As night enthusiasts, many of us are also fans of horror and mystery. Horror tourism offers a unique experience to plan during the spooky season. While it may feel eerie, some might find it a cozy and even comforting vacation.
Visiting “haunted” cities like Salem, Oxford, and Edinburgh is perfect during autumn for Halloween or in winter for Christmas and New Year, especially for those seeking a quiet winter holiday destination while still looking for some excitement.
In the spirit of horror tourism, we want to provide you with quick itineraries for Oxford, Salem, and Edinburgh for your next vacation.
From horror night tours and haunted landmarks to horror-themed restaurants and bars, or even daring yourself to spend a night in a haunted hotel, these cities have plenty of spine-chilling experiences waiting for you.
Spooky Vacation in the Witch City: Salem, Massachusetts
Image Source: Salem Haunted Happenings
While discussing spooky cities for horror tourism, Salem in Massachusetts is a destination you can’t miss, known for the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Especially during the spooky season of Halloween, the Witch City goes all out with tons of special events and festivals.
🛏️ Where to Stay: For an authentic experience, we recommend booking Salem’s Inn and B&B (Bed & Breakfast). This place offers traditional accommodations with a local interior style. Daniels House Inn would be the best choice for a dark and creepy atmosphere, while also providing warm and cozy hospitality.
🍷 Where to Eat: Turner’s Seafood at Lyceum Hall is one of the restaurants with fascinating lore in Salem. In 1831, the building was the residence of Bridget Bishop, the first person executed for witchcraft. The residence was home to The Lyceum, a lecture hall for the Salem Lyceum Society. Since 1935, the building has been rebranded as a café, bar, and now a seafood restaurant where you can dine while exploring the history of the venue.
Image Source: Real Pirates Salem
🏛️ Haunted Landmarks: For a deeper dive into the haunted history of Salem, the city offers numerous night tours that explore infamous witch houses and other haunted landmarks, such as the House of the Seven Gables, the Jonathan Corwin House, the Witch House at Salem, the Field of Giles Corey’s Demise, the Old Burying Point Cemetery, and many more. We also recommend visiting the Salem Witch Museum, which is open until 10:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
🎃 Special Halloween Events in Salem:
Dark Academia and Magical Horror Experiences in Oxford, UK
Image Source: DPA Light Consultants
There are several “haunted” cities in England, but this time we would like to recommend Oxford. The city is dominated by Gothic-themed buildings that bring a dark and mysterious vibe when night falls. Oxford is also popular among Harry Potter fans, as Oxford University is one of the filming locations for the movie series.
In addition to being famous for its Harry Potter Tour, Oxford has its own charm as a horror tourism destination. The city offers several horror night tours, and chilling stories dwell within its buildings. It might not be as creepy or spooky as Salem, but Oxford is more about a city that embodies dark academia and magical supernatural vibes.
🛏️ Where to stay: Located on Magpie Lane, The Old Bank Hotel was formerly a bank. Not just any city bank, it is rumored to be a haunted hotel with the ghost of a woman in a brown dress. It is also known for the ghost story of Prudence Burcote, who took her own life on the property that used to be her childhood home.
Despite its melancholic tragedy, The Old Bank Hotel is one of the go-to accommodations in Oxford for tourists, thanks to its cozy vibes and great hospitality.
For a Harry Potter fan, you may want to spend a night at the Hogwarts B&B on Oxford University grounds. It offers three options for accommodation: Christ Church on Campus Grounds, 117 St Aldates Building, and Liddell Building. All three options include the special privilege every fan looks for: breakfast in the Great Hall (just like Hogwarts students in the movie).
You can also explore the Church Cathedral and some of the university grounds, admiring their magnificent architecture.
Both The Old Bank Hotel and the Harry Potter B&B experience are highly booked during the Christmas and New Year holidays. We suggest making a reservation before your visit to Oxford.
