Britain’s Most Haunted Hospitals and Asylums
Where the Past Never Left
Hospitals and asylums are already unnerving places — filled with intense emotion, life and death, trauma, and sometimes mistreatment. When the buildings are left abandoned, those echoes of suffering often seem to linger.
In the UK, many of these sites are rumoured to be deeply haunted, with countless reports of apparitions, disembodied screams, and shadows in the corridors.
Here are the most notoriously haunted hospitals and asylums in Britain — each one with a reputation for paranormal activity that’s not for the faint of heart.
1. Newsham Park Hospital – Liverpool
Abandoned Asylum or Gateway to the Paranormal?
In the heart of Liverpool, tucked behind iron gates and ivy-covered brickwork, lies a decaying shell of a building that once promised care and compassion. Today, however, Newsham Park Hospital is infamous not for healing the living — but for housing the dead.
With over 140 years of turbulent history, this vast and crumbling institution has earned its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the UK. From shadow figures in long-abandoned corridors to disembodied whispers in the dead of night, Newsham Park isn’t just eerie — it’s legitimately terrifying.
A Dark and Complex History
Newsham Park Hospital began life in 1874 as the Liverpool Seamen’s Orphan Institution, created to house and educate children who had lost their fathers at sea. It was opened by Queen Victoria herself and operated as an orphanage until 1949.
From there, the building was repurposed — first into Newsham Park Hospital and later as a psychiatric asylum. This was a time when mental health care was poorly understood, and treatment methods were often primitive or downright cruel. Reports of electroshock therapy, restraints, and solitary confinement are all part of the site’s grim legacy.
The hospital finally closed its doors in 1997, but its haunted reputation has only intensified since.
Hauntings & Paranormal Encounters
Those who’ve dared to step inside Newsham Park’s crumbling halls speak of a haunted atmosphere unlike any other. Paranormal teams, urban explorers, and thrill-seekers alike have documented eerie experiences — and most agree on one thing: something lingers here.
Ghosts of the Orphanage
Many believe the spirits of children still haunt the old dormitories and classrooms. Witnesses have reported:
- Footsteps and giggling in empty hallways
- The sound of a ball bouncing on wooden floors
- Tiny handprints left in the dust
- A chilling sense of being watched from dark corners
One former visitor even claims to have seen a small child in Victorian clothing peering through a window — on the second floor, in a part of the building that has long been inaccessible.
The Naughty Boys Corridor
Perhaps the most notorious part of the building is the Naughty Boys Corridor — a narrow, windowless hallway lined with small isolation rooms once used for punishment. People have reported:
- Slamming doors with no wind
- Whispering voices calling their names
- Sudden emotional outbursts, including tears or rage, for no reason
- Physical sensations like being pushed, scratched, or touched
This corridor has such a sinister reputation that some tour guides refuse to walk it alone.
Mirror Room & Shadow Figures
Other reports include:
- A “mirror room” where reflections have shown faces that weren’t there
- Shadow people darting between rooms
- Lights turning on and off (despite no electricity)
- Cold spots and EMF spikes during paranormal investigations
If you’re brave enough to bring a camera or a spirit box, expect company — even if no one else is in the building.
Visiting Newsham Park Hospital
📍 Location: Orphan Drive, Liverpool L6 7UL, UK
⚠️ This is a private property, and access is strictly by official tour or event only. But the good news? Newsham Park now regularly hosts:
- Paranormal ghost hunts
- Overnight investigations
- Urban exploration events
👻 Check out Haunted Happenings’ official tour page or Most Haunted Experience for upcoming dates.
Tips for Visiting (Without Getting Spooked)
If you’re planning a visit, here’s how to prep:
- Bring a torch — it’s pitch black inside
- Layer up — it gets cold, even in summer
- Keep your camera rolling at all times
- Go in with respect — many believe spirits here respond to kindness
And hey, if your EMF reader starts going wild in the Naughty Boys Corridor… don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Final Thoughts
Newsham Park Hospital isn’t just a crumbling relic of the past — it’s a place where the past still lingers, whispers, and maybe even walks beside you. If you’re brave enough to face a real ghost story, this abandoned asylum might just give you one you’ll never forget.
But remember: not all patients ever checked out.
2. Denbigh Asylum (North Wales Hospital) – Denbigh, Wales
The Abandoned Hospital Where Spirits Still Roam
Deep in the rolling countryside of North Wales, the haunting silhouette of a Victorian asylum looms over the town of Denbigh like something out of a Gothic novel. This is Denbigh Asylum, also known as the North Wales Hospital, and for paranormal enthusiasts and urban explorers alike, it’s one of the most notoriously haunted locations in the UK.
With over a century of use as a mental institution—and decades of neglect, decay, and ghost stories since its closure—Denbigh is more than just a crumbling ruin. It’s a spirit-soaked relic of a time when mental illness was misunderstood… and often treated with terrifying methods.
The Asylum’s Origins: Where It All Began
Denbigh Asylum was officially opened in 1848, after being commissioned by the County Asylums Act of 1808, which encouraged counties to build their own mental hospitals. Designed by architect Thomas Fulljames, it was one of the first asylums in Wales and served the entire region of North Wales.
At its peak, it housed over 1,500 patients, many of whom were committed for conditions that today would be treated with therapy or medication. The hospital was almost a self-contained village: it had its own bakery, tailor, chapel, gardens, and even a morgue. But behind the institution’s intent to provide care, darker realities often unfolded.
Treatments ranged from hydrotherapy and electroshock therapy to lobotomies—and reports of abuse, neglect, and overcrowding became increasingly common as the years went on.
The asylum closed its doors in 1995, but stories of paranormal activity began long before its final patients left.
Who, or What, Still Lingers in the Halls?
Although the hospital has stood empty (and in disrepair) for nearly 30 years, many believe it’s far from abandoned. Paranormal investigators, film crews, and ghost hunters from across the UK have reported terrifying encounters, from unexplained voices to full-bodied apparitions.
Here are some of the most spine-tingling reports:
Shadow Figures & Apparitions
Visitors have reported seeing shadowy silhouettes moving through doorways, flickering past broken windows, or standing completely still at the end of long, dark corridors. In particular, the main ward areas are said to be a hotspot for activity, with some visitors claiming to see nurses in 19th-century uniforms drifting between rooms.
Disembodied Sounds
It’s not just visual. Many guests report hearing:
- Screams and wailing
- Crying children
- Footsteps echoing in locked-off parts of the building
- A strange music-box tune playing faintly, even though there’s no power
Several paranormal groups have recorded EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) that seem to say things like “help me” or “get out.”
The Isolation Cells
Some of the most intense energy is said to be found in the isolation cells, where severely disturbed patients were once kept in complete silence and darkness. Visitors report an overwhelming sense of sadness, nausea, and fear, with some claiming to feel physically ill after entering.
One investigator said he felt as if someone was breathing down his neck—only to turn and find no one there.
In Pop Culture & Paranormal Circles
Denbigh Asylum has been featured in several paranormal documentaries and YouTube explorations, including:
- Paranormal Lockdown UK
- Most Haunted
- Urban exploring channels like Exploring with Fighters
Its reputation has only grown in recent years as images of decayed surgical equipment, child-sized beds, and graffiti-covered psychiatric wings circulate online.
While it’s undeniably a site of historical interest, it’s also seriously spooky—and for some, that’s the real draw.
Visiting Denbigh Asylum (Read Carefully)
📍 Location: North Wales Hospital, Denbigh LL16 5SS, Wales
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Denbigh Asylum is private property and has suffered extensive vandalism and fire damage in recent years. Entering without permission is illegal and unsafe.
That said, guided paranormal events and urban exploration tours do take place occasionally—especially around Halloween. Check with local heritage groups or specialist paranormal event companies for availability.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a skeptic or a full-blown ghost hunter, Denbigh Asylum is undeniably one of the most atmospheric and haunted buildings in Britain. Its decaying grandeur and chilling history make it a magnet for those fascinated by the supernatural.
And with stories of restless patients, unmarked graves, and whispering spirits still circling the halls… maybe it’s best to knock before you enter.
3. St. Thomas’s Hospital – London
Where Healing Meets Hauntings
Overlooking the River Thames and sitting directly across from the gothic spires of the Palace of Westminster, St Thomas’ Hospital might seem like just another historic London institution. But beneath its clinical exterior lies a long, storied past that’s earned it a reputation as one of London’s most haunted medical sites.
This isn’t just a hospital — it’s a place where centuries of healing, suffering, and tragic deaths have left behind whispers in the corridors. And if the stories are to be believed, some of its former patients (and staff) may never have truly left…
A Hospital Through the Ages
St Thomas’ has roots going back to the 12th century, originally founded in 1106 by the Augustinian Canons. It’s named after St. Thomas Becket, the martyred Archbishop of Canterbury. The hospital has moved and rebuilt several times due to fires and expansion, but since 1871, it has stood in its current prime location in Lambeth, central London.
Today, it is a world-renowned teaching hospital and part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. It was even featured in the opening scenes of the 2012 London Olympics!
But what many patients and staff don’t know is that underneath the surface of modern medicine, something older lingers…
The Hauntings of St Thomas’ Hospital
The Soldier in the Night
One of the most frequently reported apparitions is that of a WWI-era soldier, dressed in full uniform. He’s been spotted by multiple night-shift nurses and security staff, particularly on the upper floors of the North Wing, sometimes seen simply standing at attention near windows or slowly walking the corridors before vanishing without a sound.
Some believe he was a patient in the hospital’s military ward during the First World War, possibly having succumbed to injuries or infection.
The Ghost in the Lift
In a bizarre yet chilling series of reports, staff members have told of a phantom presence in one of the hospital’s old lifts. The elevator reportedly moves between floors on its own, sometimes arriving with doors opening… and no one there. In a few cases, nurses have reported a cold wind rushing out when the doors part, even when no ventilation was on.
One staffer described feeling as though someone brushed past them in the empty lift, followed by an oppressive silence.
The Ghostly Matron
Several older hospital buildings (especially ones now used for administrative purposes) are rumoured to be watched over by a strict ghostly matron, said to date back to the Victorian era. Described as tall, severe, and always dressed in period uniform, she’s known for slamming doors and turning lights off — especially if people are being “too loud” or disrespectful.
Some cleaners have refused to work alone after encountering her. One nurse recounted hearing the words: “Back to work!” whispered in her ear when she paused to check her phone late one night.
A Place of Life… and Death
With over 900 years of history, countless wars, plagues, and London tragedies — from the Great Fire to the Blitz — St Thomas’ has seen more than its share of loss. From mass casualties to patients who died alone, many believe the sheer emotional energy of the place has created a sort of spiritual residue.
Though the hospital continues its vital work in the modern day, it seems not all of its former inhabitants are ready to move on.
Visiting St Thomas’ Hospital
📍 Location: Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH, UK
🧭 Google Maps
🕒 Open to the public: Yes — St Thomas’ is a functioning hospital, so access is limited to patients, staff, and visitors. No official ghost tours are available, but some parts of the hospital grounds, like the Florence Nightingale Museum, are open to the public and include a fascinating glimpse into the building’s eerie past.
🎫 Visit the Florence Nightingale Museum for more history and exhibits inside the hospital campus.
Final Thoughts
St Thomas’ may not look like your classic haunted house — no broken windows or ivy-covered ruins here. But that’s what makes it even more chilling. Behind the clean corridors and humming medical machinery, the weight of centuries and lost souls still clings to its walls.
So next time you cross Westminster Bridge and glance over at the hospital… maybe think twice about who (or what) might be watching back.
4. Severalls Hospital – Colchester
The Eerie Echoes of Essex’s Most Haunted Asylum
Hidden behind overgrown trees and crumbling brick walls on the outskirts of Colchester, Essex, lies one of Britain’s most unnerving relics of mental health history — the now-abandoned Severalls Hospital.
Built in an era when mental illness was widely misunderstood and often mistreated, Severalls is more than just a derelict building. It’s a labyrinth of haunted hallways, forgotten records, and lingering spirits, earning it the chilling reputation as one of the most haunted asylums in the UK.
A Glimpse into the Past: History of Severalls Hospital
Severalls Hospital opened its doors in 1913, just a year before the outbreak of World War I. Built in the ‘echelon’ or ‘bat-wing’ style, its design allowed sunlight and fresh air to reach patients — a progressive architectural approach at the time. It was one of several large psychiatric institutions opened by the London County Council and was meant to represent a new wave of compassionate treatment for mental health.
But as was common during the early 20th century, compassion often gave way to controversial practices.
By the 1930s, the hospital was known for its use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), insulin coma therapy, and in extreme cases, frontal lobotomies — many of which were performed without full patient consent. It housed over 2,000 patients at its peak and became notoriously overcrowded by the 1950s.
Severalls finally closed in 1997 as part of a broader move toward community-based mental health care, but its ghost stories have only intensified since its doors were shut.
The Hauntings of Severalls Hospital
The hospital might be empty of staff and patients today, but if urban explorers and paranormal investigators are to be believed, it’s far from quiet.
The Weeping Nurse
Perhaps the most famous spirit said to haunt Severalls is that of a nurse, seen wandering the central administrative block. Dressed in a 1940s-style uniform, she’s often spotted in rooms that once housed female patients. Witnesses report hearing her soft weeping, especially near the former operating theatres and dormitories.
Some say she was a staff member who took her own life after witnessing the abuses of the era.
Slamming Doors and Disembodied Voices
Paranormal investigators have reported doors slamming shut on their own, sometimes with such force that the echoes carry down entire wings of the hospital. Others claim to hear:
- Children laughing in rooms that once held young patients.
- Screams and wails in the basement-level isolation cells.
- Whispers of their names spoken in the dark.
The old mortuary — still largely intact — is considered one of the most active areas. Cold spots, EMF (electromagnetic field) spikes, and eerie anomalies captured on thermal cameras are not uncommon.
The Shadow in the X-Ray Room
In one particularly creepy account, a local photographer exploring the X-ray and records department captured what appears to be a shadowy figure peering through the glass window of an inner office — a place no one else could have been.
They returned weeks later to find the room entirely inaccessible due to a collapsed ceiling.
A Tragic Chapter: The 1942 Air Raid
One of the darkest moments in Severalls’ history came during World War II. On the night of August 19, 1942, a German bombing raid mistakenly targeted the hospital. Several high-explosive bombs struck the women’s ward, killing 38 patients — many of whom were unable to be moved in time.
Locals claim that even today, their restless spirits remain — some say you can hear crying and screams on warm August nights, or spot figures in nightgowns staring out through shattered windows.
Visiting Severalls Hospital (IMPORTANT: READ THIS)
📍 Location: Turner Road, Colchester CO4 5JL, United Kingdom
🧭 Google Maps
⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: Severalls is currently partially demolished and redeveloped for housing. Trespassing is strictly prohibited. Some original buildings still stand, but access is limited and not open to the public. Explore only with permission or through licensed historical tours if available.
If you’re curious about its legacy, consider reading “Voices from Severalls” by Dee Gordon — a fascinating book compiling patient and staff memories from the institution
.
The Lingering Legacy
Severalls is more than a haunted shell of bricks and peeling paint. It’s a monument to a forgotten era, to lives lived in isolation and silence. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying the intensity of atmosphere still clinging to the corridors — even if those corridors now lead to new builds and suburban homes.
And as the wind howls through the remains of the chapel tower, you might wonder if some things never truly move on…
5. Whittingham Asylum – Lancashire
Ghosts of England’s Largest Mental Hospital
Nestled in the quiet countryside outside Preston, Whittingham Asylum might look like the set of a gothic horror film — but the real-life stories that echo through its now-decaying halls are far more chilling.
Once the largest mental hospital in the UK, Whittingham’s long and controversial history of overcrowding, abuse, and neglect has earned it a dark and haunted legacy. Though officially closed since the 1990s, the crumbling buildings and eerie silence attract urban explorers, ghost hunters, and thrill-seekers from across the country — all drawn by whispers of the spirits that still roam its ruins.
A History of Healing… and Horror
Whittingham Asylum, later known as Whittingham Hospital, opened in 1873 to ease the pressure on nearby Lancashire asylums. Built on a sprawling 1,200-acre estate, it became a self-sufficient village with its own post office, farm, gasworks, railway, and even a brewery.
By the 1920s, the hospital was home to over 3,500 patients, making it the largest psychiatric facility in the country. However, like many institutions of its kind, the hospital’s legacy was marred by reports of patient mistreatment, overcrowding, and outdated medical practices.
In 1967, a whistleblower sparked an official inquiry into alleged abuse and assaults on patients by staff. The investigation revealed shocking incidents, including:
- Physical violence
- Forced restraint
- Patients left naked and malnourished
By the early 1990s, mental health reforms and public pressure led to the hospital’s gradual closure. The final ward shut in 1995, leaving the once-bustling complex abandoned to decay — and, some say, to the dead.
Hauntings and Paranormal Reports
Whittingham is often described as one of the most terrifying abandoned locations in England, and it’s not just because of the long corridors and peeling paint. Visitors and paranormal investigators have recorded a range of unexplained phenomena over the years.
Shadow Figures and Apparitions
Perhaps the most commonly reported sighting is of shadowy figures darting through doorways or standing motionless at the end of dark hallways. Many of these reports come from the old mortuary building, where former staff performed post-mortems and stored bodies in cold rooms.
One urban explorer described seeing a pale, gaunt woman in a hospital gown silently glide down a corridor — only for her to vanish when he turned the corner.
Echoes of the Past
The site is eerily quiet, yet people claim to hear:
- Disembodied voices and whispers
- Children laughing near the former children’s ward
- Sudden crashes or footsteps in otherwise empty buildings
A number of paranormal groups have captured EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) during investigations, with chilling responses like “Help me,” “Cold,” and even, “Still here.”
The Locked Ward
The “Locked Ward”, once reserved for the most troubled patients, is notorious for cold spots and an overwhelming feeling of dread. Investigators say electronic devices often malfunction in this section, and a few have claimed to feel pushed or touched by unseen hands.
⚠️ A Warning to Explorers
📍 Location: Whittingham Lane, near Goosnargh, Preston, PR3 2JE
⚠️ IMPORTANT: The site is dangerous and currently off-limits. Many of the buildings are structurally unsound, and most of the old asylum has now been demolished or redeveloped. Trespassing is illegal, and urban explorers are strongly advised not to enter without permission.
If you’re eager to learn more without breaking the law, we recommend reading “Whittingham Lives” by Andrew Simpson or searching for virtual tours and ghost hunts on YouTube.
A Haunting Legacy
Whittingham Asylum isn’t just a creepy location; it’s a stark reminder of how society once treated mental illness — with fear, misunderstanding, and neglect. It’s no surprise that so many souls are believed to remain behind, bound to the place where their lives were often tragically cut short or forgotten.
Even now, as modern housing estates rise where padded cells once stood, some locals claim they still hear screams on the wind on stormy nights.
6. Claybury Hospital – Essex
Secrets & Spirits in London’s Forgotten Asylum
Just a few miles from the busy streets of East London lies the quiet suburban neighbourhood of Woodford Bridge — but buried beneath its peaceful exterior is a chilling history. Welcome to Claybury Hospital, one of the earliest and most notorious psychiatric institutions in England, and today, rumoured to be haunted by the spirits of its forgotten past.
Though now redeveloped into upscale flats and parks, this former Victorian asylum still has a lingering energy… and a few unsettling stories that refuse to be silenced.
A Revolutionary Hospital… With a Dark Side
Claybury Asylum (later Claybury Mental Hospital) opened its doors in 1893 as the first asylum built by the London County Council, making it a model of modern psychiatric care at the time. It was designed by George Thomas Hine, a renowned asylum architect, in the ‘compact arrow’ layout to ensure light, air, and order — all considered essential for mental wellness.
It was innovative in many ways:
- It offered occupational therapy, gardens, and recreational spaces
- It introduced voluntary admission policies before it was common
- It had its own rail line, waterworks, and farms
But like many Victorian institutions, Claybury had its controversies. By the mid-20th century, the hospital was overcrowded — housing over 2,500 patients — and stories of questionable treatments and forgotten patients began to surface. ECT, insulin therapy, and even lobotomies were used, often with little understanding of long-term effects.
Claybury officially closed in 1997, and the buildings were converted into luxury apartments as part of the Repton Park development. But some former staff, residents, and curious explorers say not everyone moved on…
The Hauntings of Claybury
Over the decades, Claybury has been linked to numerous ghost sightings and eerie experiences, particularly in and around the surviving historic buildings.
The Silent Nurse
One of the most frequently mentioned spirits is that of a nurse in an old-fashioned uniform, often seen walking the grounds or staring out of the upper-floor windows of what was once the female ward.
Residents of Repton Park have reported:
- Feeling like they’re being watched from behind drawn curtains
- Seeing a white figure drifting along old pathways
- Cold spots in apartments built over the old wards
One chilling account describes a tenant waking up to the sound of soft footsteps in the hallway… only to find no one there and the temperature suddenly plummeting.
The Vanishing Patient
In the area where the locked wards once stood, security guards and developers during the early conversion of the site told tales of seeing a thin man in a patient’s gown, standing silently in doorways or wandering aimlessly. When approached, he would simply vanish.
Some believe this spirit could be one of the long-term patients who spent decades institutionalised, then died without family or recognition.
Flickering Lights and Phantom Whispers
Even today, Repton Park residents occasionally share stories of:
- Lights flickering without explanation
- Unplugged radios turning on at night
- Soft whispering voices heard in quiet rooms
These modern hauntings add to the unnerving atmosphere — a contrast to the polished exterior of this high-end development.
Where to Find It
📍 Location: Repton Park, Woodford Bridge, Essex IG8 8GN
🔒 PLEASE NOTE: Claybury Hospital is now part of private residential property. Trespassing is not permitted, but the original hospital water tower and several period buildings can still be admired from public footpaths and green spaces around Repton Park.
If you’re interested in learning more, the Redbridge Heritage Centre offers archives and materials related to Claybury’s medical and social history.
Echoes in the Bricks
The story of Claybury Hospital is a blend of progress and pain, of ambitious ideals and tragic realities. Though the walls have been repainted and the gardens replanted, many believe the spirits of those who lived — and perhaps died — in Claybury’s care still linger.
And if you ever visit Repton Park on a misty evening, keep your ears open. You might just hear the soft footsteps of a nurse… making her rounds for eternity.
7. Gartloch Hospital – Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow’s Gothic Asylum of Lost Souls
Just on the eastern edge of Glasgow, nestled among farmland and forests, stands the skeletal remains of Gartloch Hospital — once a grand Victorian institution, now one of Scotland’s most atmospheric and haunted ruins.
With its crumbling towers, ivy-covered stonework, and tragic past, Gartloch looks like something straight out of a horror movie. But the stories that cling to this abandoned asylum aren’t just for show… they might just chill you to the bone.
