I went on a pub crawl to five of London’s most ‘haunted’ taverns. Here’s what I discovered, from a bar stalked by Jack the Ripper’s victims to a saloon with a ‘ghost cam’ and a basement with a hanging noose

It’s the pubs that define the atmosphere in London’s pubs: five of the creepiest inns in the British capital.

I visited them all to find out which one was the most terrifying.

There are dozens of pubs in London that are said to be haunted. These five spooky inns are known as hotbeds of paranormal activity.

I enter a world of ghost cameras, hanging neckties and hunting grounds for Jack the Ripper’s victims. I also hear about a ghost who reportedly woke barmaids by ripping their sheets off.

Read on for my spook factor scores. Would YOU be brave enough to follow in my footsteps?

The View from Whitby – Wapping

The Prospect of Whitby (above) is situated on the banks of the Thames in a Grade II listed building and has a history so disturbing it was once known as The Devil’s Tavern.

The photo shows a noose hanging from the back of The Prospect of Whitby as a tribute to ‘the hanging judge’

The Outlook on Whitby claims to be London’s oldest riverside pub, dating back to 1520. Inside, there’s an original flagstone floor, a pewter-topped bar, and old barrels and ships’ masts built into the ceiling. Set on the banks of the Thames in a Grade II listed building, it has a history so troubled it was once known as The Devil’s Tavern.

Throat-cutters, pirates, smugglers and thieves all came to drink here, as did Judge George Jeffreys, a 17th century judge who is said to have sentenced hundreds of people to death by hanging.

His ghost is rumoured to haunt the pub, along with several others, including Mary Frith, a notorious pickpocket also known as Moll Cutpurse.

Now I discover that it is frequented by American tourists who flock there for the £16 steak and ale pie, and the atmosphere is more tranquil than sinister. Reminders of history are everywhere, though, from model ships to informative plaques. Perhaps the most chilling memento is the noose, which swings backwards in homage to ‘the hanging judge’.

Spook factor: 2/5

The Viaduct Tavern – Holborn

The Viaduct Tavern is located opposite the Old Bailey and was built on the site of Newgate Prison. The pub still retains many Victorian features including an ornate copper ceiling, cast iron pillars and an old ticket office

Above you can see the ‘cells’ in the basement of the Viaduct Tavern. In the dark space hang a noose and rusty metal cages

The Viaduct Tavernopposite the Old Bailey, has a creepy pub image because of the many coffins.

In the main part of the bar you will find the Victorian drinking den with cast iron pillars, an ornate copper ceiling and an old ticket booth.

So far, it’s a little creepy.

But as you dig deeper, things quickly become quite terrifying.

The pub was built on the site of Newgate Prison, and below are old ‘cells’ where prisoners would have been held.

These cells are free to enter for customers, and minutes after finishing my drink, I reluctantly follow the barmaid up a steep, creaking staircase to a small brick room. A noose and rusty metal cages hang in the dark, dank space—terrifying enough to make me want to go upstairs within seconds.

Employees are reportedly afraid to go downstairs alone, which is understandable, as in 1996 the landlord reportedly found himself locked in the basement after the door slammed shut for no apparent reason.

Ghost Factor – 4/5

The Rising Sun – Smithfield

At The Rising Sun in Smithfield there is a ‘dated wooden interior’ and an ‘absence of TVs and music’, Jess writes – as well as a ‘perverse’ mind

This pub, next to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, was considered a playground for body snatching gangs in the early 19th century, with criminals said to have drugged and murdered customers before selling their bodies to the hospital for medical research.

It comes as no surprise that paranormal activity has been reported since then.

A striking case is the so-called ‘perverted’ spirit. A former landlady reported being disturbed by a presence while she was in the shower – it pulled back the shower curtain and placed an icy hand on her back.

The barmaids who lived upstairs woke up to find a ghost sitting at the foot of their bed, slowly pulling off their covers.

Whether it’s the combination of these chilling stories, the dated wooden interior or the eerie silence due to the lack of televisions and music, I find the atmosphere in this pub somewhat unsettling.

As I walk to the upstairs toilet, I notice the cold temperature and creaking floorboards. On my way back down, a fire alarm suddenly goes off and the doors slowly close. A ghostly presence or just pure coincidence? Either way, I leave the pub in a flash, shocked.

Visit risingsunfarringdon.co.uk.

Ghost Factor – 5/5

Morpeth Arms – Millbank

Beneath the Morpeth Arms are cells left over from the former Millbank Prison. The pub is said to be haunted by a former prisoner who died underground

A live stream of the Morpeth Arms cells is shown on a TV next to the bar (pictured)

At first glance, this 19th-century taproom seems light, airy and not at all creepy.

However, beneath the surface are tunnels and cells left over from the former Millbank Prisonwhich opened in 1816 and closed in 1890.

The tunnels served as the ‘last walk’ for prisoners before they were deported to Australia. It is said that one prisoner died in a tunnel under the pub while trying to escape – and now he haunts the pub, according to local legend.

Reminders of the pub’s history are everywhere, from framed photos of criminals to a sign above the bar that reads ‘some of our spirits you can’t see’. There’s even a live stream of the cells, shown on a TV next to the bar.

Although I was unable to view the cells during my visit, the pub does welcome guests downstairs ‘from time to time’.

Although the upper part has a rich history, it still looks very modern. If you ignore the historical trinkets and creepy images from the ghost camera, there is a fairly light and non-creepy atmosphere.

Visit www.morpetharms.com.

Ghost factor: 1.5/5

The Ten Bells – Spitalfields

The Ten Bells (pictured) are known for their connection to London’s most notorious serial killer, Jack The Ripper, and are said to be haunted by one of his victims

Follow the hordes of tourist groups to the East End pub The ten bellsknown for its connection to London’s most notorious serial killer: Jack The Ripper.

The pub is associated with two victims of Jack the Ripper. Unconfirmed reports claim that Annie Chapman was drinking in the pub before she was murdered. Her mutilated body was found in nearby Hanbury Street.

Mary Kelly – the Ripper’s final victim – is associated with the pub as the street outside is said to be where she picked up customers. Chapman’s ghost is rumoured to still haunt the pub, along with several other spooky figures.

It is said that staff have encountered the ghost of a former landlord named George Roberts, who was allegedly murdered with an axe. There are also gruesome stories of the murder of a baby in one of the rooms upstairs, with psychic mediums apparently too afraid to enter.

Despite its entanglement with such a grim past, the pub has a surprisingly lively atmosphere. Small but lively, it attracts a young crowd. If it were less busy, however, I would find it scary to go alone.

Spook factor: 3/5