Boo-lieve it or not! Half of Brits believe in ghosts

With Halloween almost upon us, a new spooky survey from The Dungeons has found that 42% of Brits believe in ghosts, and an even greater 47% in spirits.

Ghostly beliefs themselves vary by region, with Norwich leading as the UK’s most spirit-aligned city, boasting 54% of residents who are believers. London follows closely with 46%, proving that even the big smoke can’t keep the thought of ghouls at bay. York, Edinburgh and Blackpool – all home to The Dungeons – are also populated with believers, with 42% (York), 28% (Edinburgh), and 39% of people in the North West, which takes in Blackpool, believing in ghosts.

When it comes to female believers, 47% are convinced of an otherworldly presence, while only 37% of men are inclined to agree.

TOP 10 CITIES THAT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS

1.       Norwich	54%
2.       Newcastle	49%
3.       Sheffield	47%
4.       London	46%
5.       Birmingham	45%
6.       Plymouth	44%
= 7.    Belfast	43%
= 7.    Liverpool	43%
= 7.    Nottingham	43%
10.    Manchester	42%

A chilling 39% of the UK reported they’ve seen a ghost. Men are more likely to admit to a ghostly encounter (43%) than women (36%).

Top of the spectral sightings is Bristol, where 54% of residents claim they’ve been haunted, trailed by Liverpool and Southampton at 53% each. It is stated that ghouls are most likely to be spotted in homes (39%), historic sites (10%), stranger spots like the supermarket (5%), on the toilet (4%), and even some spooky sightings on one-night stands (2%)—the spirit world seems to know no bounds!

TOP 10 CITIES FOR GHOST SIGHTINGS

1.       Bristol	54%
=2.    Liverpool	53%
=2.    Southampton	53%
4.    Manchester	46%
=5.    Norwich	43%
=5.    Leeds	45%
=5.    Birmingham	43%
8.       London	41%
9.       Nottingham	40%
10.   Glasgow	35%

With the launch of the London Dungeon’s chilling Séance show this Halloween, The Dungeons questioned the British public about taking part in a spiritual summoning. When asked if they’d join a séance, Brits were not as eager to delve into the paranormal, with 29% saying “no thanks” to bringing anyone back.

However, 24% wouldn’t call upon a spectral visit from a family member, while 10% would even summon Princess Diana, beating out pets (9%), friends (8%), Jesus (7%), and even Queen Elizabeth II (5%). The data also reveals that 18% of the British public believe Halloween is the most likely time to spot a ghost.

When it comes to other paranormal views, Brits aren’t completely swayed. A solid 18% believe in aliens, 14% in witchcraft, and 9% in horoscopes. The Loch Ness Monster, vampires, and Bigfoot each held their own with 6%, and a devoted 4% insist that Elvis may still be alive. The quirky British humour shines through, with 3% convinced the Earth is flat, showing that no superstition is too outrageous for this island.

Staff at The Dungeons have reported multiple ghost sightings and experiences:

Becca, Studio Technician at the London Dungeon, recalls, “During an overnight install and refresh with my manager, after finishing painting one section we went round a corner to check something for a few moments. When we came back, there were tiny child-sized handprints in the wet paint. We were the only two people in the building, and what made it even creepier is that the handprints were too high for a child to have reached, meaning they may have levitated.” 

Anna, Studio Technician at the London Dungeon shared, “I was doing the night shift, which involved locking up various doors. When I checked the CCTV to make sure no-one was in the building before I left, I saw a girl wearing a white chemise moving through the corridors, it was terrifying.” 

Jamie Humphrey, Performance Supervisor at the Blackpool Tower Dungeon, said, “I was doing my morning routine checks and came across a wet footprint on the floor of the Bathtub Bride show, which is our Halloween show. There were only two people in the Dungeon that morning and everyone had shoes and socks on!”

This Halloween, the London Dungeon, York Dungeon, Edinburgh Dungeon and Blackpool Tower Dungeon invite believers and sceptics alike to step beyond the mortal veil and endure the horrifying history of the UK.

The London Dungeon invites the most daring souls to summon the spirits in its scary séance show. 

Guests to the York Dungeon will discover the chilling truth behind Britain’s most notorious female serial killer.

At the Edinburgh Dungeon, venture deep into the tunnels and passageways of Glamis Castle, but beware of the Monster of Glamis who hunts the halls.

The Blackpool Tower Dungeon shows guests the story of Alice Burnham, the Bathtub Bride, a woman who had a tragic end in a haunting tub.

With many spooktacular shows for the season, The Dungeons are the top places to visit as scary season comes to a close. Come for the shivers, stay for the screams… if you dare.