Ghost walks are popular across the UK, Europe and North America, where superstition and dark history are rife. They combine theatrics, costumed characters, real history and myth, with tales of the paranormal.
But what actually defines a ghost walk? And how can you tell the good ones from the bad ones? This handy guide will take you through what to expect from a ghost walk, and suggest some popular ones for you to try.
Are ghost walks scary?
Yes, and no. Ghost walks tend to combine the creepy with the funny. Since they tend to take place in public, it’s hard to keep the tension high and creep-factor steady, when you risk members of the public walking past and making a silly noise.
A good ghost walk will offer a combination of serious scares, and campy laughs. It’s a silly experience after all and it’s supposed to be fun! It’s very rare for a ghost walk to be 100% focused on scares, and even rarer to have actors jump out for scares.
Do ghost walks have ghost stories?
Most ghost walks do have ghost stories, but some have none at all! But how is that possible? Ghost tours can be defined by a few things: costumed characters, crazy stories and always set in the past! There are “ghost walks” that just feature gory history stories, or crazy true tales, some even focus on murders and crime.
Basically, don’t expect a ghost story to only talk about ghosts; a good tour will include some real-life history, because sometimes fact is stranger than fiction (we’re not suggesting ghost stories are made up…well not all of then.)
What makes a tour a ghost walk?
In the UK at least, the following elements will define a walking tour as a ghost walk (though you may find these tropes in the USA and Europe as well.
- Your tour guide wears a costume – often a Victorian undertaker, but some dress as medieval wenches, peasants and even gaolers
- They will take place in the streets, or a historic building – you can even do ghost tours in prisons, castles and stately homes
- There will be strange props or accessories – lanterns, keys, canes, weapons, skulls, masks and more; props add a great bit of theatre to a ghost tour
- The stories are scary, gory or unbelievable – there will be a mixture of myths & legends, usually passed down by word of mouth from witnesses, diaries and rumours; but some will feature real, recorded history that is almost too incredible to believe
Are ghost walks free?
Most ghost walks are a paid event, and will be the tour guides full time job, or part time job. Ghost walk guides spend months, sometimes years, researching, writing, rehearsing and performing their tours. Like a theatre performance, you are paying for a performance with limited availability, making them a popular tourist attraction in cities around the world.
Some ghost walks are free, but these tend to be in addition to entry to a large attraction, such as a castle or stately home. For free ghost walks that take place in city streets, it is common courtesy to tip the guide at the end instead.
Remember, always tip your ghost tour guide on a paid tour if you think they blew away your expectations!
Where can I find a ghost walk?
Ghost walks take place most commonly in historic towns and cities, especially ones with a long or dark history. It is more common to find them in more pedestrianised locations, as it is easier for groups of people to safely walk the streets.
Locations that have popular ghost walks include:
UK
- Warwick
- Liverpool
- York
- Edinburgh
- London
Europe
- Prague
- Paris
- Venice
USA
- Salem, Massachusetts
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Savannah, Georgia