Phantoms of the Underground: The 10 Most Haunted London Tube Stations
Beneath the bustling streets of London lies a shadowy labyrinth of tunnels, steeped in history, tragedy, and chilling legends.
Among these, the top 10 most haunted London Underground stations stand out, each with its own eerie tales of ghostly apparitions, unexplained noises, and spectral figures that have haunted commuters and workers alike for decades.
From the mournful screams echoing through Farringdon to the mysterious phantom passenger at Elephant & Castle, these stations reveal a hidden, supernatural side to the city’s iconic transport network-inviting both skeptics and believers to explore the dark, haunted heart of London’s Underground.
1. Bethnal Green Underground Station
Most Haunted: Bethnal Green is widely regarded as the most haunted station on the Underground, its reputation rooted in the tragic events of 3 March 1943. During an air raid, a panicked rush down the stairwell led to the deaths of 173 people-mostly women and children-in what became the worst civilian disaster on the Tube during World War II.
The station, which served as an air raid shelter, is said to echo with the cries and screams of those who perished. Staff and commuters late at night have reported hearing the unmistakable sounds of sobbing children and panicked adults. Witnesses say the noise starts as a faint whisper, swelling into a cacophony of despair-a chilling reminder of a tragedy that still lingers in the air.
2. Bank Underground Station
The Black Nun: At the heart of London’s financial district, Bank Station is steeped in history and haunted by the infamous “Black Nun,” Sarah Whitehead. After her brother’s execution for embezzlement in the early 19th century, Sarah, dressed in mourning black, reportedly wandered the area for years-and her spirit is said to still roam the tunnels, searching for him.
The station is also built over ancient plague pits and the former crypt of St Mary Woolnoth’s Church, disturbing the resting places of thousands. Commuters and staff have described overwhelming feelings of dread, sudden chills, and sightings of a veiled woman in old-fashioned dress. Some even report a foul, inexplicable smell or the distant cries of those killed in wartime bombings. The Black Nun is sometimes seen wandering the station at night, softly asking for her brother.
3. Farringdon Underground Station
The Screaming Spectre: Farringdon’s tunnels are haunted by the tragic spirit of Anne Naylor, a 13-year-old apprentice hat-maker murdered in 1758. Her body was discarded where the station now stands, and her anguished screams are said to echo through the tunnels late at night.
Multiple staff and travellers have reported hearing her cries-sometimes described as blood-curdling-and some have even glimpsed a fleeting figure believed to be Anne herself. The chilling legend of the “Screaming Spectre” has unnerved generations of workers and commuters, making Farringdon one of the most unsettling stops on the network.
4. Liverpool Street Underground Station
Plague Pits: Liverpool Street sits atop a vast mass burial ground, with its haunted reputation bolstered by frequent reports of shadowy figures, sudden drops in temperature, and ghostly apparitions. In 2015, construction workers uncovered thousands of skeletons, confirming long-held rumours about the burial site.
CCTV has allegedly captured images of a mysterious man in white overalls vanishing into thin air, and staff have reported seeing fleeting shadows and feeling icy chills. Many believe these spectral activities are the work of disturbed souls from centuries past-plague victims and workers whose stories remain untold.
5. King’s Cross St Pancras Underground Station
Fire Victims: The tragic fire of 1987, which claimed 31 lives, left an indelible mark on King’s Cross St Pancras. Since then, there have been numerous sightings of a ghostly woman with long brown hair, seen sobbing on the platform, running for help, or even passing through commuters.
Witnesses also report the lingering smell of smoke and the unnerving sensation of being watched. Some say the apparition reaches out to the living before vanishing. These chilling phenomena are believed to be echoes of the disaster, making King’s Cross one of the most emotionally charged haunted stations.
6. Aldgate Underground Station
The Survivor’s Ghost: Built atop one of London’s largest plague pits, Aldgate is a hotspot for supernatural occurrences. Staff have reported unexplained noises, objects moving on their own, and sightings of a woman in white drifting through the tunnels.
One of the most famous tales involves an electrician who survived a lethal electric shock; witnesses claimed a ghostly woman was seen beside him just before the incident, as if comforting or even saving his life. The station’s spectral activity is closely linked to the countless souls buried beneath its platforms.
7. Covent Garden Underground Station
The Phantom Actor: Covent Garden is haunted by the dashing Victorian actor William Terriss, who was murdered near the station in 1897. His ghost, often described as a tall man in an opera cape and gloves, has been seen by staff and commuters wandering the platforms, sometimes vanishing into thin air.
Some staff have even requested transfers after repeated encounters with the spectral figure. Unexplained footsteps, sudden chills, and a sense of being watched are all attributed to Terriss, believed to be revisiting the scene of his untimely death.
8. British Museum Station
The Egyptian Mummy Curse: Though closed since 1933, British Museum Station is shrouded in legend. The most famous tale involves the vengeful mummy of Amen-Ra, said to haunt the platforms and nearby tunnels. Some believe a secret passage once linked the station to the museum’s Egyptian collection, allowing the spirit to roam.
Witnesses have reported seeing a ghostly Egyptian princess in ornate headdress and hearing unearthly screams. The legend is partly fuelled by early 20th-century media hysteria, and some say the ghost also haunts nearby Holborn. Regardless, the station’s place in London’s paranormal folklore is secure.
9. Elephant & Castle Underground Station
The Laughing Lady: Elephant & Castle is known for two main hauntings: the mysterious “Runner,” whose footsteps echo through empty tunnels, and the apparition of a young woman seen boarding trains late at night, only to vanish before reaching her destination.
Staff working after hours have reported the unnerving sensation of being watched and hearing unexplained laughter ringing through the corridors. The identity and fate of the ghostly woman remain a mystery, adding to the station’s eerie reputation.
10. South Kensington Underground Station
The Shadowy Passenger: South Kensington station is home to spooky tales of a shadowy figure seen clinging to the side of a steam train, vanishing as the train disappears into the tunnel. The station’s labyrinth of disused tunnels and abandoned platforms only adds to its haunted atmosphere.
Witnesses have also reported hearing the distant sound of a train whistle and catching glimpses of a man in a peaked cap, believed to be a remnant from the station’s Victorian past. Unexplained ghost train sightings are a recurring theme, amplifying the station’s spectral reputation.
Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or simply a curious commuter, these stories remind us that the London Underground is more than just a network of tunnels and trains, it’s a living museum of the city’s history, tragedies, and mysteries.
Next time you find yourself waiting on a quiet platform or passing through a dimly lit corridor, spare a thought for the restless spirits said to linger beneath London’s streets. After all, on the Tube, you never know who, or what, might be travelling with you.
