Spooky stories of the 5 most haunted theatres in London (2024)

With a history as rich as London’s, there’s no wonder the capital has a wealth of urban myths and ghost stories to tell.

One such story is that of the ghosts that haunt London’s theatres.

London’s West End is known for playing world-renowned and critically-acclaimed musicals, often at venues that are hundreds of years old.

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But stick around after curtain call and revellers might manage to see a spooky spectre or two as well.

Here are some of London’s most haunted theatres and the terrifying tales behind them.

John Baldwin Buckstone, Theatre Royal Haymarket

One of the less sinister ghosts wandering the halls of London’s theatres is said to live at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

John Baldwin Buckstone was a successful playwright, comedian and actor who performed on London’s stages in the 1800s.

He wrote more than 150 plays over the course of his career before passing away at the age of 77 in 1879.

Today, the ghost of Buckstone is said to live at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, where directors and stagehands claim he likes to watch performances - especially comedies.

Legendary British actor Sir Patrick Stewart claims to have seen Buckstone standing in the wings during a performance of Waiting for Godot at the theatre.

Arthur Bourchier, Garrick Theatre

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A distinguished actor and theatre manager, Arthur Bourchier is known for his roles in classical dramas and his management of the Garrick Theatre, where he produced many plays.

After he retired from the theatre, Bourchier became active in Labour Party politics, and was selected as the parliamentary candidate for Gloucester.

Bourchier passed away in 1927, two years before the General Election in 1929.

Today, the spectre of Bourchier is said to live in the Garrick Theatre.

Legend has it that the venue has a ‘phantom staircase’ upon which Bourchier’s ghost can be seen.

The Severed Head, Lyceum Theatre

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The Lyceum Theatre is known as the home of the critically-acclaimed stage adaptation of Disney’s The Lion King.

But the venue is also said to be home to something altogether scarier than an evil lion voiced by Jeremy Irons: the severed head of a man.

In the 1880s, a couple watching a performance from one of the balconies looked down to the audience and saw the head sat on a woman’s lap.

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Legend has it that the couple tried to find the woman after the show, but never caught her.

Several years later, the husband is said to have visited a house in Yorkshire.

Upon arriving, he was horrified to notice something on one of the house’s walls: a painting of the same man whose severed head he and his wife saw at the Lyceum Theatre.

The owner told him the man was an ancestor and former resident of the house who had been beheaded for treason - and that his family owned the land where the Lyceum was built.

William Terris, Adelphi Theatre

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French author François de La Rochefoucauld famously said in the 1600s that “our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy”.

In the case of the death of William Terris, he’d be right.

In the late 1800s, Terris had become quite successful thanks to his role in Secret Service, which ran at the Adelphi Theatre in 1897.

But his stardom did not last very long.

When he arrived at the stage door for a performance one evening, he was rushed and stabbed by one of the play’s envious extras.

He died in the arms of his leading lady Jessica Milward, to whom he spoke his last words: “I will be back.”

Today, Terris is said to roam the halls of the Adelphi as a poltergeist, causing strange events, knocks and sightings at the venue.

The ghosts of Theatre Royal Drury Lane

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At more than 350 years old, Theatre Royal Drury Lane is said to be the most haunted theatre on the planet.

The venue’s most famous ghost is the Man in Grey, who appears during the day in a wig, grey cloak and three-pointed hat.

He has been seen a number of times crossing from one side of the upper circle to the other before melting into a wall and disappearing.

The Man in Grey’s true identity has never been confirmed, but legend has it that he is the ghost of a skeleton that builders found in a secret room behind the wall in the 1870s.

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Theatre Royal Drury Lane is also said to be haunted by comedian Joseph Grimaldi, progenitor of the modern clown and eccentric who asked that his head be severed from his body when he died.

Grimaldi is said to give performance a comedy kick when he appears in the wings as a white, floating face.

Have you ever seen a ghost at one of London's theatres? Let us know in the comments!

Spooky stories of the 5 most haunted theatres in London (2024)

FAQs

Why is London so spooky? ›

By that standard, many people believe that the city of London is the single most haunted place on the planet. That's thanks to the 900 years of its often-blood-soaked history, which includes wars and invasions, murders, beheadings and all types of assorted mischief. It's true, most dead Londoners tend to stay put.

