London’s Most Haunted Areas

Thomas Harris takes a trip through some of London’s most haunted areas for Crimson Peak…

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I once passingly thought I saw a ghost. It wasn’t, I was just startled by my hair. It’s with the greatest of credit to Liam Clarke, a storyteller and sort of ghost buster, to almost convince me that ghosts and ghouls exist. In partnership with Guillermo Del Toro’s psychosexual gothic horror Crimson Peak, I had the opportunity to discover the sinister secrets of London’s past- of which most included stabbings and streets filled with excrement-before visiting Greenwich’s most haunted manor.

Beginning at Cleopatra’s Needle, our tour guide Liam Clarke (soon to be seen as a beardy Viking in the upcoming season of Vikings) weaved a tale of suicide and mistaken identity. It seems as if the landmark was, and sadly still is, a suicide hotspot of which ghostly haunts are all far too common. From there, Gordon’s Wine Bar, a haunt of many a messy night.

For those that live in London, Gordon’s Wine Bar only ever ends in mess. To its side, Buckingham Street, a haunt for a drunken Samuel Pepys and a group of topless prostitutes. If Liam is to be trusted, following a night of ginger wine at Gordon’s, you may be able to spot Samuel Pepys peering out of the window of number 14, awaiting a prostitute. Or you might be smashed. But you never know, could be a ghost.

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Two minutes walk away, York place, named after the Duke of, famed moronic narcissist. Although terrible at his job, he had the power to force his name upon every street surrounding York Place. Go on a wander, find “Of Place,” it’s haunted (probably) by a dead prostitute and the faint smell of piss.

Coutt’s Place on the other hand, a hangout for those not in their overdraft, is haunted by the deceased sister of a hanged banker. Supposedly, if passing by early morning, you may be able to see her enter the bank, or most likely, you’ve been to Gordon’s and are dizzy on wine.

Round the corner is Adelphi theatre. Although one can’t imagine a stabbing before Kinky Boots (unless you’re passionate about knee high boots), back in the 20s an understudy brutally stabbed the lead in order to take on the role. Somewhat ironically, while in court, he gave the best performance of his life. 90 years on, it’s believed you can still see the understudy walk up towards the stage door.

Rules restaurant, the oldest in London, is haunted by a pervert who relaxed by watching women in the toilet. If Liam is to be believed, you can here the pervert laughing to himself behind a wall (Rules is haunted by a pervert, A PERVERT).

Our final stop on the ghost tour was of a tale of cannibalism. During the great famine, only those at Newgate Prison were seemingly staying healthy. Although food was almost impossible to obtain, the prisoners were lucky enough to have each other. It isn’t the cannibals that haunts Newgate, it’s Jack the Lad, who died skipping over a roof and if there’s a lesson to be learnt, don’t eat people and don’t jump on roofs.

Although I don’t happen to believe in ghosts (I also don’t believe that Adam Sandler knows he exists), it’s with the greatest of credit to Liam Clarke that he weaved stories of such a high level that I almost believed in ghosts and ghouls.

Check out some of the photos from the event below:

PHOTO BY:STEVE FINN 07968894444
Picture Shows: The Press Haunted Tour For The forthcoming Release Of The Movie Crimson Peak.London.Uk.Today.06/10/15.
stevefinnphotography@yahoo.co.uk
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SEE ALSO – Interview: Guillermo del Toro talks Crimson Peak

Thomas Harris

Originally published October 14, 2015. Updated April 14, 2018.