The Most Haunted Places in Liverpool

Liverpool has a long history of ghost stories, mysterious sightings and eerie legends. From haunted streets and abandoned buildings to pubs where locals swear something supernatural is still lurking, the city is packed with places said to be home to restless spirits. If you’re curious about the city’s darker side, here are some of the most haunted places in Liverpool worth exploring.

Haunted Streets in Liverpool

Liverpool is full of beautiful streets with centuries of history behind them… and, according to local legend, not all of the residents have moved on. From mischievous poltergeists to ghostly sightings in old alleyways, these streets are said to be some of the most haunted in the city.

Penny Lane

Though this Liverpool hotspot was made famous by that Beatles song; Penny Lane was actually named after one of Liverpool’s famous slave ship owners. I know, we’ve only gone and ruined that song for you forever now, haven’t we.

Anyway, the famous road is home (allegedly) to Liverpool’s “Penny Lane Poltergeist”… a mischievous spirit said to have been causing trouble since Victorian times. Locals have long reported strange knocks, unexplained footsteps and the occasional object mysteriously moving when no one else is around.

There have also been sightings of a little girl combing her long blonde hair in the window of Number 44. Some claim she appears late at night before suddenly vanishing – so if you’re walking down Penny Lane after dark, you might want to keep an eye on the windows.

Sweeting Street

Parallel to the lofty banking halls and marble facades of Castle street, you’ll find Sweeting Street: a crooked little alleyway that feels like a time machine taking you back to Liverpool in the 1800’s.

Sweeting Street, named after Alderman Thomas Sweeting who was Mayor of Liverpool in 1698, is home to two very active ghosts. The first is Rose Poole, whose five golden rings were stolen from her corpse by her husband as she lay in her coffin. Her restless soul is said to wander up and down Sweeting Street looking for her jewellery, waiting for revenge…

The second spirit is said to be that of a little girl, who hit her head and died while playing with her friends on Sweeting Street back in the 1800’s – her ghost is thought to still skip up and down the street, waiting for someone to come and play with her.

Pickwick Street

Toxteth is thought to be a true paranomal hotspot of Liverpool, with hundreds of ghostly encounters recorded over the last 200 years… but none more common that the famous Pickwick Poltergeist; a malevolent spirit that was first reported over 130 years ago.

One reported encounter involved a woman being lifted from her bed by an unexplained force, while other residents on the street have heard bangs, wailing and mysterious scratching in the dead of night.

There have also been numerous reports of slamming doors and an overwhelming feeling of dread at several properties – and one couple actually left their home because it was allegedly shaking so much they thought it was going to collapse.

Hope Street

This beautiful spot is named Hope Street because it connects the two stunning Cathedrals of Liverpool… but it’s also said to be a real feasting ground for restless spirits within the Georgian Quarter.

The site of the Metropolitan Cathedral was once the largest workhouse in Britain, where 4000 troubled souls worked their fingers to the bone (and many to their death).

It’s been reported that a dark spectre now walks up the street to the steps of the cathedral once the cover of night falls and some paranormal investigators have claimed that it is the victim of a fire in 1862 when 21 children and two nurses died.

Haunted Sites in Liverpool

Liverpool’s haunted reputation doesn’t stop with its streets. From centuries-old manor houses to abandoned hospitals and historic landmarks, there are plenty of places across the city where ghostly sightings and strange occurrences have been reported.

Speke Hall

Built over 600 years ago, it’s hardly a surprise that Speke Hall has been voted one of the most haunted places in Liverpool.

There have been multiple sightings of ghosts roaming the halls, including ‘The White Lady’, a ‘see-through’ gardener and a terrifyingly solid-looking priest.

Oh, and if that’s not enough, apparently there’s a werewolf-like creature that haunts the gardens too. That might just be your ex though...

Newsham Park Hospital

An abandoned building that was used as a Victorian orphanage, a medical hospital and a mental asylum? It’s hardly surprising that Newsham Park Hospital is on the Liverpool’s most haunted list!

Unsurprisingly, this building’s hat-trick of creepy-ness doesn’t end there; a female nurse is said to have complained of ‘strange’ sightings whilst she worked at the hospital… and was later found dead on one of the wards...

