haunted hangouts

inmidtown.org/discovermidtown
HAUNTED HANGOUTS
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The old British Museum tube station, which closed in 1933 and had the surface
building demolished in 1989, was said to be haunted by the ghost of an Ancient
Egyptian mummy from the nearby British Museum.
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Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4HQ
The ghosts of Oliver Cromwell, Sir Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw are believed
to haunt the centre of Red Lion Square. As a result of their involvement in the
execution of King Charles I in 1649, their dead bodies were kept overnight on
28-29 January 1661 in a nearby yard, on the way to being taken to Tyburn Gallows
to be hanged and cut up, despite already being dead. It is said the bodies were
swapped with three others, and the real bodies secretly buried in what is now
Red Lion Square.
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Little Turnstile, London WC1V 7DX
In the early 17th century there were a series of murders in this alleyway and to
this day some claim to have heard the screams of the murder victims.
4
Ship Tavern, 12 Gate Street, London WC2A 3HP
The Ship Tavern is said to be haunted by the ghosts of two separate histories.
In the 16th century the pub was used as a place for Catholics to secretly perform
Mass. On one occasion two priests were caught performing Mass by King Henry
VIII’s officials and slaughtered in the basement, where they are said to still haunt.
It is also believed there is a ‘Happy Ghost’, responsible for moving keys and
cutlery around the pub; however it has not been seen or heard.
5
Box D, Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP
This box in the theatre is said to be haunted by the ghost of an old lady who
frequented the theatre around 1900.
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St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, 60 St Giles High Street, London WC2H 8LG
Believed to be haunted by a ghost who appears in the church grounds who,
some think, may be a former member of the clergy at the church.
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Nationwide Building Society, 133 High Holborn, London WC1V 6PN
Atlantis Bookshop, 49a Museum Street, London WC1A 1LY
A tall man wearing dark grey clothing is said to haunt between the shelves of this
book shop.
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Said to be haunted by the ‘Grey Lady’, a woman who walks through a wall and
throws herself down the stairs, re-enacting her death, although there is no record
of this kind of death in the house, so the ghost’s identity is unknown.
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59–60 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ
The ghost of a child that fell, or was pushed, down an internal goods lift in the
building supposedly haunts here.
10
Centre of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3ED
Lord William Russell was executed here in 1683 for plotting to kill King Charles II
and his brother, and heir to the throne, James the Duke of York. Lord Russell was
beheaded and his screams are said to haunt Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
11
Courtyard, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA
This courtyard was formerly the Admiralty and is believed by some to be haunted
by Lord Horatio Nelson.
12
Platforms of the disused Strand Tube Station, Strand, London WC2R
The tube station closed in 1994 and the platforms are said to be haunted by the
ghost of an actress who may have performed in the Royal Strand Theatre that
used to be on this site.
13
The Strand, London WC2R
The Strand is said to have been haunted by the ghost of the wealthy philanthropist,
Baroness Burdett-Coutts, however there have been no sightings for over 60 years.
14
57–58 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ
Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, London WC2A 2HT
The ghosts of two dolphins are said to haunt this theatre. The dolphins lived in a
water tank below the stage and were used as part of the Paul Raymond Revue
shows that were performed at the Peacock Theatre in the 1970s.
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