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Perfect place to visit in autumn is ‘most haunted location in the UK’ | Travel News | Travel
Haunted hotspots have long been visited by Halloween enthusiasts, and this year is no different.
These eerie destinations can be found right across the UK and many of them have reported sightings of sinister figures, ghosts and ghouls.
Whilst not everyone can bring themselves to believe in such encounters, the belief in the supernatural is more prevalent than you might think.
In fact, according to research, 39 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds believe in paranormal activity, making these haunted hotspots a particularly popular travel destination.
Helen Rolph, travel insurance comparison expert at Quotezone.co.uk – who have compiled a list of the best spooky locations – has praised the UK for its breadth of eerie landmarks.
Here are some of the most sinister sites to stay in this spooky season.
1. Langham Hotel, Central London
Since opening in 1865, this five-star hotel has been a popular place to stay with eminent guests, ranging from Oscar Wilde to Charles de Gaulle and George Orwell. Whilst the number 666 is sinisterly associated with the devil, it’s room 333 (half of 666) that’s thought to be the most haunted room in this hotel, believed to house the ghost of a murderer and a German Prince who threw himself out of the window.
2. Skirrid Mountain Inn, Abergavenny, Wales
This Welsh Inn has a history of grave matters, as a former courtroom where many were sentenced to death and executed in the pub itself. Today, the Inn revels in this sense of spookiness, inviting guests to take part in a ghost hunt to search for angered spirits.
3. Dalhousie Castle Hotel & Spa, Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh
This luxury castle hotel is deemed to be one of the most haunted sites in all of Scotland. Its claim to this derives from it being the home to Lady Catherine, known as “The Grey Lady”, who died of a broken heart at 16 years old in the 17th century – and is said to be walking the grounds to this day.
4. The Ancient Ram Inn, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire
Sadly, Britons can’t stay the night at The Ancient Ram Inn anymore, but it still offers ghost hunts of its self-proclaimed “most haunted building in England”. Built in 1145, visitors claim to have seen all manner of spooky findings, most notable of all being past evidence of satanic rituals and skeletal remains.
5. Jamaica Inn, Launceston, Cornwall
Most will recognise the name of Jamaica Inn from the classic Daphne du Maurier book, later adapted for screen by none other than Alfred Hitchcock. This spooky location, situated on the edge of Cornwall’s Bodmin Moor, has seen a wealth of paranormal murmurings, from the spirits of pirates walking through walls to the sound of horses’ hooves in the courtyard.
6. Dobbins Inn, Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Believed to be one of Northern Ireland’s oldest pubs, the site of Dobbins Inn was first built in the 13th century. Having also been a jail and a post office, before being turned into a hotel in the 1940s, this site has a long history – and therefore plenty of spooky atmosphere seeped into its walls. Room 21 is said to be the most haunted part of the hotel, with guests reporting random knocking and mysterious murmuring.
7. Mermaid Inn, Rye, East Sussex
Standing at over 600 years old, this East Sussex residence has been known to attract many a sinister ghoul in its time, with connections to the Hawkhurst Gang, a notorious group of smugglers in the 18th century. It’s now said to be a home for ghosts who enjoy sitting by the fireside with others, making rocking chair noises – nothing too harmful then.
Expert Helen Rolph commented: “It’s great to see Brits enjoying holidays closer to home. Britain boasts some of the most haunted locations in the world, just waiting to be explored by those seeking a spine-tingling experience and some rich history.
“From quaint bed and breakfasts to five-star hotels, all around the UK are haunted destinations waiting for guests to make the most of them.
“Wherever you’re venturing this half-term, it’s sensible to pack your staycation travel insurance. Although it doesn’t usually cover things that go bump in the night, it does provide peace of mind and usually covers things like lost baggage and cancelled accommodation… should yours get too scary.”
A huge cruise operator is launching routes to four new destinations this year. StarCruises is jumping on the trend of school holiday cruises, with new trips in southeast Asia.
The cruise line will operate two, three, and five-night cruises from Singpore and Kuala Lumpur between May 22 and June 26. They will be going to new island destinations Con Son, Tioman, Benoa, and Lombok using the Star Voyager ship, which was previously the Pacific Explorer for P&O Cruises. Con Son is the largest island in the Con Dao archipelago off of Vietnam, Tioman is off the east coast of Malaysia, Benoa is a 4km peninsula in southern Bali, and Lombok is an Indonesian island east of Bali. Bookings for the school holiday sailings open on February 23. StarCruises already goes to destinations across Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
The operator relaunched last year after collapsing in bankruptcy in 2022. It had been in operation for over 30 years and is credited with pioneering modern cruising in Asia.
A regrowth plan saw the company rebrand away from Resorts World Cruises back to its original names and acquire three ships. One of these ships had a refitting that cost £37 million.
Michael Goh, president of StarCruises and Dream Cruises, said: “We are thrilled and honored to return to our roots with the launch of the revitalized StarCruises and Dream Cruises brands, offering an enhanced cruising experience.
“To celebrate this milestone, we are also excited to introduce the Star Voyager, as she embarks on her maiden voyage from Singapore, exploring the wonders of Southeast Asia.
“Our itineraries are colourful, diverse and appealing, and go beyond the beaten track. What makes Star Cruises and Dream Cruises different is that we localise our operations while maintaining an international atmosphere.”
The company is reportedly looking to promote its Asian cruises in the Middle East, as they are of growing interest to Gulf travellers seeking short-haul fly-cruise options.
