Last Updated on 1 June 2026 by Dave King
Brighton has a long association with ghost stories, from a manor house considered one of the most haunted in the country to a theatre with its own resident spirit. This guide to haunted Brighton covers the real haunted places in the city, the stories attached to them, and how to take a ghost walk if you want to hear them told properly. The accounts here are drawn from local history, venue records and long-established folklore rather than invented for the page.
Haunted Places Featured in This Guide
| Place | Story | Can You Visit? |
|---|---|---|
| Preston Manor | The White Lady (Sister Agnes) and others | Yes, seasonal opening plus events |
| Theatre Royal | The Grey Lady | Yes, as a working theatre |
| Royal Pavilion and Brighton Dome | George IV, Maria Fitzherbert, a stable boy | Yes, both open to visitors |
| The Lanes | A bricked-up nun and others | Yes, free to walk; best on a ghost walk |
| Hangleton | The Hangleton Hangman | Public road, free |
Brighton has previously been named the UK’s most haunted location, but a later 2022 analysis placed it second behind York, with 146 reported sightings recorded in the city. Take that seriously or not, the stories of haunted Brighton are a genuine part of the city’s history, tied to real buildings and documented events.
Table of Contents
Preston Manor
Preston Manor is the most famous haunted building in Brighton, and is often described as one of the most haunted houses in the country. It is the centrepiece of haunted Brighton. The current house dates mainly from 1738, built on a site recorded since the 13th century, and was the Stanford family home until 1932 before opening to the public in 1933.
The best-known ghost is the White Lady, also called Sister Agnes. The story goes that she was a nun who was excommunicated and buried in unconsecrated ground, which is why she is said to still walk the house and grounds. The earliest detailed accounts come from the family in 1896: one of the children reported seeing the apparition on the staircase, and when she reached out to touch it, the figure vanished. The same children also described two ghostly men fighting on the stairs and a menacing presence in one of the southwest bedrooms.
There is a documented coincidence that keeps the story alive. In 1897, the year after the sightings, the skeleton of a woman was reportedly uncovered at the rear of the manor. The remains were reburied at St Peter’s Church, and the sightings of the White Lady were said to become less frequent afterwards. A Mid Sussex Times article from 1936 noted that few ghost stories carry as much documentary evidence as the one attached to Preston Manor.
Other reported figures include a Lady in Grey who descends the staircase, a disembodied hand near a four-poster bed, and even a ghost seen playing with a child’s toy in the 1960s. Preston Manor featured in an episode of the LIVINGtv series Most Haunted.
Preston Manor is run by Brighton & Hove Museums. For 2026, Preston Manor is open seasonally from 14 March to 30 November, Friday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4:15pm. It also runs seasonal events, including ghost-themed events.
Theatre Royal
The Theatre Royal on New Road, which opened on its current site in 1807, is said to be haunted by a Grey Lady. She is usually described as a former actress, seen sitting in the audience or moving backstage and through the corridors.
The sightings are surprisingly well recorded for a ghost story. The theatre’s manager Melville Gilliam reported seeing her backstage in 1960, and a later manager, Jack Keates, saw her in the number one dressing room. One theory connects her to a bricked-up doorway where a dressing room once stood. The identity has never been settled: some have linked her to the French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who performed there in the 1890s, though others think she is more likely to be Mrs Nye Chart, who ran the theatre from 1867 to 1892.
The Theatre Royal is a working theatre, so the easiest way to visit is to see a show. Its programme is on the ATG Tickets website.
Royal Pavilion and Brighton Dome
The Royal Pavilion and the neighbouring Brighton Dome share a set of ghost stories rooted in the building’s history as George IV’s palace and, later, a military hospital during the First World War.
George IV himself is said to appear in the secret tunnel that runs between the Royal Pavilion and the Dome. According to the Dome’s own account, a member of Royal Pavilion staff encountered his ghost in that tunnel. He is sometimes said to be joined by Maria Fitzherbert, his secret wife, who is described as a figure in a long white dress. The Paranormal Database also records a sighting between the wars of a grey lady in the Pavilion, later identified by the witness as Martha Gunn, the famous Brighton “dipper” who took bathers into the sea in the 18th century.