It is also said that patients at the hospital would constantly speak to people who weren’t there and mention ‘the children’ to staff.

Since it was abandoned in 1997, there have been hundreds of reported sightings of ghosts and inexplicable voices. But even if you don’t see any spirits, the broken beds, anti-suicide grilles and decrepit wheelchairs that you can still see rotting away in the rooms and corridors are creepy enough on their own.

St James’ Cemetery

What sort of haunted Liverpool list would this be if we didn’t include somewhere where every step you take there is a body 6 foot beneath you?

That’s right, St. James’ Cemetery, situated underneath Liverpool’s beautiful Anglican cathedral, houses the remains of nearly 58,000 people – from poor children from workhouses to the notorious Kitty Wilkinson.

So when it comes to ghostly landmarks in Liverpool, I guess you can take your pick!

Haunted Pubs in Liverpool

Liverpool has no shortage of historic pubs either… and a few of them come with ghostly spirits to match the alcoholic ones. So, if you fancy a drink somewhere with a paranormal reputation, here are some of the creepiest pubs in the city.

The Post Office

17 Old Post Office Place, Liverpool L1 3DH England

Known to scousers as ‘The Postie’, this is still a popular haunt for after-work drinks.

Back in 1902, The Post Office pub Liverpool was taken over by a man called Thomas Henshaw and his wife Annie, who allegedly discovered a tiny, loacked room upstairs with it’s keyhole filled with putty…

Stories from the regulars warned the couple not to open the locked door because it contained a terrifying spirit… but Thomas Henshaw ignored their tales. One night, one of Thomas’friends who was staying at the pub, unblocked the keyhole and peered inside… but what did he see?

Nobody knows, but it was something so horrifying that he was said to never speak sense again and was later committed to a lunatic asylum.

Would you dare to explore the tiny rooms of The Old Post Office…. perhaps after some dutch courage?

Ye Hole in Ye Wall

4 Hackins Hey, Liverpool L2 2AW

Claiming to be Liverpool’s oldest pub, Ye Hole in Ye Wall dates all the way back to 1726, tucked away down the narrow alley of Hackins Hey. With nearly 300 years of history packed into its dark wooden walls, it’s perhaps no surprise that the pub has developed a reputation for being a little… haunted.

One story claims the pub was built over an old Quaker burial ground, which many locals believe explains the strange goings-on reported by staff and regulars over the years.

Among the ghostly residents is said to be the spirit of an old punter who still hangs around the bar, occasionally causing mischief for locals trying to enjoy a quiet pint.

But if you don’t spot any ghosts, there’s still another chilling bit of history about Ye Hole in Ye Wall — it was actually one of the last pubs in Liverpool to allow women through the doors, only finally changing the rule in 1977.

Terrifying.

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms

36 Hope St, Liverpool L1 9BX

The infamous Philharmonic Dining Rooms is widely considered one of the most beautiful — and certainly most elaborate — places to drink in Liverpool.

Opened in 1898 and now proudly Grade I listed, this Hope Street institution was designed for Cain’s Brewery and originally catered to Liverpool’s well-heeled elite. Which explains the heavy wood panelling, plush leather seating and interiors that look like they were lifted straight out of a Victorian gentleman’s fever dream.

Oh, and the famously lavish men’s toilets — which are so ornate they’re also Grade I listed. Yes, even the loos.

But the Philharmonic isn’t just known for its architecture. Over the years it has also developed something of a paranormal reputation.

Staff and visitors have reported sightings of a ghostly clown causing mischief around the bar, while others claim to hear Banshee-like wails echoing up from the cellars late at night.

Then there’s the old man in a cloth cap, often seen quietly muttering to himself in the corner — until someone approaches him… and he disappears.

Just your average night out on Hope Street.

Peter Kavagnah’s

2-6 Egerton St, Liverpool L8 7LY

Peter Kavanagh’s is one of Liverpool’s quirkiest pubs, packed with carved wooden benches, strange curiosities and all sorts of odd little details dotted around the walls and ceilings.

