoing footsteps, and sudden cold spots. Moreover, a faint scent of roses often wafts through Charlie’s former box, adding an eerie perfume to the atmosphere. Stage manager Emily Farrel once stood in the upper balcony during a concert when a performer asked who the gentleman beside her was; he wore an old‑fashioned jacket and hat, yet no one else was present.

Another phantom, known as Klondike Kate, was a celebrated “Good Time Girl” who disguised herself as a man to cross into Canada during the Gold Rush. After three marriages and a beloved local reputation, she passed away in 1956. Her dressing room, like Charlie’s, carries a lingering rose fragrance, and sightings suggest her spirited presence roams backstage more frequently than Charlie’s.

6 Le Petit Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana

In stark contrast to the chilly Yukon, Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré basks in the warm, humid climate of New Orleans. Founded in 1916, the current building dates to 1922 and has staged countless productions ever since.

The theater’s tragic history includes several fatal accidents: an actress who slipped from a high catwalk and a reluctant bride who leapt to her death from an outdoor balcony. Both spirits are said to appear in the reflective surfaces of the theater’s fountains, their mournful silhouettes visible only in shimmering water.

Additional specters haunt the venue: a cantankerous former manager who allegedly took his own life and now slams doors and makes props vanish, and a benevolent spirit named Caroline who, when asked for a blessing, returns any props the manager steals.

Perhaps the most perplexing ghost is a nameless nun who once slapped a crew member across the face, leaving a visible mark. Curiously, there is no historical record of a convent or nunnery associated with the theater, making this apparition all the more mysterious.

5 The Huguan Huiguan Opera House in Beijing, China

In Beijing’s historic heart lies the Huguan Huiguan Opera House, also known as the Huguang Guild Hall. Erected in 1807, it counts among the city’s “Four Great Theaters” and even served as shelter for World War II victims.

Legend tells that during a 20th‑century renovation, builders unknowingly erected new foundations atop an ancient cemetery. Since then, visitors have reported mournful wails and shrieks echoing from the courtyard, even when no one is present.

Another chilling tale claims that anyone who hurls stones into the courtyard is instantly rebuked by a disembodied voice, though no visible apparition appears to enforce the warning. A further story describes a janitor afflicted with leprosy, whose presence supposedly caused the ghosts to manifest only as voices, too frightened to reveal physical forms.

Today, the Huguan Huiguan Opera House continues to host Chinese opera performances and operates as a museum, preserving both its artistic heritage and its eerie folklore.

4 The St. James Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand

Crossing the Pacific, Wellington’s St. James Theatre, erected in 1912 and designed by Henry Eli White, stands as a testament to early‑20th‑century theatrical architecture. It succeeded an earlier, modest pantomime house, expanding to seat 650 patrons for plays and silent movies alike.

The most infamous spirit is a performer named Yuri, allegedly a Russian actor who fell from the flies—some say he was pushed by a jealous colleague named Pasha. Reported phenomena include lights snapping on after hours and an employee being shoved by an unseen force while holding his child, just as a steel beam threatened to strike his head.

Beyond Yuri, witnesses have heard an eerie wailing woman (noted by director Peter Jackson), glimpsed an American actor named Stan Andrews, and even reported the ghostly chorus of an entire boys’ choir echoing through the wings.

3 Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in London, England

One of the West End’s most storied venues, the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane—commonly called “Drury Lane”—belongs to a lineage dating back to 1663. The present building, constructed in 1812, is the fourth incarnation of the theater.

Ghostly activity centers around a trio of Victorian‑era apparitions. Most prominent is the legendary clown Joseph Grimaldi, whose spectral form is said to appear backstage, occasionally tugging at actors’ hair. Another figure, dubbed “The Man in Grey,” roams the theater in a tricorne hat and powdered wig, his bones allegedly exhumed after a hidden wall was discovered during renovations.

Adding to the phantom roster, the spirit of pantomime legend Dan Leno—often dressed in women’s clothing for his acts—has been sighted in full costume, leaving behind a faint scent of lavender wherever he lingers.

2 The New Amsterdam Theater in New York, New York

The New Amsterdam Theater, a Broadway jewel inaugurated in 1902, boasts a legacy of Shakespearean productions and early musical comedies. Its most infamous haunting traces back to the Ziegfeld Follies, a series of lavish revues that ran from 1913 to 1927.

Among the Follies’ dazzling chorus girls was Olive Thomas, a bright‑eyed performer who tragically died in 1920 after an overdose of mercury bichloride. Since then, her spirit has been said to haunt the theater.

