The mysterious monks of Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral was once the heart of a Benedictine monastery, which adjoined its south wall. While no physical structure from the priory remains today, some believe that a ghostly monk haunts the Cathedral Close where the building once stood. Sightings claim the monk can be seen with a limp, wandering near the South Transept and walking up steps that no longer exist. Visitors looking to explore the site of the former monastery can visit The Dean Garnier Garden, which lies upon what was once the monk’s dormitory.

Witching hours at Winchester College

With a history spanning over 600 years, Winchester College is bound to have its share of spooky sightings. A dive into the College Archives has brought to light stories of frequent visitors, including a phantom founder and a belligerent bishop. William of Wykeham, who founded Winchester College in 1382, is said to haunt College Hall and often rattles Chapel Gate. Also spotted is the spirit of Bishop Ken, a 17th century Fellow, who wanders the Warden's Lodgings. Legend says that he also appears to youngest pupil every 8 June (the anniversary of his death).

Some well-recorded hauntings occurred in 1958, when several guests of the College wrote in to the alumni magazine to recount their experiences while visiting that year. Reports include the mysterious opening and rattling of doors, sheets being pulled off, and ghostly figures sitting at the foot of the bed!

Visitors can do some ghost-spotting for themselves as they explore the ancient halls during a public tour. College Tours run daily.

Spooky sightings fit for the Theatre Royal Winchester stage

Over its 170-year history, the Theatre Royal Winchester has been home to a few ghostly sightings. The most famous phantom is that of John Simpkins. Brothers John and James purchased The Market Hotel in 1912 and converted it into the Edwardian theatre we see today. During construction, James Simpkins had the initials JS put above the proscenium arch over the stage. John would have preferred it to say J&JS, for both brothers. James made a promise to John to correct it, but John died without ever seeing his initial added. The ghost of John Simpkins has been spotted many times over the years wearing Edwardian clothing, a stern expression and searching the stage’s arch.

The restless spirit of The Wykeham Arms' Redman room

The Wykeham Arms is a beautiful timber-framed pub, nestled between the Cathedral and the 14th century Winchester College. For years, guests and staff alike spoke about the Redman room, perched at the very top of the Wykeham Arms. Known for its persistent chill, many assumed the cold was simply due to its two exposed exterior walls. However, after a séance held by a group of clairvoyants, the icy atmosphere shifted and the room warmed. They claimed that the restless spirit of a servant girl had been released at last.

According to those sensitive to the otherworldly, at least four other spirits also reside within the pub’s historic walls, where you'll find bric-a-brac on the walls, old College desks as bar furniture and an open fire in the chillier months. Two are said to be accompanied by dogs, loyal companions of former landlords or locals. The ghosts are said to keep themselves to themselves… most of the time.

Myth, mistletoe and Marwell Hall

Marwell Hall, a 14th century manor house on the site that is now Marwell Zoo, is said to have once hosted an extremely ill-fated game of hide-and-seek. The story goes: on the day of a winter wedding, a bride suggested a game of hide and seek for her guests. She chose to conceal herself in an old oak chest, which locked itself after she crawled inside. The guests frantically searched the property for her, but she was never found. That is, until her bones were discovered years later, alongside her wedding gown and a bough of mistletoe.

While many country houses lay claim to the legend of the Mistletoe Bride, Marwell Hall’s imposing medieval façade and trailing ivy makes it the perfect backdrop for this spooky story!

The Eclipse Inn: Winchester’s most haunted pub

Having stood since the 16th century, The Eclipse Inn has witnessed many a frightful scene in Winchester’s history. One such event is the beheading of Lady Alice Lisle in 1685. Alice harboured rebels in her home after the defeat of the Monmouth Rebellion at the Battle of Sedgemoor. She was tried by the notoriously bloodthirsty Judge Jeffreys, who did not allow her to speak in her own defence (she claimed she did not know of the rebels’ crimes) and pressured the jury to a guilty verdict. She was sentenced to death and was the last woman in England to be sentenced to beheading.

She spent the night before her execution in one of the upper rooms of The Eclipse Inn and exited through the window directly onto the scaffold erected for her beheading. It is said that her ghost often returns to the pub where she spent her final night. Staff and customers have seen her wearing a grey dress, giving her the name ‘The Lady in Grey’.

The original ‘Hampshire ghost story’

National Trust’s Hinton Ampner is the site of a haunting that inspired one of Britain’s most famous ghost stories. In 1765 to 1772, Hinton Ampner was rented by William Henry Ricketts and his wife Mary Jervis. While living there, Mary experienced a series of events or hauntings in the house, including the slamming of doors, vanishing figures, and chilling cries.

A version of these events, based on Mary’s letters and written accounts, was published as ‘A Hampshire ghost story’ by The Gentleman's Magazine in 1872. It proved a popular story, and Hinton Ampner became known as one of most haunted houses in England. So famous was the story that The Turn of the Screw by Henry James is thought to have been inspired by the house.

While the old Tudor house at Hinton Ampner, the site of the original 'haunting', was demolished in 1793, visitors can visit the 20th century house to learn the history of its previous owners and haunted goings-on.

The chilling history of The Hyde Tavern

The Hyde Tavern is a cosy medieval pub just outside the city centre, famous for its oak beams, creaky floors and rumoured ghostly guests. According to local legend, a starving woman appeared at the doors of the pub one winter’s night requesting a place to escape the cold. She was refused entry and was found frozen the following morning. Since them, patrons and staff have spoken of hearing the ghostly groans of a woman throughout the pub.

Valkyries in Winchester's Water Meadows

A peaceful place close to Winchester's city centre where precious chalk stream The River Itchen flows, the water meadows might not be the first place you'd think of when hunting for ghosts and otherworldly creatures. But a lesser known piece of Winchester folklore from 970 tells the story of valkyries living in the water meadows and attacking a Winchester resident who was later healed by St Swithin. You might want to keep an eye out when you're walking along the river, especially around dusk! Hear Dr Eric Lacey from the University of Winchester retelling this story on a podcast.

The haunted cell of Peninsula Barracks

At the AGC Museum, located within the 18th century Peninsula Barracks, staff speak fondly of "Fred", a mysterious presence who is regularly picked up on CCTV drifting through the galleries when no one else is around. Staff working alone have reported feeling watched and catching glimpses of a dark figure from the corner of their eye, only to find nothing there when they look again. Visitors and contractors have also shared unsettling experiences in the corridor near the museum's cell, describing firm pushes to their shoulders and even unexpected tugs on trouser legs while working at height. Despite his mischievous streak, Fred has become part of museum life, with staff greeting him as he passes by on his regular rounds.