TOWER OF LONDON'S HAUNTED HISTORY

The Tower of London is widely considered one of the most haunted locations in the world. With nearly a thousand years of history as a palace, fortress, and infamous prison, its stone walls are said to hold the restless spirits of those who met violent ends there.

Here are the most famous "residents" said to still roam the grounds:

The Most Famous Spirits

• Anne Boleyn (The Headless Queen): Perhaps the most legendary ghost, the second wife of Henry VIII was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536. She is frequently spotted near the site of her execution and the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried. Some witnesses claim to have seen her headless body gliding through the corridors.
• The Princes in the Tower: The young Edward V and his brother Richard were famously "disappeared" in 1483, allegedly on the orders of their uncle, Richard III. Their ghosts are often seen in the Bloody Tower, appearing as two young boys in nightshirts, clutching each other in fear before fading into the stone walls.
• The White Lady: A regular inhabitant of the White Tower, her identity remains a mystery. She is often heralded by the scent of cheap, overpowering perfume. Visitors have reported a sudden feeling of dread or a "tap on the shoulder," only to turn around and find no one there.
• The Phantom Bear: One of the strangest sightings occurred in 1816 when a sentry near the Martin Tower claimed to see a spectral bear charging him. He attempted to bayonet the beast, but the weapon passed right through it. Legend says the guard died of shock just two days later.

Notable Haunted Locations

Location	Associated Ghost/Phenomenon
The Bloody Tower	The Two Princes; Sir Walter Raleigh
Tower Green	Anne Boleyn; Margaret Pole (Countess of Salisbury)
The White Tower	The White Lady; Henry VIII's "possessed" armor
Wakefield Tower	Henry VI (said to appear on the anniversary of his death)
The Queen's House	Arbella Stuart; Guy Fawkes (screams and groans)

Chilling Encounters

Many of the most vivid stories come from the Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters) who live and work within the Tower.

• The Suffocating Sensation: Guards have reported a terrifying feeling of being "crushed" or "smothered" when entering the room housing Henry VIII’s armor.
• The Salt Tower: This medieval tower is so eerie that even the Tower’s resident dogs reportedly refuse to enter certain rooms. Guards have seen glowing shapes and felt unseen hands touching their necks.

Note: While the Tower is synonymous with death, only 22 people were actually executed inside the walls. Most executions took place on the nearby Tower Hill, where the crowds could watch.

Google Gemini AI

16/2/2026: 11.39 a.m