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Spending the night in a haunted house: a practical guide to stays with a story

Almost every old building has a story. A coaching inn where a traveller once vanished, a manor with a portrait whose eyes seem to follow you, a castle corridor where the night staff swear they hear footsteps. Whether you believe a word of it or not, sleeping in a place with a ghost story is a very particular kind of trip. The creak of a floorboard sounds different when you know the legend behind it.

This guide is for curious travellers, lovers of history and folklore, and anyone who likes a good story told by candlelight. It explains what a night in a so-called haunted house is really like, how to pick the right atmosphere for your group, and what to check before you book one of the stays listed on this page.

Ghost stories are a worldwide tradition

Tales of restless spirits are not the property of any one culture. People everywhere have told stories about the dead, and the places we stay in often carry those stories with them.

• Britain and Ireland are famous for grey ladies, headless horsemen and old inns where a former landlord is said to linger. Many country houses and pubs with rooms happily share their legends with guests.
• The United States has a strong tradition of historic inns, Victorian mansions and old hotels from the gold rush and railroad years, many of which tell stories of former guests who never quite checked out.
• Mexico and Latin America have a rich relationship with the dead. The Día de los Muertos celebrations are about remembering and honouring loved ones rather than fearing them, and colonial-era houses and haciendas often come with their own local legends.
• Japan has a long folklore of yurei, the pale spirits of classical theatre and art, and summer has traditionally been a season for telling ghost stories to cool down on hot nights.
• Southeast Asia and Chinese communities across the region share tales of spirits and ghosts, from Malay stories of the pontianak to the Hungry Ghost Festival held in the seventh lunar month.
• Australia and New Zealand have colonial-era buildings such as old gaols, hospitals, homesteads and pubs where ghost tours and overnight stays have become popular.

Across all of these, the common thread is the same: a building with a long history, and a story that has been passed on from one generation to the next.

Spooky or cosy? Pick the mood that suits you

Haunted stays vary enormously, and the best one for you depends on how much of a thrill you are after.

The cosy end is a historic inn, bed and breakfast or country hotel where the ghost story is part of the charm. You get a comfortable room, a good breakfast and perhaps a friendly owner who tells the legend over dinner. The atmosphere is gentle, and most guests sleep perfectly well.

The atmospheric middle includes old manors, rectories and castles where the building itself does much of the work: long dark corridors, portraits, heavy doors and wind in the chimneys. You will be comfortable, but you may lie awake listening.

The spooky end covers places that lean fully into their reputation, sometimes with ghost tours, storytelling evenings or rooms known as the most active in the house. These suit groups of friends looking for an adventure more than a quiet romantic weekend.

What a night is really like

For most guests, a haunted stay is simply a night in a characterful old building. Expect the things that come with age: creaking floors, doors that do not quite close, draughts, rattling windows and plumbing that makes surprising noises. Old buildings settle, and at night every sound seems louder. That is a big part of the appeal.

Rooms in historic properties often differ in size and shape, bathrooms may have been added later, and heating can be uneven. Stairs are common and lifts are rare. Phone signal may be weak behind thick walls, which only adds to the feeling of being somewhere apart from the modern world.

Travelling with children, skeptics and nervous sleepers

A haunted house can be a wonderful family adventure, as long as you know your children. Older kids who love spooky books often have a great time, especially if the stories are told as history and folklore. Younger or more sensitive children may find a dark old building frightening at bedtime. Ask the owners whether the stories are shared openly or only on request, and choose a cosier property if you are unsure.

Skeptics are welcome everywhere. You do not need to believe in ghosts to enjoy an old building, its architecture and its past. Many skeptical travellers come for the history and leave with a good anecdote. If someone in your group is a nervous sleeper, bring a small night light, ask for a room that is not the famous one, and remember that you can always swap a spooky story for a board game by the fire.

Respect the history, the building and other guests

Many ghost stories grew out of real events, and some are connected to real tragedies, illness, war or loss. The people in those stories lived real lives, and their descendants may still live nearby. Treat those stories with the same respect you would bring to a museum or a memorial. Avoid mocking the dead, and follow any house rules about where you can go and what you can do.

• Keep your investigations quiet. If you bring recorders or cameras, use them without disturbing other guests, especially late at night.
• Stay out of private areas. Cellars, attics and staff quarters are often off limits for good reasons, including safety.
• Be careful with candles. Old timber buildings and open flames are a bad combination. Only use them where the owners allow it.
• Remember not everyone is there for the ghosts. Some guests have booked for the history, the food or the quiet. Let them enjoy their stay in their own way.

Questions to ask before you book

• What is the story or legend connected to the building, and is it shared openly with guests?
• Is there a particular room associated with the legend, and can we book it or avoid it?
• Are there ghost tours, storytelling evenings or special events, and on which dates?
• Is the property suitable for children, and are there family rooms?
• How are the rooms heated, and what is the building like in the season we plan to visit?
• Are there many stairs, and is there a room for someone with limited mobility?
• Are paranormal investigations, recording equipment or late-night exploring allowed?
• Are meals available on site, and how far is the nearest village or restaurant?
• Is there a minimum stay, especially around Halloween and other busy dates?

When to go

Halloween is the obvious choice in many countries, and properties with a strong reputation often fill up early for late October. Other cultures have their own seasons for remembering the dead, such as early November in Mexico or the seventh lunar month in parts of Asia, and these can be moving times to visit if you approach local traditions respectfully. Many travellers find that the long nights of winter give old buildings the most atmosphere, while quieter midweek dates are easier to book and give you more time to chat with the owners about the history of the house.

Find your haunted stay on this page

The haunted houses, inns, manors and castles on this page are grouped by continent, country and region, so you can browse the places with a story in the part of the world you plan to visit. Each link goes directly to the owner's own website, where you can read about the rooms and the legend, check availability and book directly. Do you run an old inn, manor or historic house with a tale of its own? Add your link for free with the button above and let curious travellers find you.