Echoes of Rome still haunt Britain’s oldest roads, forts and cellars. These chilling Roman ghost sightings are rooted in history and mystery
Treasurer’s House, Minster Yard, York
One of the most chilling haunted Roman landmarks in York. In the 1950s, plumber Harry Martindale reported seeing a ghostly column of Roman soldiers march through the cellar — visible only from the knees up. Later excavations uncovered a Roman road at the exact depth where he saw them. This remains one of the most credible ghost sightings in the UK.
Read more about haunted York on www.spookyyork.com
Hadrian’s Wall, Various locations, Northumberland to Cumbria
One of Britain’s most active haunted landscapes, Hadrian’s Wall is alive with ghost sightings of phantom Roman soldiers. Walkers report the sound of clanking armour, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures fading into mist near sites like Housesteads, Birdoswald and Chesters forts. These are among the most atmospheric places to see ghosts in the North of England.
The Minories, Tower Hill, City of London
Near the remains of Londinium’s walls lies a lesser-known but persistent ghost tale — a Roman soldier in full armour seen guarding a hidden doorway beneath a church in the Minories. Legend claims he is protecting lost treasure or a sealed chamber. The site lies close to Roman cemeteries and military ruins.
Read more about haunted London on www.spookylondon.com
Bar Hill Fort, Antonine Wall, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland
This windswept fort on Rome’s northernmost frontier is a hotspot for ghost sightings. Roman sentries in segmented armour have been spotted standing silently by the ramparts. Witnesses include archaeologists and local walkers. The apparitions seem to keep watch long after their duty should have ended.
Read more about haunted Clydeside on www.spookyglasgow.com
Chester, Cheshire
Roman soldiers have been seen walking through solid walls in Chester, especially near Newgate, Bridge Street and the Roman amphitheatre. The city’s deep Roman roots make it one of the most haunted places in Cheshire. Some reports even come from the cellars of modern businesses built on ancient roads.
Bath Roman Baths, Abbey Church Yard, Bath
Visitors and staff at the Roman Baths have reported ghostly footsteps, chanting in Latin, and flickers of spectral movement through the rising steam. These eerie experiences typically occur late in the evening. Some claim to have seen soldiers or attendants in tunics, vanishing in an instant.
Read more about the haunted Roman baths at Bath
Caerleon Roman Fortress, Caerleon, near Newport, South Wales
This former legionary base is one of Britain’s best-preserved Roman military sites. Ghost sightings focus on the amphitheatre and barracks, where phantoms of Roman soldiers are seen pacing as if still on patrol. The site includes a Roman bathhouse, giving further weight to its haunted reputation.
Read more about haunted Wales on www.spookywales.com
Colchester Castle, Colchester, Essex
Colchester Castle stands on the foundations of the Roman Temple of Claudius — and it shows. Reports include shadowy soldiers and sounds of struggle deep in the basement vaults. One recurring tale involves bound prisoners being dragged away by unseen hands. This is Roman Britain’s first capital — and one of its darkest.
Read more about haunted Essex on www.spookyessex.com
Reculver Towers, near Herne Bay, Kent
Reculver once guarded the Saxon Shore, and local legends tell of Roman soldiers still patrolling its eroded cliffs. Sightings near the ruined towers typically occur at dusk — soldiers appear at attention, unmoving, before vanishing. The site offers one of the most unsettling examples of hauntings tied to coastal defences.
Read more about haunted Kent on www.spookykent.com
Wheeldale Roman Road, North York Moors, Yorkshire
This bleak, isolated track across the moors is a ghost story in itself. Walkers have heard the sound of hobnailed boots and seen ghostly Roman patrols on the stones. When approached, the figures disappear. A perfect example of Roman ghosts seemingly trapped in their eternal march.
Read more about haunted Yorkshire on www.spookyyorkshire.com
Have you seen or experienced Roman ghosts in the UK? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