The Brighton Dome’s history as a military hospital from 1914 to 1916, treating Indian soldiers and later soldiers who had lost limbs, feeds further stories: a legless man said to haunt the Corn Exchange, and a soldier in uniform seen in the tunnel. Staff have also reported a shadowy figure thought to be a stable boy in the Concert Hall, a reminder that the building started life as the Prince Regent’s stables.
Both buildings are open to visitors. The Royal Pavilion charges admission; the Dome is a venue, so access depends on events and tours.
The Lanes
The Lanes, Brighton’s oldest quarter and once the fishing town of Brighthelmstone, carry numerous ghost stories tied to their narrow alleys and old buildings. The best known is a nun who, according to local legend, was captured after running away with a soldier and bricked up alive in one of the buildings, and is now said to appear around the area.
The Lanes are free to wander at any time, and they take on a different character in the evening once the shops have closed. The most rewarding way to hear the stories is on a guided ghost walk, covered below.
The Hangleton Hangman
One of Brighton’s older legends is the Hangleton Hangman. The Hangleton area was historically a site of gallows and gibbets, where executed bodies were left on display as a warning. The tall, broad figure of a hangman, dressed in tattered clothing and an executioner’s hood, is said to be seen along a stretch of Hangleton Road. Direct historical documentation of a specific hangman is thin, so this one sits more firmly in folklore than the manor or theatre stories, but it is a well-established part of local lore.
Taking a Brighton Ghost Walk
The best-known way to hear these stories is the Ghost Walk of the Lanes, which has run since 2008 and is Brighton’s longest-running ghost walk. It is led by actor and storyteller Rob Marks, who performs as Silas the Ghost Walker, along with fellow storytellers, all in full Victorian costume. It is one of the most popular haunted Brighton experiences and a good companion to the city’s historic pubs, several of which have their own ghost stories.
The walk runs every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, leaving from outside the Druid’s Head pub on Brighton Place. It lasts roughly 70 to 80 minutes and visits eight haunted locations around the Lanes, including spots like the Black Lion and Ship Street Gardens. The stories mix documented hauntings, local murders and Brighton’s historical links to the Jack the Ripper case, told with a fair amount of dark humour.
You do not need to book the public walks, you just turn up. Tickets are £12 for adults, £8 for concessions including under-16s and students, and £32 for a family ticket based on two adults and two children. Private group bookings can be arranged for any day. The walk is family-friendly and holds a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and it is designed to be accessible, including for wheelchair users.
There is also a Ghost Walk and Dinner option, combining the walk with a welcome drink at the Queen’s Hotel followed by a three-course meal with a glass of wine, with tickets starting at £59 per person.
FAQs
What is the most haunted place in Brighton?
Preston Manor is the most famous, and is often listed among the most haunted houses in the country. Its best-known ghost is the White Lady, a nun said to have been buried in unconsecrated ground.
Do I need to book a Brighton ghost walk?
Not for the public Ghost Walk of the Lanes. It runs Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30pm from the Druid’s Head and you can simply turn up. Private group walks need to be booked in advance.
How much does the Brighton ghost walk cost?
Adult tickets are £12, concessions including under-16s and students are £8, and a family ticket is £32. The separate Ghost Walk and Dinner experience starts at £59 per person.
Can you visit Preston Manor?
Yes. For 2026, Preston Manor is open seasonally from 14 March to 30 November, Friday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, with last admission at 4:15pm. It also runs seasonal events, so check the Brighton & Hove Museums website before visiting.
Is Brighton really considered haunted?
Brighton has previously topped a UK haunted-location ranking, and a later 2022 analysis placed it second behind York, based on 146 recorded sightings in the city. The stories are tied to real, historic buildings, which is part of why they have lasted.
Final Thoughts
Haunted Brighton is less about jump scares and more about the city’s history told through its ghost stories. Preston Manor has the documentary weight, the Theatre Royal has its Grey Lady, and the Royal Pavilion and Dome carry tales rooted in their time as a palace and a wartime hospital. If you want to hear the stories properly, the Ghost Walk of the Lanes is the obvious starting point, and you can stand outside the actual buildings while you hear them. Visit the historic sites respectfully, especially in the evening, and treat the folklore as the local history it is.
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