Halloween in Slough reveals ghostly inns, phantom royalty, and ancient curses. Discover the creepiest true stories and hauntings near you
The Ostrich Inn, Colnbrook High Street, Slough SL3 0JZ
A 16th-century coaching inn, The Ostrich has a grisly past involving highwaymen and deadly trickery.
Legend says the landlord and his wife dispatched travellers using a tipping bed that dropped guests through a trapdoor into boiling vats. Over 60 murders allegedly occurred here.
One victim, Thomas Cole, is believed to still roam the inn.
Visitors often experience unexplained cold spots, particularly in the ladies’ loo near the murder chamber. Ghostly figures appear in the infamous bedroom.
Some have even reported conversations with a spirit named “John”. A woman in a Victorian dress and a little girl have also been seen wandering the inn.
Read more about Most Haunted’s investigation of The Ostrich Inn on Spooky Isles.
Upton Court and Slough Observer Office. Upton Court Road, Slough SL3 7LU
Built around 1325, Upton Court is one of Slough’s oldest surviving buildings.
The adjacent former Slough Observer office is rumoured to be haunted. Staff have reported a phantom woman in a blood-stained nightdress, unexplained door movements, and objects shifting on their own.
St Laurence’s Church, Church Street, Upton-cum-Chalvey, Slough SL1 1PJ
With Norman origins, St Laurence’s Church sits next to the Slough Observer office.
The church and its grounds are believed to be linked to the same ghostly woman in the blood-stained nightdress seen drifting through the Observer building. Visitors have also reported phantom presences and spontaneously opening doors.
Cippenham Moat, Cippenham Lane, Slough SL1 5AH
Near the site of a medieval royal palace built for Henry III, the area around Cippenham Moat is steeped in folklore.
Though details are scarce, the sudden disappearance of the palace has led many to believe the land holds ghostly remnants of royal history.
Windsor Castle, Windsor SL4 1NJ (Near Slough)
Just a short distance from Slough, Windsor Castle is said to be one of the most haunted royal residences in England.
Sightings include King Henry VIII dragging his ulcerated leg through the cloisters and Anne Boleyn weeping at a window. The spirits of George III, Queen Victoria and Elizabeth I have also been seen near the Curfew Tower.
Littlecote House, Hungerford RG17 0SU
Littlecote House is often referred to as one of England’s most haunted homes.
Its halls are said to be haunted by the spectral midwife Mother Barnes, who is seen rocking a baby. A ghostly black dog is also said to prowl the Jerusalem staircase.
Guests have reported waking to a heavy presence pressing down on them.
Donnington Castle, Castle Lane, Donnington, Newbury RG14 2LE
The ruins of Donnington Castle are known for ghostly echoes from the Civil War era.
Visitors have reported phantom soldiers, a ghostly white dog and re-enactments of skirmishes. One account describes a Royalist soldier vanishing after confronting a mysterious woman.
Shaw House, Church Road, Newbury RG14 2DR
Shaw House has long been associated with paranormal activity.
Visitors report flickering lights, fleeting shadows, and sudden, unearthly screams. Some believe the site is caught in a loop of its own past.
Three Legged Cross Pub, Forest Road, Bracknell RG40 5QY
Formerly known as the New Inn, this pub is said to be cursed.
A gypsy woman allegedly placed a curse on the building after being turned away. The landlord soon died under mysterious circumstances.
Her ghost is still believed to roam the premises, particularly after dark.
Arbourfield Hall Site, Reading RG2 9LN (Ruins/Closed)
Once a grand estate, Arbourfield Hall is now in ruins.
The site is said to be haunted by a jilted woman who hanged herself under a yew tree, though some say she was murdered by a jealous butler.
Her tormented ghost is believed to linger in the area.
Maiden Erlegh House, Sonning, Reading RG4 6TN (Demolished/Closed)
Although Maiden Erlegh House was demolished, ghost sightings persist on its former grounds.
Witnesses report a phantom heron and a spectral horse wandering the land where the house once stood.
Bishop’s Palace Site, Sonning Lane, Sonning RG4 6UL
This open field is haunted by ghostly music and the mournful figure of Isabella of Valois, wife of Richard II.
Locals claim she appears only at dusk, gliding silently across the grass.
Herne the Hunter, Windsor Great Park, Windsor SL4 2HT
Perhaps one of England’s most feared spirits, Herne the Hunter is said to haunt Windsor Forest.
Described as a stag-headed ghost with rattling chains, Herne is referenced in Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. Livestock avoid the area and eerie howls are frequently reported.
These Halloween hauntings near Slough blend coaching-inn murders, royal revenants, and eerie legends.
Whether seeking thrills or spiritual connections, these haunted landmarks show that ghost stories from Slough remain very much alive.
Slough and its surrounding Berkshire towns are far from ghost-free.
From Windsor Castle’s phantom kings to Cippenham’s spectral past, Halloween in Slough offers eerie legends for those brave enough to explore.
Have you seen or experienced a haunting in Slough at Halloween or any other time? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