Witnesses describe Olive as a brunette in a flowing white dress with a matching sash, clutching a bottle of pills. She is said to glide across the stage, sometimes speaking to no one, vanishing into walls or ascending nonexistent stairways. She also appears near a hidden trapdoor beneath the stage.

In dressing rooms, Olive reportedly dons a green beaded gown and occasionally flirts with actors, adding an unsettling allure to her spectral presence.

1 The Belasco Theater in New York, New York

Rounding out the list is the iconic Belasco Theater, originally the Stuyvesant Theater, opened in 1906 and a mainstay on Broadway. Its namesake, David Belasco—dubbed “The Bishop of Broadway”—managed the venue until his death in 1931.

Belasco’s devotion to theater appears to have tethered his spirit to the very stage he loved. Witnesses frequently see a man in priestly garb—mirroring Belasco’s habit—watching performances from the balcony or shaking hands with actors backstage, offering congratulations.

Other eerie occurrences include sudden whiffs of cigar smoke with no source, disembodied laughter echoing through empty wings, and the occasional sound of a full party reverberating from Belasco’s locked‑away penthouse suite.

Adding to the phantom family, a “Blue Lady” materializes in a frosty mist, drifting through backstage corridors and the wings, further cementing the Belasco’s reputation as the most reported haunted theater on Broadway.

The easiest way to introduce this list would be to write something along the lines of “Theme parks: everyone’s favorite pastime!” But what if your adventure park had a dark, haunted secret?”

Most paranormal investigators agree that places with high traffic, like hotels, clubs, and hospitals, are more likely to have ghosts. Even if the reasoning veers toward the pseudo-scientific, it’s hard to dispute that more hotels are haunted than mere apartment buildings.

Considering that Disney World had 8.5 million guests in 2021 alone, theme parks definitely fit the “high traffic” descriptor. Though many parks boast a haunted house attraction or Halloween festival, true hauntings can also be found. This list will cover ten different theme parks with ten different ghost stories, spanning tales from the standard ghostly fare to harrowing urban legends.

10 Dorney Park

One of the staples of a horror-movie carnival, outside of creepy clowns, of course, is the sort of uncanny calliope music associated with carousels. It doesn’t help that some carousels have been around for a full century. At Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, one can find such a carousel, the Antique Carousel, built by the Dentzel Carousel Company in 1921.

The carousel doesn’t just entertain Dorney Park patrons by day, however. Legend says that a white-dressed ghost can be seen riding the Antique Carousel after dark as haunting music plays. Some even claim that the ghost is none other than the wife of the carousel’s legendary architect, Daniel Muller. He carved a horse specifically as a gift for her, leading Mrs. Muller to become obsessed, even after the grave… if the legends are to be believed, that is.^[1]

9 Universal Studios, Los Angeles

The Hollywood-themed resort destination, Universal Studios, can be located in none other than sunny Los Angeles, California. And though the “Visitor’s Entertainment Center,” the original open-to-the-public park, was built in 1965, the grounds on which the park was built were first used back when silent movies were still popular.

With a history so rich, it’s easy to imagine that Universal Studios has its fair share of ghosts. Some say that the ghost of actor Lon Chaney can be seen dressed as the Phantom of the Opera. In addition, some claim to see the ghost of an aviator, which may as well be the spirit of a man who fell to his death from a plane in 1915. The apropos “Terror Tram” Halloween attraction even leaves after-hours employees with tails of children giggling and footsteps coming from nowhere.^[2]

8 Gulliver’s Kingdom Theme Park

This next theme park will be the first on the list to receive the “abandoned” designation. Gulliver’s Kingdom Theme Park, once located near Mount Fuji Kawaguchi-machi, Japan, was only open for four years before closing its doors in 2001 and leaving the park to the elements. However, every abandoned structure was removed in 2007.

One of the most eerie-looking remnants is a 150-foot (45-meter) long statue of Gulliver himself, tied to the ground and rotting away, though eerie-looking ruins do not “a haunting” make. For the brief six years of ruin, urban explorers did report odd sounds of laughter and shapes moving from shadows. Not for naught, the abandoned park can be found right next door to Aokigahara, Japan’s infamous “Suicide Forest.”^[3]

7 Six Flags Great Adventure

The theme park, Great Adventure, was built in 1972 near Jackson, New Jersey, and was purchased by the Six Flags company in 1977. Though the park is one of the most lucrative in the Six Flags chain, it was quite often historically the victim of many unfortunate circumstances. Perhaps most infamous was the tragic fire of the Haunted House attraction in 1984, which claimed the lives of eight teenagers.

