Haunted London: Is Anne Boleyn London's most famous ghost?

As far as UK cities go, London is undeniably among the most haunted.

From the ghosts of Guy Fawkes and Lady Jane Grey, the capital has more than a few skeletons in the closet.

But perhaps the city’s most famous ghost is the familiar face of Anne Boleyn, who has reportedly been spotted all over the city.

Sightings of her apparition have been reported for centuries.

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The second wife of King Henry VII was beheaded at the Tower of London in 1536 on charges of adultery, treason, and incest—charges many historians believe were fabricated.

Since her death, Anne’s ghost is said to have appeared at multiple locations around London, most notably at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace.

At the Tower, her spirit is often spotted near the site of her execution or wandering the corridors, sometimes carrying her severed head under her arm.

One of the most famous sightings reportedly happened in the 19th century when a sentry claimed to have encountered a ghostly figure dressed in white near the Queen’s House.

When he tried to challenge the apparition, it passed right through him, leaving him shaken and terrified.

Other witnesses have claimed to see her ghostly form around the Tower Green, where she was beheaded, and near the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried.

At Hampton Court, she is sometimes seen roaming the hallways or weeping, adding to the eerie atmosphere of Henry VIII's former residence.

Although she was not executed here, the palace was one of the major royal residences during Henry VIII’s reign, and Anne spent significant time there.

Several visitors and staff have reported seeing her spirit in the hallways, and she is sometimes glimpsed through the windows or along the gallery, often with an air of sadness, as if revisiting the scene of her former life.

Some visitors report hearing sobbing, or a mysterious chill in the air, especially around her former quarters.

Anne's ghostly presence is thought to reflect the unresolved, turbulent emotions surrounding her death. As a woman who was condemned to die largely due to political scheming, her restless spirit is often seen as a symbol of the injustice she suffered.