News

The Haunted Traveler: Haunted London

Published

7 years ago

August 2, 2017

Even though it’s still technically summer, in my heart it’s fall. Halloween décor is out in some stores and I’m counting the days until I can get my pumpkin spice coffee/cereal/desserts/lip balm/perfume/toothpaste/deodorant…etc. This scorching weather isn’t doing anything for me and it’s cooking me alive in my all black everything. So, for these reasons taking Haunted Traveler from hot Brazil to soggy haunted London.

The history, the dreary weather, the cemeteries and castles, the spotted dick; it’s no surprise that haunted London is high on the travel list and boy do they have a lot to offer. I can’t include all the locations in even London alone so I’m picking my favorites and thanks to We Go Places, I can include the cost of getting into some of them.

Grab your tea, get cozy, and let’s dig in.

The Tower of London

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

One of haunted London’s most famous locations both historically and by tourists, this was once a royal palace built in 1066. It was a place of imprisonment and execution, the most famous of which was the beheading of Anne Boleyn, queen and wife to Henry VIII.

Her headless ghost is seen wandering the halls, holding her severed head beneath her arm. Other members of royalty imprisoned and murdered in the castle are seen walking the halls and grounds. The tower can be toured for £22 for adults and £11 for kids ages 5-15.

Whitechapel/ Ten Bells Pub

Photographed by Marc Baker

This is not a building so much as a district in haunted London. If it sounds familiar, this is the stomping ground of Jack the Ripper, a notorious and never-caught serial killer in 1888. There are after dark walking tours of London’s East End where you can learn the bloody history of the area and spook yourself a bit. Tours are £10 per person.

While you’re in East End, stop by Ten Bells where two of the Rippers victims, Annie Chapman and Mary Jane Kelly, have connections. Annie had a drink there right before she was murdered. It’s said she still visits the pub and Mary Jane used to peddle sex outside and her body was found up the street. Patrons also feel gusts of wind, hear ghostly laughing and experience other poltergeist activity.

50 Berkley Square

Image courtesy of Secret Guides

This house built by William Kent in the 1700’s was named the “Most Haunted House in London” in the 1900’s by Peter Underwood’s book Haunted London. A woman is claimed to have committed suicide in the home and shows herself to guests as a brown mist and a sailor staying there died as a result of tripping as he ran from the house. Others have been committed to an asylum shortly after being there. The house is now home to a Maggs Bros. bookseller headquarters.

The Enfield Poltergeist/ 284 Green St

Still from investigation

This location was recently made famous again by The Conjuring 2. While I have my own opinions about that (The Warrens weren’t really involved. The investigation was done by Maurice Gross and Guy Lyon Playfair, who did NOT like the Warrens in the least. They showed up the last 3 days of a 180 day investigation and “took over” claiming they knew it was a demon even though the investigators thought otherwise.), the location is still creepy to say the least.

While speculation continues on what really happened here, the haunting of a young girl and poltergeist activity seen by police officers leave a compelling story.

The Spaniards Inn/ Hampstead Heath

Image courtesy of The Beauty of Travel

Built in 1585, this lovely pub rests on the edge of Hampstead Heath, a park that was mentioned all the way back to the year 986. A visiting spot for the likes of Dick Turpin, Keats, Byron and Bram stoker, many a literary masterpiece has been written from this place. Keats wrote “Ode to a Nightingale” in the garden and allegedly Stoker based Dracula on a ghost story about the pub.

Patrons report being tugged at and seeing the possible ghost of Dick Turpin (the Highwayman) and the ghost of one of the owners that died in a duel. If you’re near Hampstead Heath, stop in for a pint. Hampstead Heath itself is home to its own ghost sightings and long history. People hear ghostly footsteps and see a sad, young girl as well as other ghostly activity.

Don’t go away, there’s more haunted London on the next page!

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

9 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

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News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

11 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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A post shared by Spirit Halloween (@spirithalloween)

Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

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Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

13 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.