Is the Phoenix theatre London haunted? ›

The Phoenix, like many of the West End's theatres, is apparently haunted. Various ghostly presences have been seen and felt in the theatre's toilets, the balcony and in backstage areas and it's thought to be the reason why the balcony is locked up during most of the theatre's performances!

Is the novello theatre haunted? ›

There are two ghosts in residence – an unknown ballerina (who has been known to pirouette across the stage) and the famous actor Ivor Novello, who apparently watches performances from the magnificent Dress Circle.

Is His Majesty's theatre London haunted? ›

Since his death in 1917, numerous sightings of Beerbohm Tree's ghost have been reported around His Majesty's by theatre staff and performers alike. Those who are familiar with Beerbohm Tree may already know that his favourite place to watch performances was the top box on stage right.

Is London a scary place to live? ›

Do you feel safe walking around at night or are you scared of crime and poverty? London is a safe city, if you come from somewhere worse! Phone snatching and shoplifting have recently come in vogue however.

Why is it never dark in London? ›

As the sun dips down further, we enter nautical twilight, then astronomical twilight. It is not until the sun reaches 18 degrees below the horizon that we officially enter nighttime. And amazingly, London is sufficiently far north that for a few months of the year, it never enters nighttime.

Is Stranger Things on stage good? ›

Highly recommend. The play was quite a spectacle, absolutely amazing and accomplished effects and staging. Definitely worth seeing if you're a stranger things fan.

What theatre shows the cursed child? ›

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child | Palace Theatre, London | Official Tickets.

Why was the London theatre closed? ›

Pestering puritans. However, the other major closure of the 17th century was not due to disease. In 1642, the Puritan-led parliament ordered the indefinite closure of all London theatres, citing “times of humiliation” and “stage-plays representative of lascivious mirth and levity”.

Why do theatres have ghosts? ›

The ghost light was added as a precaution so no one could trip like that again—whether they were there legally or illegally. While ghost lights are very practical and utilized in theatres around the world, they also have a spiritual meaning. The lights are said to ward away mischievous spirits.

Why are there two seats in the Palace Theater in London permanently bolted into the floor and not usable to the public? ›

The Palace Theatre had two seats permanently bolted open (and unusable by the public) for the theatre ghosts to sit in, until Harry Potter arrived. There's been no noticeable increase in ghostly activity since.

Is the Old Vic haunted? ›

The famous Bristol Old Vic is the country's longest continuously running theatre and its past has some eerie secrets to spill. The spectre of Sarah McCreadie, a long-serving Theatre Manager who worked there over two hundred years ago is said to haunt the front of house area.

Who haunts Kensington Palace? ›

Kensington Palace

There's Peter the Wild Boy, Queen Victoria's aunt Princess Sophia and Queen Mary II, wife of King William III.

What do you wear to Her Majesty's theatre London? ›

Is there a dress code at His Majesty's Theatre? There is no dress code for the venue - The Phantom of the Opera is a musical, not an opera. Patrons should wear attire that is comfortable and appropriate for the occasion.

Did Phantom of the Opera close in London? ›

The Phantom of the Opera extends West End run into 2025 at His Majesty's Theatre in London. West End impresario Cameron Mackintosh has announced that his production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera has once again extended at His Majesty's Theatre in London. Phantom will now play to 29 March 2025.

Is London the most haunted city? ›

London is claimed to be the most haunted city in the world and there are a whole host of ghostly tales that take place in the capital. Hallowe'en, along with the Winter solstice is allegedly when the barrier between the spirit world and ours is permeable and ghosts return en masse. Not scary at all!

Why has London become so violent? ›

It comes as a new London School of Economics (LSE) report1 reveals a clear link between a 10 per cent rise in the cost of living and increases in violence, robberies, shoplifting, burglary and theft across over the past year – with all offences rising by eight per cent when the cost of living rose.

What part of London is the scariest? ›

11 Terrifyingly Haunted Places in London
  • Ragged School Museum, Tower Hamlets. ...
  • Tower of London, Central London. ...
  • Highgate Cemetery, Highgate. ...
  • Charlton House, Greenwich. ...
  • Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey. ...
  • Bethnal Green Underground. ...
  • The Ten Bells Pub, Spitalfields. ...
  • The Langham London. The Langham, 1C Portland Pl, London W1B 1JA.

Why is the Tower of London so scary? ›

Throughout history, the Tower has also been a visible symbol of awe and fear. Kings and queens imprisoned their rivals and enemies within its walls. The stories of prisoners, rich and poor, still haunt the Tower.

References

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