The Tower of London Hauntings

The Tower of London has served as a royal palace, prison, and execution site for nearly 1,000 years. Its blood-soaked history has produced countless ghost stories, with witnesses including Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters), visitors, and even royalty reporting encounters with the restless spirits of those who died within its walls.

The History

Founded in 1066 by William the Conqueror as a royal residence, it served as a prison for centuries and execution site, becoming the scene of many deaths.

Anne Boleyn

The most famous ghost is Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, who was beheaded in 1536 and has been seen carrying her head with Chapel Royal appearances witnessed by multiple people.

Her Appearances

Anne has been seen near the execution site, in the Chapel Royal, on Tower Green, walking the corridors, and has been witnessed by both guards and visitors.

The Princes in the Tower

Edward V and Richard disappeared in 1483 and were probably murdered, with the two young boys seen hand in hand in the Bloody Tower.

Catherine Howard

The fifth wife of Henry VIII was executed in 1542, and her screaming is heard as she runs through the gallery making desperate pleas in terrifying encounters.

Sir Walter Raleigh

The explorer was imprisoned and held in the Tower for years, and still walks his old cell area as a distinguished ghostly figure.

Lady Jane Grey

The nine-day queen was executed at age 17, and a white figure is seen on the anniversary of her death on February 12 in the Tower Green area.

The Yeoman Warders

The guards report regular sightings and strange occurrences, take the phenomena seriously, maintain a long tradition of witnessing events, with multiple witnesses among them.

The White Lady

An unidentified figure appears in the White Tower, waving from a window accompanied by strong perfume, with multiple sightings though her identity remains unknown.

The Countess of Salisbury

Executed in 1541 in a botched execution that required multiple blows, her ghost re-enacts the horrifying scene in anniversary appearances.

The Bears

The Tower menagerie held animals for centuries, and a bear apparition was seen by a guard as a massive figure, with the guard allegedly dying of shock.

Common Phenomena

Visitors experience cold spots, feelings of dread, sensations of being watched, unexplained sounds, and choking sensations throughout the Tower.

The Chapel Royal

St. Peter ad Vincula serves as the burial site of the executed with many bodies beneath the floor, where processions are seen, headless figures appear, and it remains extremely active paranormally.

Modern Witnesses

Contemporary reports continue regularly from both staff and visitors, with documented cases including photos and recordings showing ongoing activity.

Significance

The Tower is significant for its centuries of history, famous victims, continuous reports spanning generations, multiple distinct apparitions, and extensive historical documentation.

Legacy

The Tower of London remains one of the world’s most actively haunted locations. Its long history of violent death, combined with continuous reports spanning centuries, makes it a compelling case for the reality of ghostly phenomena.