Though the attraction has long since been removed, the attraction that took up the newly-vacant lot, the Autobahn Bumper Cars, has experienced a bit of paranormal activity. Employees claim to hear odd clicking noises after-hours, as well as disembodied conversation and laughter. Claims also include seeing odd shapes out of the corner of their eyes.^[4]

6 Six Flags New Orleans

Possibly one of the most infamous abandoned theme parks was also once a part of the Six Flags chain. However, intense flooding from devastating Hurricane Katrina caused the Louisiana theme park, Six Flags New Orleans, to close for good in the August of 2005. To this day, the park has never been reopened, and though the property is heavily guarded by police, urban explorers still penetrate the fences and come back with frightening ghost stories.

While poisonous snakes and fire ants plague trespassers far more often than ghostly activity, some report odd sounds, such as the laughter of children or the starting-up of a motor, which shouldn’t be possible with a park cut off from the power grid. Like so many other parks on this list, explorers also often see shadowy figures out of the corners of their eyes^[5]

5 Kings Island

The next entry is one of the younger parks on this list. Kings Island, built near Cincinnati, Ohio, only finished its construction in 1972, though it would borrow a large number of rides from the nearby Coney Island after the park closed due to fears of flooding. Unlike Coney Island, however, Kings Island made the mistake of building too close to a 19th-century cemetery

Some witnesses claim to see a young girl in a 19th-century blue dress roaming the parking lot before disappearing. Others claim to see a white-clad boy roaming near the wooden coaster, Racer, earning him the admittedly quickly-thought-up name of “Racer Boy.” Riders even claim to see him haunt the tunnels before disappearing as soon as the ride’s trains make contact.^[6]

4 Dadipark

The next park on this list can be found near Dadizele, Belgium, though “can be” is a tad bit incorrect because, much like Six Flags New Orleans, Dadipark is also currently abandoned. Built by a priest by the name of Gaston Deweer in 1950, Dadipark had a strong religious theme to draw in tourists visiting a nearby Basilica. However, the park closed its doors in 2002 following a tragic accident in which a young boy lost his arm.

Unlike Six Flags New Orleans, however, the ruins of Dadipark were far easier to explore, and drunken teenagers would routinely haunt the abandoned location. According to a large swath of paranormal investigators, however, the teenagers weren’t the only ones haunting it. Though the ghostly fare mostly consists of odd sounds and shadows, those with equipment have picked up electromagnetic fields and disembodied voices—if that sort of tech is to be believed.^[7]

3 Cedar Point

Located on a peninsula just outside of Sandusky, Ohio, Cedar Point is one of the U.S.’s most prolific theme parks. With Lake Erie as its backdrop, it’s hard to call the peninsula’s vistas anything but stunning, which is why the historic Hotel Breakers was built in 1905. However, the hotel has a haunting reputation, and many claim to hear ethereal crying and footsteps. Poltergeist activity has even been witnessed in Room 169, where the legend says a distraught woman by the name of Mary hung herself.

On top of that, the aforementioned Antique Carousel at Dorney Park once did a stint at Cedar Point, also garnering reports of a Lady in White. However, other sources indicate that the same figure also haunts the Midway Carousel toward the front of the park, which also just so happens to have been carved by Daniel Muller.^[8]

2 Walt Disney World

Finally, this list comes to the pièce de résistance of theme parks; Disney World itself. This complex of four theme parks, two water parks, and countless resort amenities began its existence in 1971, though with a name as prolific as “Disney,” urban legends are bound to pop up among a resort boasting 39 square miles (101 square kilometers) of acreage.

Disney World is host to countless paranormal legends, such as the apparition of a maintenance worker lurking in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Then there are the creepy shadowy apparitions in the abandoned River Country water park. A slew of poltergeist occurrences at Disney’s Hollywood Studio’s Tower of Terror reportedly stem from a deceased “bellhop” cast member or the haunted dummy puppet found at the end of the ride.^[9]

1 Disneyland

If the Floridian Disney park takes up the penultimate spot on this list, it should come as no surprise that the original Californian rendition should take first place. With a history sixteen years older and a location in Anaheim that Walt Disney himself actually visited, the list of paranormal Disney experiences deepen.

The most notable story involves the apparition of a little boy found within the on-the-nose Haunted Mansion attraction. The story goes that a mother poured her son’s ashes on the ride, an uncomfortably common occurrence for the Haunted Mansion. People often report seeing a red-haired man in the line of Space Mountain, who even strikes up a conversation with park patrons, before disappearing on the roller coaster before their very eyes.^[10]