Dating back to 1844, the pub was originally known as The Grapes before later being renamed after one of its landlords. Inside, it still features traditional Victorian “snob screens” — wooden partitions that allowed drinkers to see the bar without actually seeing each other. Liverpool nightlife has always been a bit dramatic.

But the pub’s strangest story supposedly began when a group of regulars held a séance in the 1800s, during which a spirit calling itself Marmaduke made contact. According to local legend, Marmaduke liked the place so much he never actually left — and is said to still wander the hallways today.

Whether you believe the stories is up to you. But with cheap drinks, plenty of weird things to stare at and a resident ghost named Marmaduke, it’s definitely one of Liverpool’s more memorable places for a pint.

The Slaughter House

13-15 Fenwick St, Liverpool L2 7LS

his eerie pub-turned-comedy club on Fenwick Street dates back to the 18th century, and over the years almost every landlord has had a spooky story to tell about the place.

Today it’s home to Laughterhouse Comedy, but even the comedians apparently aren’t safe from the paranormal. Owner Paula Harrington once told the Liverpool Echo:

“There have been times where our hair has started moving like something is touching it. We’ve also heard laughing and whistling when no one else is there.”

The pub is considered so haunted that the TV show Most Haunted investigated it in 2017. During filming, host Yvette Fielding reportedly encountered a spirit known as Albert.

According to local legend, Albert was a stable hand who worked nearby when the area was filled with coaching yards and horses. He is said to have died after being pushed down the pub’s stairs — and many believe he still lingers there, quietly keeping an eye on the place.

Which means if you hear someone whistling behind you at the bar… it might not be another customer.

Haunted Hotels in Liverpool

If you fancy turning your ghost hunt into an overnight stay, Liverpool has a few hotels with reputations that go far beyond creaky floorboards. Over the years, guests and staff have reported strange noises, unexplained sightings and the occasional ghostly encounter.

The Adelphi Hotel

Back in 2015, Liverpool’s famous Adelphi was named the most haunted hotel in the whole of the UK – with hand prints, noises in the nights and actual ghosts all spotted by guests.

Ghostly author, Tom Slemen, identified a number of ghostly apparitions that are said to still wander the halls of this old hotel, including:

• Raymond Brown, a 15-year-old pageboy who is said to have died after he became trapped in the baggage room lift of the Adelphi Hotel in August 1961. His ghost, still wearing his cap and uniform, has reportedly picked up the luggage of guests and carried it off to various rooms and corridors before vanishing.
• An unknown whistler often spotted in the lift of the hotel is said to breathe down the neck of guests and sometimes taps them on the shoulder.
• “George”, a man in a tuxedo with a prominent moustache, is reported to call out to members of the public for help from a certain window on the Brownlow Hill side of the hotel. It’s said that he took his own life at the Adelphi sometime in the 1930s.
• An unidentified female pickpocket ghost is reported to have been seen rifling through guests clothes and belongings in the early hours. She always disappears into thin air when she is challenged.

Hope Street Hotel

Sitting in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter between the city’s two cathedrals, Hope Street Hotel is one of the most stylish places to stay in the city — but some guests claim the building has a slightly eerie side too.

Reports over the years have included lights flickering, doors opening and closing by themselves and the feeling of someone else being in the room. Some visitors have even claimed to hear footsteps in empty corridors late at night.

Whether it’s restless spirits or just the creaky charm of old Georgian buildings is up for debate… but if you’re already wandering Hope Street looking for ghosts, you might want to keep an eye on the hotel as well.

Liverpool Marriott Hotel City Centre

Another hotel that has picked up a few ghostly rumours over the years is the Liverpool Marriott Hotel City Centre.

Guests have reported hearing children laughing and playing in the hallways late at night, even when the corridors are completely empty. There have also been sightings of a mysterious “woman in white” who appears briefly before disappearing again.

Whether it’s paranormal activity or just overactive imaginations after one too many drinks in the city centre is anyone’s guess.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Liverpool certainly isn’t short on eerie legends and strange stories. From haunted streets and historic pubs to abandoned buildings and ghostly hotels, the city is packed with places that have gained a reputation for the paranormal. So next time you’re exploring Liverpool, keep your eyes – and ears – open. You never know who might be wandering the streets with you.