Britain’s Ghosts: A spine-chilling tour of our most haunted places

by Anna Groves, National Trust Books

Discover the stories of Britain's greatest ghosts and ghouls with this spooky supernatural page turner, the perfect gift this Halloween.

Supported by the National Trust, who look after many of the haunted locations.
Beautifully atmospheric illustrations.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these gripping accounts of eerie apparitions and paranormal activity are bound to capture your imagination. Brace yourself for a journey into the strange and supernatural world of some of Britain’s most historic and atmospheric places as we uncover the dark secrets and untimely fates of the people who once inhabited them.

From mansions, inns and abbeys to forests, lakes and marshes – you’ll encounter smugglers, headless horsemen, mummified cats, phantom dogs, persecuted witches and many a lady in white in these uncanny tales from beyond the grave.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Folklore, Paranormal

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2024

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Britain's Ghosts, by Anna Groves; National Trust Books, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the perfect time of year for ghost stories, its getting colder, the leaves are changing, and their is something in the air. This book had some pretty good ghost stories from all over Britain. I did not have a favorite, some were creepier then others.

[Margo Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of British ghost stories, published by the National Trust, is written with a cosy, fireside tone which is easy to read, and which softens the more bloodthirsty tales. My favourite story was about the ghosts of Roman soldiers in a basement in York spotted by a teenage plumber in 1953.

The illustrations by Augusta Akerman, which look like they may be woodcuts or linocuts, are beautiful and atmospheric, perfectly suited to the subject matter.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a solid overview of some ghostly legends, primarily those tied to National Trust properties, which makes sense since it’s published by the National Trust. It’s a nice collection for anyone curious about haunted sites associated with the organisation.

That said, I feel the title is a bit misleading. It’s not truly a collection of Britain’s most famous ghosts—there are so many well-known legends left out for it to earn that claim. For instance, notable spots like the Skirrid Inn, Cardiff Castle, National Museum Wales, St Fagans, and Llandaff, to name just a few in and around Cardiff, don’t make an appearance. Expanding that to cover all of Britain, many significant ghostly tales are noticeably absent. A more accurate title might be Britain’s Ghosts: Notable Legends from the National Trust and Beyond.

That said, the sections are short, sharp, and well-written, which makes the book accessible to readers who may be new to these stories. I enjoyed it overall, and the accompanying artwork adds a lovely visual touch. I could easily imagine this book on display in a National Trust property, and I’d definitely pick up a copy if I spotted it there.

Thank you to the author, publishers and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. The review is my own.

[Simone Frost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book looked interesting and a good read for this time of year. I’m sceptical about the paranormal but still interested in ghost stories and watching documentaries etc.

This book is a tour through some of the supposedly haunted locations in the UK. Each chapter is quite short but there’s still plenty of information for each place and the book appears to have been well researched. I found it was good to pick up and read a bit at a time when I had a spare moment.

The book doesn’t try and convince you to believe in ghosts, merely shares the tales and legends that have been told over the years.

I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone interested in ghost stories and the paranormal.

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A chilling and entertaining account of haunted National Trust houses and grounds. As someone who has been a National Trust member for years and who has visited many of these sites, it was really cool to read about the ghostly creatures that live and haunt these places. I also enjoyed the touch of humour delivered by Groves, the writing style added personality to what would have otherwise felt like a textbook read. The illustrations were fab too, overall a perfect book for this time of year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #BritainsGhosts #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that has been supported by the National Trust who look after many of the sites featured within it. So right from the start the reader knows that it will be well researched and beautifully produced. However, I did feel that I’d lost out with the Kindle edition by only seeing the lovely illustrations as thumbnails and the layout seemed to be a little skew whiff. It would have been good to see the book as it was intended to be seen.
As you might expect there is an emphasis on stately homes and castles as that is what I associate the National Trust with but there are also battlefields, open spaces such as Dartmoor and Wicken Fen as well as museums, pubs and hotels.
In the introduction the author discusses the coming, in 2002, of the TV show ‘Most Haunted’ which was eventually classed as entertainment and the beginnings of the ghost story from Pliny the younger in ancient Rome and up to the present day. England purportedly has more ghosts than any other country in the world and the 19th century academic, M R James, is acknowledged as one of the finest, if not the finest, writer of ghost stories.
Although there are plenty of stately homes and castles, other places were a surprise such as Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. This has been described as
‘a portal to another dimension’.
There have been human sacrifices, the meeting of two ley lines and also since the 1970’s, a black eyed young girl has been allegedly seen. Venture there at your peril! I remember a notorious murder case involving a child there in the 1970’s.
‘Britain’s Ghosts’ is divided into seven regional sections so that the reader can read up on what might await them before they arrive at their chosen destination. There is also a comprehensive index at the back.
The writing is lively and has just the right tone. Folklore also features heavily which enhances the legends and stories.
Although the book also included more familiar places and experiences such as the Treasurers House in York and the Tower of London, it also contained the very creepy tale of Sir Henry at Blickling Hall whose body was rejected by the very earth itself. One of the saddest was the Lost Lad and his dog in the Peak District who both froze to death and still roam the area. There is also the Thackray Museum of Medicine which is an ex-workhouse and the gruesome tale of the Yorkshire Witch, Mary Bateman, and what happened to some of her body after death.
The author also mentions that:
‘interest in ghosts endures even in this modern age, and the belief, or at least a desire to believe, in something in the hereafter is quote common.’
and she refers to an Ispos MORI poll of 2017 in which 38% of respondents classified themselves as believing in ghosts and a similar number reported that they’d seen one.
However, the book doesn’t dwell on the more macabre elements such as the Torture Chamber at Chillingham Castle and mummified cats.
Although I expected a number of Grey Ladies and White Ladies, there were also Pink Ladies and Blue Boys.
This would be great book to read at Halloween when a knocking on the door may herald trick or treaters or something else….
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tend to think of stories about the supernatural experiences of the past more a feature of history and beliefs rather than anything weird or supernatural. Ghostly events never just occur randomly. So when a non-fiction book comes up about ghosts I am very excited to take a look.

