Worthing in West Sussex may be best known for its seaside charm, but beneath the cheerful promenade and bustling shops lies a darker side…
Looking for the most haunted places in Worthing? From eerie churches and haunted theatres to ghost‑ridden hillforts, Worthing and its surrounding Downs are steeped in chilling tales that refuse to die.
St Botolph’s Church, Heene
Heene Road, Worthing BN11 4NU
St Botolph’s is one of Worthing’s oldest spiritual sites, a remnant of the original village of Heene.
The current 19th‑century building stands beside the ruins of the medieval church, its weathered stones and ivy‑covered graves creating an atmosphere that even hardened ghost hunters find unsettling.
Haunted Worthing folklore tells of a ghostly monk who drifts among the tombstones at dusk.
Visitors report cold spots near the ruined chancel, strange murmured prayers in the air, and an overwhelming sense of being watched.
Whether it’s the restless dead or simply centuries of history, St Botolph’s is where Worthing’s past comes eerily alive.
Worthing Town Hall
Chapel Road, Worthing BN11 1HA
This imposing 1930s municipal building has long been the stage for political debate by day—and spectral activity by night.
Night security guards tell of unexplained footsteps echoing through empty corridors.
Doors have been known to slam on windless nights, and papers mysteriously shuffle across desks as if handled by unseen hands.
One caretaker swore he saw a suited figure vanish down the main staircase – believed by some to be the ghost of a councillor who simply refuses to leave his post.
Connaught Theatre
2 Union Place, Worthing BN11 1LG
One of Worthing’s cultural landmarks, the Connaught Theatre has its share of ghost stories.
Once a 1914 cinema, the theatre is said to be haunted by a former projectionist, his shadow still glimpsed in the balcony.
Staff also speak of an actress who collapsed during a performance in the 1950s; her spirit is said to wander the wings, accompanied by the sound of soft sobbing.
Some stagehands refuse to stay alone after hours, unnerved by lights that flicker and the rustle of unseen skirts in the dark.
Cissbury Ring
Nepcote, Findon, Worthing BN14 0HT
Cissbury Ring is one of England’s most atmospheric ancient sites, a vast Iron Age hillfort with a history of Neolithic mining, Roman watch patrols, and wartime defences.
Ghost hunters flock here in search of its phantom soldiers, said to patrol the ramparts by moonlight. Others report strange lights drifting across the hills, thought to be the spirits of long‑dead miners carrying lanterns home.
Some even claim to have seen a spectral druid and a monstrous, black, shapeless beast prowling the earthwork’s edge.
Castle Goring
Arundel Road, Goring-by-Sea BN13 3UN
Commissioned by Sir Bysshe Shelley in the 1790s, Castle Goring’s mix of Gothic and classical architecture gives it an uncanny split personality.
Later linked to Mary Shelley, the creator of Frankenstein, it remains one of the South Coast’s most haunted stately homes.
Visitors and ghost‑hunting groups tell of the “Lady in White”, seen drifting across the grounds, and unexplained footsteps echoing in locked rooms.
The dining hall has been known to fill with icy drafts, and many report overwhelming dread in the card room. Ghost hunts held here invite thrill‑seekers to explore the mansion after dark—if they dare.
Please note: St Botolph’s, Worthing Town Hall, and Connaught Theatre are in town; Cissbury Ring and Castle Goring are a short drive away.
Have you seen a ghost in Worthing? Tell us your experience in the comment section below!