Image Source: Oxford Visit
🏛️ Haunted sites with horror stories in Oxford:
- The Bodleian Library at Oxford University is known to be haunted by Duke Humfrey, a ghostly librarian who served Sir Thomas Bodley in the 17th century. Sir Thomas is said to dwell in that haunted library as well.
- St. John’s College is known to be haunted by the Phantom Cavalier, the restless spirit of a nobleman whose life ended tragically during the English Civil War in the 17th century.
- Located in central Oxford, New College Lane is a historic street with creepy tales. Legend has it that, back in the day, victims of the plague were buried in the cobblestones, which later (even to this day) manifested as a mysterious blue light that dances and flickers in the lane at night.
- Banbury Road is known as a haunted street in Oxford, with a gruesome history involving Napier. Napier was a criminal who committed horrible crimes. He was punished by being mutilated by the authorities, and his limbs were scattered around the city. It is believed that the spirit of Napier still haunts Banbury Road in search of his limbs.
Luxurious Haunted Hotels and Horror Investigations in Edinburgh, Scotland
Image Source: We Go Trip
Quite similar to Oxford, Edinburgh is perfect for horror tourism because the city is known for its medieval Old Town and the splendor of its cobblestone architecture. The capital city of Scotland is not only spooky in appearance, but it also possesses a spooky history.
Edinburgh accommodates your horror tourism needs, with many areas to visit and horror night tours to book. It might also offer the most luxurious horror experiences if you prepare an extra budget.
Image Source: Ed O’Keeffe Photography
🛏️ Where to stay: There are two luxurious horror accommodations we would like to recommend. While they may not be affordable, we want you to know that you can spend a night in some of these “haunted” places in Edinburgh.
- Dalhousie Castle is an infamously haunted 4-star hotel and spa, located 8 miles east of Edinburgh. The most prominent ghost at Dalhousie Castle is a woman known as the Grey Lady. It is believed to be the spirit of a young lady named Lady Catherine, who died of a broken heart at 16 after being caught with a stable hand. She was banished to the castle tower in 1695. Some guests try to capture a photo of Lady Grey, as she is known to make appearances in photographs.
- The Scotsman Hotel is another luxurious “haunted” hotel located at North Bridge in the Old Town. The building was formerly the office of The Scotsman newspaper and the Edinburgh Evening News. It is believed to be haunted by the former workers of those industries who continue to work hard even after death, roaming around the hotel’s corridors.
Image Source: Luxury Escapes
🍺 Where to hang out: Another location related to the Harry Potter series, Victoria Street in Edinburgh is often said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. The main charm of this street is its elegantly curved architecture; it indeed looks whimsical and magical. It’s where you can find unique shops and galleries, and it is also a hub for various eateries and cozy cafes.
Victoria Street is also home to West Bow House, known as one of the most haunted properties in Edinburgh, formerly owned by Thomas Weir, who has an eerie history.
For a drink, Banshee Labyrinth is the most haunted pub in Edinburgh. It is believed to be haunted by a banshee, a female spirit known as a sign of impending death in Scottish folklore. Whether you believe the lore or not, Banshee Labyrinth is still one of the best pubs with ancient dark vibes.
Other pubs you may want to visit in Edinburgh include The Last Drop Tavern, with its dark cobblestone architecture, Tolbooth Tavern, and Deacon Brodie’s. Most of these streets and pubs or taverns in Edinburgh have some interesting horror stories under their roofs.
🏛️ Horror Landmarks in Edinburgh:
- Edinburgh Castle
- Greyfriars Kirkyard, Old Town
- Edinburgh Vaults, South Bridge
- Borthwick Castle
- Mary King’s Close, Royal Mile
⚠️ Advice on why you should book horror night tours for your horror tourism plan: Booking horror night tours, or night tours in general, is recommended for your own safety and immersive experience. This is especially important for horror tours where you might visit cemeteries, old buildings, and quiet streets at night. Some locations may even require special access at night, which is only provided by tour guide agencies. With the presence of a tour guide, a lonely and empty haunted location will come alive with more insightful stories—something you might not experience if you choose to visit the venue alone.