This is another wonderful guide from the National Trust so I know that it will be detailed and researched well. As happens with most of their guides, the book is organised in regional sections so visits can be planned, with a useful index at the back. It is very well laid out with a spooky colour scheme that includes creative gothic artwork and colour coordinated headers and emphasis paragraphs.

This is quite a comprehensive guide that includes castles and stately homes of course, but also ordinary homes, pubs hotels and outdoor free spirits that dwell in lakes, forests, moorlands and marshes. Not forgetting the famous battlefields of our history. As Groves says, 'Whether you're a believer in ghosts or not, you can't deny the existence of ghost stories, and there is not a part of the UK that doesn't have its stories to tell.'

The author starts by explaining briefly the psychology of telling scary ghost stories and mentions how we deal with them in modern times, featuring documentaries on television and even ghostly reality tv. However, the strength of this book is the collective history these ghost stories give us, showing that there is more than just an ending to a person when they die. The first ghostly site is 'The Bucket of Blood' pub in Cornwall. You just know you want to read on...

​This guide is full of history and folklore and is written well without mocking anything paranormal but not being gratuitously horrific. The tone is right for a book of this type, which deals with murder and deaths of real people in short sections in each region. Interesting to note that there is portal to another world in Cannock Chase, in Staffordshire -not too far from me, so if I disappear for a while you know where I am. Perhaps not.

Excellent book: interesting, informative, accessible and slightly chilling. Recommended for those who love folk history and grand days out.

[Nessa’s Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you believe in ghosts? I do! Whether you’re a full-on paranormal enthusiast or just someone who enjoys a good creepy tale, Britain’s Ghosts is a spectral treasure trove of eerie encounters and historical haunts. This book was the perfect companion for a cozy, spine-tingling evening!

Anna Groves takes readers on a hauntingly atmospheric tour of Britain’s most storied and spine-chilling locations, from stately mansions and ancient abbeys to eerie forests and misty marshlands. These aren’t just ghost stories; they’re windows into the past, blending history with the supernatural in a way that’s both educational and deliciously creepy.

Why I Loved It:

A Ghostly Whirlwind of Stories:
Meet headless horsemen, spectral smugglers, witches who refused to stay buried, and of course, the classic Lady in White. Each tale is steeped in local lore and brimming with ghostly charm. Bonus: You might just find yourself planning a haunted road trip!

Haunts with History:
These aren’t random campfire stories; they’re tied to real, historic locations cared for by the National Trust. You’ll learn not just about the ghosts, but about the fascinating lives (and sometimes tragic deaths) of the people who once inhabited these places.

Atmospheric Illustrations:
The book’s illustrations add an extra layer of spooky delight. Think mist-draped landscapes, shadowy figures, and the perfect amount of ghostly gloom to set the mood.


Anna Groves strikes a perfect balance between the eerie and the informative. The accounts of paranormal activity are spine-chilling, but the historical context she provides ensures that each story feels grounded and meaningful. You’re not just reading about a phantom dog, you’re learning about the folklore and history that birthed the legend.


This book is a must-read for history buffs, ghost story lovers, and anyone who enjoys a good fright with a side of cultural education. It’s also an ideal gift for the spooky season, perfect for Halloween or a dark winter’s night.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very brief overview of famous ghost stories from across the UK. It is split into sections based on different regions, with each section featuring different locations within that region. This book is published by the National Trust, and a great deal of the locations – mainly historic properties – are owned by the Trust.

The writing is engaging and very readable, and the stories have been carefully selected to be entertaining. It is quite superficial; some sections focused a lot more on the history of a particular sight than its hauntings, though I know it was necessary to give background on some locations. My main issue with the book was I felt like it was very skewed towards the south of England; as a rough guide, my copy is 182 pages long, and 94 of those pages focused on the south and central England. The other 88 pages covered the entire North of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales. Given the famously haunted reputation of the latter three places in the UK, this felt very strange to me.

