The Haunted Tower of London has cemented its reputation as one of the most ghost-ridden sites in the United Kingdom. With a long and bloody history of imprisonment, torture and execution going back centuries, the Tower has been the location of countless chilling paranormal sightings and events. Screams of agony, spectral apparitions in period costumes, and unexplained supernatural activities all lend an air of haunting to the Tower of London.
From the ghost of Anne Boleyn wandering the grounds carrying her severed head, to sightings of grizzly bears that inhabited the medieval menagerie, the tales of hauntings are woven into the fabric of this historic complex. Horror seekers and ghost enthusiasts visiting London make the haunted Tower of London a priority stop. While now one of London’s top tourist attractions, the Tower continues to be known for its reputation as an enduringly haunted place, ceaselessly troubled by the ghosts of its violent and cruel past.
History of Reported Ghost Sightings and Hauntings
Yeoman Warders Have Reported Ghosts for Centuries
The Yeoman Warders, known affectionately as Beefeaters, are one of the Tower’s most iconic sights. They have guarded the Tower since the 15th century. Over the centuries, the Beefeaters have reported witnessing ghosts and unexplained paranormal events within the Tower grounds.
In one of the first written accounts, a Beefeater described seeing the floating heads of two men executed for treason in 1572. Since then, they have reported ghostly apparitions including knights, ladies and shapeless forms in the mist. The Beefeaters pass down chilling tales from generation to generation about working in the Tower at night and encountering its ghostly residents.
Anne Boleyn – The Tower of London’s Most Famous Ghostly Resident
The most frequently sighted ghost is former Queen Anne Boleyn who was beheaded at the Tower in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII. Numerous sightings over the years have placed her ghost wandering near the White Tower carrying her severed head.
In 1817, a guard claimed to encounter her calmly walking through the Tower Chapel Royal before disappearing. Other reports say Anne haunts Tower Green on the anniversary of her gruesome execution. Her headless ghost has often been seen emerging from the walls of the Tower itself. Anne Boleyn’s ghost remains the Tower’s most famous and impactful spirit.
Ghosts of Executed Prisoners
Besides royalty like Anne Boleyn, the Tower is also haunted by many other executed prisoners from its past. Lady Jane Grey’s misty figure has been sighted near the site where she was beheaded in 1554. A ghostly re-enactment of the murder of the two young princes in 1483 has also been reported near the Bloody Tower, with their ghosts’ screams heard.
Even some of the Tower’s former wild animals reportedly haunt the grounds, with sightings of a spectral grizzly bear emerging from the wall. With so much suffering in its history, the Tower continues to be a haunt for executed souls without rest.
Some of the Tower’s Most Haunted Areas
The White Tower and its Resident Apparitions
The White Tower sits at the centre of the Tower of London complex. It’s here where some of the most renowned ghost sightings have occurred. Since the Tudor period, guards have reported seeing the apparition of a White Lady staring from a window of the White Tower. Her identity remains a mystery but rumours suggest she was a woman murdered in the tower. There have also been reports of ghostly apparitions and unexplained shadows moving about within the chapel inside the White Tower.
The Bloody Tower and the Princes’ Ghosts
The Bloody Tower earned its name after the infamous disappearance of the two young princes, believed to have been murdered there in 1483. Many guards and visitors have reported hearing the screams of two children coming from within the tower at night. Some have even claimed to see the shadowy figures of the young princes dressed in white standing in the tower before vanishing. The ghosts of the dead princes are likely destined to haunt the scene of their murder for eternity.
The Bear and Crown Tower Haunted by a Loyal Drummer
One famous ghost story involves the spirit of a drummer who perished at the Bear and Crown Tower. In 1817, a guard claimed to have encountered the ghost of a drummer in uniform emerge from the tower before disappearing. The drummer is said to have died while attempting to protect the Crown Jewels from thieves. His dedication has imprinted his spirit on the tower, where he continues to wander centuries later.
Theories on the Tower’s Enduring Hauntings
A Long History of Violence and Death
One of the main theories as to why the Tower of London is so haunted relates to its gruesome history as a site of torture, imprisonment and death. With so much pain and suffering occurring within those walls for centuries, many believe negative energies became imprinted on the Tower. The sheer number of executions, murders and imprisonments under horrid conditions have left a permanent supernatural stain. Centuries later, the ghosts of those who experienced immense torment in life continue to dwell there after death.
Cursed Objects and Jewels
Another theory suggests that cursed objects held within the Tower are the cause of its hauntings. The Tower has long served as a repository for crowns, jewels and armour belonging to nobles and royalty. Some believe spirits and energies attach themselves to these objects, which then infect the Tower with their supernatural powers. Anne Boleyn’s ghost is said to be connected to her jewels stored in the Tower. The Crown Jewels themselves may also lend an aura of mystery and haunting to the Tower of London.
Central Location Magnifies the Mystique
The Tower’s prime location in the heart of London also magnifies its mystique and ghostly repute. Its proximity to the Thames River provides an eerie atmosphere with mist and fog. The Tower’s distinctive silhouette with imposing stone towers and turrets resembles a stereotypical haunted castle. Londoners share and discuss their haunted history, keeping ghost stories about the Tower alive. While all of London is centuries old, the haunted Tower of London’s central location makes it the focal point for the city’s supernatural lore.
