Bradford in West Yorkshire is the most haunted place in the UK, according to an analysis of spooky buildings and paranormal sightings by tarot reading platform Tarotoo
Halloween is creeping closer, and there’s definitely something spooky in the air. You may be a firm believer in ghosts, feel like the paranormal follows you, or suspect your own home might be haunted. But do you live in the UK’s most haunted city?
Tarot reading platform Tarotoo has delved into the data, analysing a range of eerie metrics, from the number of cemeteries and graves to reported ghost hotspots, empty properties, and homes over 100 years old.
According to Tarotoo, the spookiest city in the UK is Bradford. The West Yorkshire spot was found to have an alarming 143 cemeteries and 255,699 grave sites. It also had 3,284 empty houses and 66,080 properties over 100 years old. As everyone knows, ghosts love old houses.
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The city has a number of reportedly haunted hotspots too, including Paper Hall, which is a Grade II listed building dating back to 1643. One of the most striking reports of paranormal activity to come out of Paper Hall tells of a pair of large staring eyes belonging to a very ghastly face often seen looking out of the windows.
Residents have also reported the sound of someone going up and down the staircase in the dead of night, only for those confronted by the spooking to find no one is there.
Some have argued that the footsteps belong to an old sailor with a peg leg due to the distinct ‘tapping’ pattern of the sound. Rumours have also circulated that an admiral was once killed in the house.
Bradford City Hall, built in 1843, is also said to be a site for paranormal activity. The cellars once served as police cells, and legend has it that a prisoner ghost named Charlie still roams the building. He is said to be stalking the building still, his restless soul continuing to seek his revenge for the ill-treatment at the hands of the police.
Parkside Social Club is another spot that has inspired a number of ghostly reports. In the past, the building has served as an institute and a schoolroom. One of the most common sightings is of a young girl in Victorian-style clothing who enjoys running around in a spooky way.
Bolling Hall is the oldest house in Bradford, according to the Haunted Rooms website. It has clocked up “20 recorded sightings” over the years, including a child’s crib rocking back and forth without being touched, and a lady in white who floats back and forth before disapearing into the fireplace.
Tarotoo’s spookiest cities
(City, Population, Number of cemeteries, Number of Graves, Number of Ghost hotspots, Number of Empty properties, Houses over 100 years old)
- Bradford: 299,310, 143, 255,699, 12, 3,284, 66,080, 79, 2
- Leeds: 455,123, 156, 827,636, 35, 3,450, 64,510, 78
- Aberdeen: 196,670, 28, 48,300, 24, 5,793, 30,750, 75, 4
- Swansea: 300,352, 103, 109,360, 12, 8,700, 30,840, 74
- Edinburgh: 464,990, 82, 114,257, 107, 3,093, 81,108, 74
- Manchester: 551,938, 75, 861,751, 65, 1,700, 56,020, 70, 6
- Newcastle upon Tyne: 192,382, 39, 35,448, 32, 1,449, 26,060, 69
- Belfast: 274,770, 31, 225,150, 13, 3,694, 43,708, 69
- Cardiff: 447,287, 55, 143,068, 41, 7,525, 39,640, 66
- Bristol: 617,280, 105, 286,860, 80, 1,654, 64,410, 65