Anyway, as a brief overview, this was a fun and spooky read, and I really loved the illustrations and presentation of the book itself.

Content Notes:

Warnings: References throughout to death, murder, violence, child death, intimate partner violence..

[McBreakneck · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a child I had a book called Haunted Britain (perhaps a strange book for a child), I read it cover to cover and every holiday to North Wales or Cornwall I would eagerly ask if we were anywhere near any of the haunted locations. We weren’t and I didn’t see any ghosts.

I picked up Britain’s Ghosts out of a curiosity and a nostalgic hope for something similar.

We get a few pages on each location, and they are entertaining enough. I’m not sure if it was fully formatted on kindle as some of the paragraph breaks seem to have been spirited away. Certainly, the index isn’t optimised for kindle.

This book would be best in the glove box to be bought out on long car journeys with the family, or sat around a camp fire scaring the kids with stories of the local spooks. Overall, it’s not bad, probably what you’d expect.

Thanks to Netgalley and National Trust Books

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An anthology of British ghost stories from some of the UK's most haunted castles, national parks, pubs and other buildings.

This was a great book to read over Halloween when all the ghosties are out and about. I wonder how many of the ones from the book have made their presence known over the last few days.

We spend a lot of time at National Trust sites but they don't often tell the ghost stories so I really enjoyed reading about the places I've already been to and learning more about the ghosts that are said to haunt theses places.

I particularly like the story that Hounds of the Baskervilles is based on as that is one of my favourite Sherlock Holmes stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and National Trust Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

[Nic Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well put together, I loved the cover, the illustrations and the writings. The perfect sort of book to cosy up with over halloween and get ready to learn more about Britain's famous ghosts.

This book could either be read in one go or you could pick it up and read a story at a time.

The splitting up of the story across different regions was great and I especially enjoyed reading the stories based in the South East. Reading about the hauntings of places like Canterbury Cathedral was fantastic.

The stories were varied, some more spine chilling than others.

The author has done a great job of writing an interesting, creepy and informative book

[Maggie Timlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales of ghosts from up and down the land.

This is a compendium ghost stories told in a matter of fact manner. Whilst these have none of the blood curdling fear inducing chills that you might get from a MR James story, these are a great starting point and give more than enough information to start tracking down ghosts for yourself or add an extra shudder to a nice day out.

This would make a great Christmas stocking present, perfect for reading out loud on a Christmas night.

Thank you to the publishers for a review copy of this book.

[Kitty Pollock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a good Ghost Story especially one you can visit. This book is exactly the type of book i love to read in the month of October. Not only entertaining but a a bucket list of places to visit on the weekend. Some stories i already knew and some where new either way a cozy read to drink with a pumpkin spice latte in your fav reading nook.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.

[Mellissa Bushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a marvellous romp in the corridors of the spooky, the mysterious and the unknown. I enjoyed the historical aspects tremendously. An excellent gift for anyone with an interest in the paranormal.

4 stars.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read of ghosts tied to different locations across the UK. I would say, as it was published by the National Trust, I was expecting all the stories to be related to National Trust properties, but it was still enjoyable.

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

a look at some haunted locations throughout Britain.

This was an interesting read. It's more cosy read than dark but some of the stories are tragic. I live close to one location so that was interesting to read about.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories are interesting, yet not too scary. So, it is quite good for younger audience.

[Ella · Rating 2 out of 5]

informative but didn’t like the writing style

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this book is a very interesting, with a history of a lot of the purported spirits and a history of each location. Definitely worth your time

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

hoped for a little more in-depth on the story behind the ghosts

[Peter Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

British ghosts

It was a very interesting book of places which I never new about and also learnt more about which I never new were haunted.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Britain’s Ghosts was comprised of ghost stories from some of the National Trust’s properties across the UK. The stories were a few pages long and gave an insight into the property and its ghostly heritage! Some of the stories are well-known, such as Henry VIII’s wives, and others are less so. I found it really fun and interesting, and the kind of book you can pick up for a few minutes at a time rather than reading cover to cover. I will buy my own copy of this to use as a guide when visiting those sites.

Thanks to NetGalley and National Trust Books for this advance reader copy in return for an unbiased and honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘People think that ghosts only come out at night, or on Halloween, when the world is dark and the walls are thin. But the truth is, ghosts are everywhere.’

The perfect book to read this time of year! It had a cosy feel - like ghost stories told around a campfire. One of my guilty pleasure tv shows is Most Haunted and this book definitely has the same vibes - it’s even given a mention!

The stories were intriguing and well written. I found them to be detailed yet succinct and they really painted a good picture of the haunts.

I loved reading about some English history and the corresponding spooky tales. Whether I believe in there actually being ghosts in these places is another matter. But this certainly seems to provide evidence to show there is!

A perfect read for the spooky months, great tor anyone interested in the paranormal and finding out more about buildings throughout England that may be haunted.

ARC copy provided by Collins Reference & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.