The Top 5 Spookiest Places on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is famous for its stunning coastlines, sailing heritage, and charming villages - but did you know it’s also one of the most haunted places in the UK? With centuries of history, tales of shipwrecks, battles, and restless spirits, the Island has earned a reputation as a paranormal hotspot. From ghostly apparitions wandering stately homes to mysterious footsteps echoing in ruined castles, the Isle of Wight is the perfect destination for anyone seeking a spine-tingling adventure.

So, if you’re feeling brave, read on for our top 5 spookiest places on the Island this Halloween…

Carisbrooke Castle: The Ghostly Stronghold
Perched high above the village of Carisbrooke, this medieval castle has seen over 1,000 years of history. Once a Saxon fortress, later a Norman stronghold, and even the prison of King Charles I before his execution in 1649, Carisbrooke Castle holds plenty of stories, and perhaps a few ghosts.
Visitors often report the sound of ghostly children laughing near the castle well. According to legend, a little girl drowned here centuries ago, and her spirit is said to linger in the depths. Others claim to have spotted a ‘Grey Lady’ gliding along the battlements or through the keep, her form vanishing as suddenly as it appears.

Appuldurcombe House: The Empty Mansion
Standing in the village of Wroxall, Appuldurcombe House is a grand 18th-century baroque mansion that now sits in ruin. Once the seat of the wealthy Worsley family, it was one of the most opulent houses on the Island, boasting more than 30 rooms and landscaped grounds designed by Capability Brown. But behind its grandeur lies a reputation for ghostly goings-on. Visitors describe feelings of being watched, unexplained cold spots, and the eerie sound of phantom horses and carriages approaching. Some have seen shadowy figures peering from the empty windows, while others have sworn they’ve witnessed ghostly monks wandering the grounds - a reminder of the site’s earlier history as a priory.

Ventnor Botanic Garden – Spirits Among the Flowers
It may surprise some to find this tranquil, colourful garden on a list of spooky places. Ventnor Botanic Garden is today a paradise of exotic plants, but its history tells a darker tale. The grounds once housed the Royal National Hospital for Diseases of the Chest, a Victorian sanatorium where patients with tuberculosis came to convalesce, many of whom never left. Local lore suggests that the spirits of former patients still wander here. Visitors have spoken of hearing coughing or whispered voices in the quieter corners of the gardens. Some say they’ve seen fleeting figures dressed in old-fashioned hospital gowns disappearing among the trees.

Knighton Gorges: The Phantom Manor
No list of the Isle of Wight’s haunted locations would be complete without Knighton Gorges. Perhaps the Island’s most famous ghost story, this is the tale of a grand manor house that no longer exists, and yet, some say it still appears. The original house was demolished in 1821 after centuries of scandal, tragedy, and misfortune surrounding its owners. But legend insists that on certain nights, particularly New Year’s Eve, the manor reappears in ghostly form, standing proudly as though it had never been torn down. Witnesses claim to have seen shimmering lights where the windows once were or heard the sounds of revelry from long-dead parties. Even the grand stone gateposts, which still stand, seem to mark the threshold between the present and the past.

Arreton Manor – Restless Spirits of the Past
Arreton Manor is one of the oldest houses on the Isle of Wight, with parts dating back to the 12th century. With such a long history, it’s no surprise that it comes with its fair share of ghost stories. The most famous tale is that of Annabel, a young girl who was murdered by her own family in the 16th century to secure an inheritance. Her spirit is said to wander the manor, sometimes appearing as a sorrowful child dressed in white. Many visitors claim to have felt a sense of overwhelming sadness when entering certain rooms, as though Annabel’s grief still lingers.
But Annabel is not alone. Other reports include monks gliding silently across the grounds and disembodied footsteps echoing in the great hall.