Blickling Hall, Norfolk Blickling Hall is a handsome house that boasts gothic architecture and plenty of atmosphere. However, the old Tudor house that once stood here is what truly made its ghostly name. It is said that Anne Boleyn continues to haunt her childhood home, carrying her own severed head as she walks the corridors. Sir John Fastolf, an English soldier and the owner of Blickling estate in the 15th century (believed to be the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Falstaff) is also said to haunt Blickling. Today, visitors can roam numerous museums, stay in charming cottages or explore the 1,600 acres of woodland, parkland and farmland. nationaltrust.org.uk Hinton Ampner, Hampshire Hinton Ampner is an impressive neo-Georgian mansion that has been remodelled several times. Thought to be the inspiration for Henry James’ Bly Manor, Hinton Ampner gained its ghoulish reputation in the 1700s when the owners complained of hearing doors slam and ghostly voices raised in anger, and seeing figures that disappeared before they could be confronted. Today Hinton Ampner is open to the public, who can explore its beautiful rooms and art and ceramics collections, and stroll the manicured gardens. The house also hosts family-friendly events for Halloween and beyond. nationaltrust.org.uk Woodchester Mansion, the Cotswolds Woodchester Mansion is a rambling, unfinished Victorian gothic masterpiece in a pretty Cotswolds valley near Nympsfield village, close to Stroud. Legend has it that in 1868 one of the workmen was mysteriously murdered, causing the others to flee, leaving parts of the house without floors and ceilings. Ghostly sightings include a tall man in the chapel, an old woman who attacks female visitors in the dark, and a floating head in the ladies bathroom. Gargoyles, grotesques and carvings from English folklore add to the spooky vibes. No longer abandoned, the house is open to visitors from Friday to Sundays, Easter to Halloween. woodchestermansion.org.uk Osea Island, Essex Any gothic fiction fan would be hard-pressed not to have come across Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black, a dark and terrifying novel that has been adapted for stage and screen. The action takes place in Eel Marsh House, which is haunted by the violent and dangerous ghost of Alice Drablow and accessed only by the Nine Lives Causeway that cuts through the marshes. Osea Island in Essex was used as the location for the causeway in the 2012 film adaptation. Visitors can stay in one of the holiday cottages on the island – just be aware, as the causeway cuts you off from the mainland when the tide is high, there is no escape … oseaisland.co.uk Ballygally Castle, County Antrim Situated on the Antrim coast, overlooking the Irish Sea, Ballygally Castle is now a beautiful hotel that boasts its own “ghost room” in one of the turrets. The room is said to be haunted by Lady Isabella Shaw, who was separated from her young daughter and locked away when she fell out of favour with her husband, Lord Shaw. Driven to despair, Isabella tried to escape through a window and fell to her death. The room is said to be unnaturally cold and still, and Isabella is said to wander the castle’s corridors at night, knocking on doors in search of her daughter. It’s open to the public, and visitors can venture up the tower’s spiral staircase to see the bedroom. ballygallycastlehotel.com Craig-y-Nos Castle, Powys Said to be one of the most haunted castles in Wales, Craig-y-Nos Castle north of Swansea is the former estate of 19th-century opera singer Adelina Patti, once one of the world’s most famous sopranos. Ghostly activities are frequently reported and visitors say they have encountered Adelina’s spirit staring longingly into a mirror. Overlooking the Craig-y-Nos country park, in the Bannau Brycheiniog ( Brecon Beacons) national park, the castle is open to the public throughout the year and paranormal weekends are held with ghost tours that take visitors into the castle’s most chilling rooms – including cellars and basements. craigynoscastle.com Temple Newsam, West Yorkshire Temple Newsam is a magnificent Tudor-Jacobean country house in Leeds, built by Thomas, Lord Darcy in the 1500s. Other noteworthy owners include Henry VIII and Lord Darnley, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots and father of King James I. Among gruesome occurrences in the house was the death of the house nursemaid Phoebe Gray, who was suffocated by fellow servant William Collinson after she spurned his advances during a party in 1704. Staff claim they can still hear her screams today. Another ghost said to inhabit the house is the restless spirit of the Blue Lady, Mary Ingram, who died at the estate in a state of delirium after a brutal highway robbery and whose haunting portrait still hangs in the lavish gothic room. Join a tour to hear about the mysteries of the house or special spooky tours even venture into the cellars. museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk Littlecote House, Berkshire A stunning 13th-century manor full of heritage, Littlecote is said to be one of the most haunted buildings in England, and is now a hotel. Among spine-tingling ghostly sightings is a shadowy figure sitting in the corner of a bedroom, rocking an infant in her arms. This phantom is believed to be the midwife Mother Barnes, who in 1575 witnessed the murder of a baby boy but was forced to withhold the truth. Tours of the house and grounds tell of its history. The site was once a Roman settlement and a Roman villa next to the hotel can be visited too. warnerleisurehotels.co.uk Pendle Hill, Lancashire Not a house but certainly a site of frightening events, Pendle Hill in east Lancashire is famous for the 1612 Pendle witch trials. What started as a feud between two impoverished rival families, the Chattoxes and the Demdikes, took an unnerving turn when the families moved beyond accusing each other to accusing members of their own households, and even confessing themselves, with many tried and executed for witchcraft. The spirits of the “witches” are believed to still linger, and Pendle is the site of many ghost hunts and tours. Otherwise, Pendle Hill’s walking routes offer stunning views and family-friendly activities all year round. visitpendle.com Athelhampton, Dorset Athelhampton in Puddletown, Dorset, is one of England’s finest Tudor manor houses, with a Great Hall that remains largely unchanged since 1485. It actually dates back much further, with a mention of a house here in the Domesday Book of 1086, when it was owned by the Bishop of Salisbury. Many ghosts are said to have been spotted here, from an ape, once kept as a pet, to a grey lady seen wandering corridors and a hooded priest in the Great Hall. In the late 1990s, there were reports of disturbing activity in the north wing. Doors would slam and lock, lights would flicker on and off, drawers dropped from chests and bedding was hauled off beds while people were sound asleep. Professionals were called in and there hasn’t been similar paranormal activity since. Athelhampton is open to visitors with an award-winning garden and busy schedules of events, including outdoor theatre, music and dance. athelhampton.com Louise Davidson’s debut novel The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond (Moonflower, £8.99 ) is out now. To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply.