If ghost stories don’t scare you, then here are lots of spooky places around Birmingham perfect for a haunted visit this Halloween. They include places with the most ghouls and ones where you are highly likely to feel a spine-chilling spectre - and they are all stooped in spectacular Brummie history and ideal for a visit as Halloween harkens.
But remember, you don’t have to wait for Halloween to see the spirits, they could be hanging around you right now - staring at you while you read this list of scary and haunted places in this great city of ours, just waiting to take your breath away with a little fright or two!
Try not to be too scared as the witching season nears. Here are nine spots around Birmingham to make memories for those who dare:
1. Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is one of the city’s oldest buildings. It has been a hub for the community for almost 200 years having been built in 1833. But when it was being constructed, there were several accidents - including two workers who were crushed by a pillar. The ghosts of the two workmen are believed to be in The Great Hall - there have been several sightings reported. Many employees and theatregoers have also spoken of seeing the ghost of an old man. And the hall is believed to be haunted by the great author Charles Dickens - who gave his first reading of A Christmas Carol in Birmingham Town Hall on Boxing Day of 1853. Photo: The interior of Birmingham Town Hall, showing the concert pipe organ (centre) by William Hill, circa 1890. (Photo by London Stereoscopic Company/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
2. New Street station
If Harry Potter has taught us anything, it’s that train stations can have deeper secrets not visible to the eye. Birmingham New Street Station harbours a secret as well - Platform 4 is believed to have been built over a Jewish cemetery that was dug up way back in 1848. Paranormal enthusiasts have claimed this has causted it to become haunted. Spookily there was a fatal train crash there in 1921 with three people killed and 24 injured leaving more supernatural links.
3. Birmingham Council House
Just like the ghosts that roamed the halls of Hogwarts, ghost of University of Birmingham Joseph Chamberlain has reportedly appeared at Birmingham Council House. Some people said they saw him, dressed in all black, at night in the Mayor’s office. However, there have been other ghostly sightings since, as some say, the site used to be a monastery. Photo: circa 1900: The Council House, Birmingham. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
4. The Alexandra Theatre
The Alexandra Theatre is probably the most supernaturally populated locations in the city, according to paranormal enthusiasts. Built in 1901, there’s said to be five separate beings, including a former manager Leon Salberg, haunting the site. Most of the ghosts are unlikely to harm you and more likely to cause some drama since all of them are former employees.