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American visits ‘UK’s favourite motorway services’ and sums it up in one word | UK | Travel
YouTuber Cara visited a service station that is considered among the best (Image: Magic Geekdom/YouTube)
An American visited a “beautiful” service station that is often considered one of the best in Britain. Tebay Services in Cumbria was opened by John and Barbara Dunning in 1972 after the M6 was built through their land.
Their farm still surrounds the service station and the livestock can often be seen grazing as weary motorists stop for a break during their journeys. The service station now has its own farmshop complete with a butcher, serving meat from the Dunning family farm, and a kitchen serving homemade sandwiches, salads and seasonal soups.
Tebay services (Image: LancsLive)
YouTuber Cara, who runs the Magic Geekdom channel, tours the UK documenting her travels. She says her viewers encouraged her to check out Westmorlands Farmshop and Kitchen Tebay during a recent trip to Cumbria after it was voted the second-best service station, behind Gloucester, last year.
Cara decided to stop at the northbound side of the service station because it is “older” and has “nicer views”. After initially scoping out her surroundings, she remarked: “What a lovely place, I think you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere like this in the US.”
Once inside the services Cara was met with a host of locally-grown strawberries and cherries. She then decided to check out the farmshop, describing the sandwiches on offer as “really good looking”.
Cara found it “amazing” how much locally-sourced produce was available in the store, likening it to the supermarket Booths. She found herself tucking into a chicken shawarma wrap and a raspberry lemonade.
Tebay was crowned the second-best service station (Image: Reach)
Sampling the drink, she said: “That’s good, it’s tart, I like it. I don’t drink lemonade very often over here so maybe it’s this tart, it’s not as sweet as in the US.”
She added: “For £10 that was pretty filling. It was a pretty tasty meal and probably the best meal I’ve had at a service station.”
After her visit, Cara concluded: “It is a pretty cool service station, I think cool is the right word. The only farm shop I’ve ever been to was in the Cotswolds and it was pretty fancy and this was kind of on par with that.”
Despite its success Westmorland Farmshop and Kitchen currently faces an uncertain future. According to LancsLive, National Highways plans to replace eight bridges on a five-mile stretch of the motorway.
Tebay services sells a range of cakes and bakes (Image: MEN)
Both the north and southbound carriageway will have to close for two years during the work. Sarah Dunning says that while the farmshop has its own access road, major works on the motorway do hit visitor numbers.
She told The Telegraph: “Nobody is disputing that the bridges need replacing but this is going to hurt businesses, residents and farmers who use the junction as part of their everyday life. We know from previous experience that roadworks on this scale are going to affect footfall.”
She added: “People will have to go seven miles north to the next junction and drive all the way south again to get to Tebay, which they are not going to want to do. Over the course of four years or more, people are going to change their travel habits – and for businesses, that could be not just damaging but final.”
National Highways has previously said it would consider temporary slip-roads while the work was underway. It said: “Junction 38 will still remain open to traffic, apart from during a limited number of occasional overnight or weeknight closures. Our aim is to cause as little disruption as possible.”
The world’s “most welcoming city” has been revealed – and it’s merely three hours from the UK. Data from Booking.com revealed which cities worldwide are the most hospitable to tourists seeking a holiday. Britain has secured several positions in the rankings, with Harrogate ranking as the UK’s most welcoming city. Nevertheless, claiming top spot for the “world’s most welcoming city” is the town of Montepulciano in Italy. Situated amongst the Tuscan hills, the town boasts far more heritage than its modest size might suggest.
Montepulciano is a compact town with a population of barely 14,000 residents, perched atop a hill overlooking verdant countryside bathed in Italian sunshine. Tourism has been a fundamental component of the local economy since World War 2, with its heritage dating back to the Renaissance.
The town’s fascinating past even influences its architecture, which was moulded by the Renaissance itself, bestowing upon it the prestigious title the “Pearl of the Cinquecento”. The structures were carefully designed by the architects of the period, so wandering through the town’s narrow lanes feels like travelling back through the centuries.
Among the most spectacular buildings Montepulciano has to offer is the magnificent Duomo, constructed between the 16th and 17th centuries. The town’s celebrated city hall was also created by renowned Renaissance architects from neighbouring Florence.
Montepulciano is also an exceptionally pedestrian-friendly destination, with the majority of its streets designated as car-free zones. If you’re keen to soak up the vibrant atmosphere of the town, stroll along the main thoroughfare, which extends for just under a mile and brims with charming local independent shops and eateries aplenty.
Beyond the small-town appeal that Montepulciano already possesses, its culinary and beverage scene also attracts visitors from across the globe. A thriving wine heritage surrounds the town, with its esteemed noble wine awarded protected status within Italian gastronomy.
And if that weren’t sufficient, the town retains some concealed treasures and age-old customs that have endured throughout the centuries. Known as the ‘Bravio delle botti’, participants roll an enormous wine barrel through the town’s streets in a tradition dating back to the 14th century.
To reach Montepulciano, Britons can fly to neighbouring Perugia, with Ryanair providing direct flights. UK passengers can fly directly to Perugia from London Stansted Airport, with flights taking approximately 3 hours to reach the sun-drenched region, before continuing on to Montepulciano.
But Ryanair isn’t the only airline connecting British travellers to Perugia, as British Airways also operates a service from London Heathrow Airport to Perugia. However, it’s worth noting that the Heathrow service only runs seasonally, whilst the Stansted service operates year-round.
The complete list of Booking.com’s Most Welcoming Cities on Earth is as follows:
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