Ghosts of the Tower of London: A Complete Guide to England's Most Haunted Castle

For nearly a thousand years, the Tower of London has served as a royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, and a vault for the Crown Jewels. Within its ancient stone walls, kings and queens have been crowned and murdered, prisoners have been tortured and forgotten, and traitors have walked their final steps to the scaffold on Tower Green. With a history drenched in so much blood and anguish, it is perhaps no surprise that the Tower is considered the most haunted building in England — possibly in the world. The Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) who live and work within the fortress have reported ghost sightings for centuries. This guide profiles every major ghost documented at the Tower, the dark history behind each apparition, and how you can visit this extraordinary place yourself.

Why the Tower of London Is So Haunted

The Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1066 to intimidate the newly conquered population of London, and intimidation has been its primary function ever since. Over the centuries, the Tower has witnessed at least 400 documented executions and countless more unofficial deaths by torture, starvation, and murder. Prisoners were held in conditions ranging from comfortable house arrest (for high-status captives) to unimaginable horror — the underground dungeons, known as "Little Ease," were cells so small that the prisoner could neither stand, sit, nor lie down. The rack, the scavenger's daughter, and other torture instruments were used routinely. The sheer volume of suffering concentrated within these walls over nearly a millennium is, according to paranormal researchers, the reason the Tower is a nexus of supernatural activity. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, the weight of history here is palpable.

The Ghosts: A Profile of Every Major Apparition

1. Anne Boleyn (1501–1536) — The Headless Queen

Who she was: The second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Elizabeth I. She was accused of adultery, incest, and treason — almost certainly on trumped-up charges engineered by Thomas Cromwell — and beheaded on Tower Green on 19 May 1536. A French swordsman was brought specially from Calais because a sword was considered more merciful than an axe.

The haunting: Anne Boleyn is the most frequently sighted ghost at the Tower. She has been reported in multiple locations: leading a ghostly procession down the aisle of the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula (where she is buried beneath the altar floor); walking along the battlements near the spot where she was imprisoned; and, most disturbingly, standing at the window of the Queen's House with her head tucked under her arm. In 1864, a Yeoman Warder named Captain J.D. Dundas reportedly saw a white figure emerge from the chapel door and glide across the green. He challenged it with his bayonet, and the figure vanished. Dundas was court-martialled for dereliction of duty but acquitted when two other guards corroborated his account.

2. The Princes in the Tower (c. 1483) — The Child Ghosts

Who they were: Edward V (age 12) and Richard, Duke of York (age 9), the sons of Edward IV. After their father's death in 1483, they were placed in the Tower by their uncle, Richard, Duke of Gloucester (later Richard III), who was supposed to protect them until Edward's coronation. The boys were seen less and less frequently, and eventually disappeared entirely. They are believed to have been murdered, most likely on Richard III's orders, though the exact circumstances remain one of England's greatest historical mysteries. In 1674, workmen demolishing a staircase in the White Tower found a wooden chest containing two small skeletons — widely believed to be the remains of the princes.

The haunting: Guards and visitors have reported seeing two small figures in white nightgowns — sometimes described as holding hands — in the Bloody Tower (where the princes were last seen alive) and near the staircase where the skeletons were found. The apparitions are always silent and are said to emanate an overwhelming sense of sadness. They are among the most emotionally affecting ghost sightings at the Tower.

3. Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554) — The Nine-Day Queen

Who she was: Jane Grey was proclaimed Queen of England in July 1553 after the death of Edward VI, as part of a Protestant succession plot. Her reign lasted only nine days before Mary I (a Catholic) seized the throne. Jane, aged just 16, was imprisoned in the Tower and beheaded on 12 February 1554, despite having been a pawn in the political schemes of others rather than a willing participant.

The haunting: Lady Jane Grey's ghost was most famously sighted on 12 February 1957 — exactly 403 years after her execution — by two guards at the Tower. They reported seeing a white figure on the battlements of the Salt Tower, which they identified as Lady Jane. The apparition was described as a "white shape forming itself into the likeness of Lady Jane Grey." The sighting was reported to the Tower authorities and documented in official records.

4. Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) — The Gentleman Ghost

Who he was: Explorer, poet, courtier, and privateer. Raleigh was imprisoned in the Tower twice — first for 13 years (1603–1616) by James I, and again in 1618 before his execution. During his long imprisonment, he was given relatively comfortable quarters in the Bloody Tower, where he wrote his famous History of the World and even grew tobacco plants in the garden.

The haunting: Raleigh's ghost is said to haunt the Bloody Tower and the walkway that bears his name — "Raleigh's Walk" — where he took daily exercise during his imprisonment. He has been described as a distinguished figure in Elizabethan dress, walking calmly along the battlements. Unlike most Tower ghosts, Raleigh's apparition is reportedly not frightening but dignified and peaceful — as if he is simply continuing his daily walk, undisturbed by the passage of centuries.

5. The Countess of Salisbury (1473–1541) — The Screaming Ghost

Who she was: Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, was 67 years old when Henry VIII ordered her execution. She was the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. Her death was one of the most gruesome in the Tower's history — the inexperienced executioner botched the beheading, and according to contemporary accounts, the Countess rose from the block and ran, screaming, across Tower Green while the executioner chased her, hacking at her neck and shoulders. It took 11 blows to kill her.

The haunting: On the anniversary of her death, a ghostly re-enactment of her terrible execution is said to play out on Tower Green — a screaming figure fleeing from a shadowy pursuer with an axe. This "residual haunting" (a paranormal term for a recording-like replay of past events) is one of the most dramatic reported at any haunted site in the world.

6. The Bear (Date Unknown) — The Phantom Animal

Background: From the 13th century until 1835, the Tower housed the Royal Menagerie — a collection of exotic animals including lions, elephants, an ostrich, and a polar bear (a gift from the King of Norway in 1252). The animals were kept in poor conditions, and many died within the Tower walls.

The haunting: In 1816, a sentry near the Martin Tower reported being attacked by a giant bear that emerged from a doorway. He lunged at it with his bayonet, which passed through the animal without resistance. The guard collapsed from shock and died a few days later. The apparition is believed to be one of the bears from the Royal Menagerie.

Visiting the Tower of London: Practical Information

Address: Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB, England. Nearest Tube: Tower Hill (District and Circle lines). Entry: Adults £33.60, Children (5–15) £16.90, Under 5 free (2026 prices; book online for discounts). Opening hours: Tuesday–Saturday 9 AM–5:30 PM, Sunday–Monday 10 AM–5:30 PM (summer); reduced hours in winter.

Ghost tours: The Tower does not offer official ghost tours, but the free Yeoman Warder tours (included with admission, every 30 minutes from the entrance) cover the macabre history extensively, and the Beefeaters are excellent storytellers. For dedicated ghost walking tours of the Tower exterior and surrounding area, several companies operate nightly from Tower Hill station — expect to pay £12–20 per person.

Tips for a Haunting Visit

Visit late afternoon in winter. The Tower is most atmospheric when daylight fades and the crowds thin out. The last admission is 1.5 hours before closing.
Spend time in the Chapel Royal. St Peter ad Vincula, where Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey are all buried, is a powerful, contemplative space. Attend a Sunday service for a deeply moving experience.
Walk Raleigh's Walk at dusk. The Bloody Tower and its walkway are the most atmospheric parts of the Tower as evening approaches.
Talk to the Yeoman Warders. They live within the Tower walls and many have personal ghost stories. They are unfailingly friendly and happy to share.
Allow 3–4 hours. The Tower is vast and the history is deep. Rushing through is a waste — take your time, read the plaques, and absorb the atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

The Tower of London is not merely a haunted castle — it is a monument to the full spectrum of human ambition, cruelty, courage, and suffering. Every stone has witnessed something terrible, and every ghost story is rooted in a real human tragedy. Whether you encounter the shade of Anne Boleyn or simply feel the weight of a thousand years of history pressing down on you as you walk through the Traitors' Gate, the Tower will leave its mark on you. It is one of those rare places where the past refuses to stay in the past — where the walls themselves seem to remember, and where the dead, if the stories are true, have never quite left.

Planning a London trip? Explore more destinations on ComfortMyTrip.

Ghosts of the Tower of London: A Complete Guide to England's Most Haunted Castle (2026)