A Majestic Start… with a Darker Chapter
Gartloch Hospital was originally opened in 1896 as the Gartloch District Asylum, designed to serve the growing population of Glasgow and Lanarkshire. Built in a dramatic French Gothic style, the main administration building was so imposing and ornate that it earned the nickname “The Palace of the Mad.”
The hospital’s features included:
- A 1,000-acre estate
- Separate wings for men and women
- On-site farm, workshops, laundry, and chapel
- An outdoor swimming pool (later added)
At its peak in the 1920s and 30s, Gartloch cared for over 600 patients, many suffering from conditions we now understand far better — from epilepsy to depression, and more severe psychiatric illnesses.
Like many similar institutions, its treatments included now-outdated methods such as electroconvulsive therapy, insulin shock therapy, and patient isolation.
By the 1980s, psychiatric care was shifting toward community treatment, and Gartloch began winding down. It officially closed in 1996, after a full century of operation.
Hauntings at Gartloch: Who Still Wanders the Wards?
Though much of Gartloch has been demolished or redeveloped into housing, the iconic main tower remains standing — abandoned, haunting, and deeply unsettling. It’s here that many of the ghost stories are centred.
The Tower Ghost
Several urban explorers have reported seeing a woman in a nurse’s uniform looking down from the upper windows of the main tower. She’s always silent. Always still. And never leaves the building.
Locals say this may be the ghost of a nurse who died tragically during World War I, when Gartloch operated partly as a military hospital. Some believe she still keeps watch over the patients she once cared for.
Whispers in the Hallways
Even now, brave (and slightly reckless) explorers have entered the remaining structures — especially at night. They report:
- Disembodied whispers
- Sudden drops in temperature
- The sensation of being followed or touched
One story tells of an amateur ghost hunter being scratched across the back while filming in the old treatment wing — even though he was entirely alone.
The Patient in the White Coat
Another well-known apparition is described as a man in a long white coat, possibly a former patient or doctor. He’s seen walking silently across the old hospital drive, only to disappear near the foundations of a demolished ward.
Some even claim to hear screams echoing across the empty estate during misty mornings or late nights.
📍 Where to Find It
📍 Location: Gartloch Road, Gartcosh, Glasgow G69 8ND
🧭 Google Maps
🚫 WARNING: The site is not open to the public, and most of the buildings are structurally unsafe. Do not attempt to enter the ruins. However, the main tower can be viewed from nearby public paths — especially eerie at dusk.
A Spooky Legacy
Gartloch’s Gothic facade has made it a favourite for filmmakers and photographers. It was even featured in the BBC medical drama “Takin’ Over the Asylum” in the 1990s.
To this day, ghost hunters, paranormal teams, and thrill-seekers come from all over the UK just to stand beneath that looming tower and soak in the residual energy of a place that saw a century of mental illness, loneliness, and loss.
Echoes Through the Granite
With its castle-like structure and tragic past, Gartloch remains one of Scotland’s most haunted landmarks. Whether you’re a sceptic or a true believer, there’s no denying that this old asylum feels different. The kind of place where the air hangs heavy, and silence isn’t really silent at all.
So if you ever visit the outskirts of Glasgow and spot a towering spire in the mist… don’t be surprised if something watches you watching it.
Final Thoughts: Dare to Discover the UK’s Most Haunted Hospitals
From the decaying halls of Newsham Park to the towering spires of Gartloch, each of these haunted hospitals and asylums has its own tragic past, mysterious presence, and unexplained occurrences. Whether it’s shadow figures, echoing screams, or icy chills in locked rooms — these places remind us that some echoes never truly fade.
Many have been partially demolished or redeveloped, but their ghostly reputations endure. Urban explorers, paranormal investigators, and thrill-seekers continue to share stories of ghostly encounters, eerie sensations, and unexplained phenomena.
If you’re planning a ghost-hunting adventure, always do your research and never trespass. Some of these sites remain private property or are unsafe to enter — but guided tours or public paranormal events are often available.
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