Halloween is the perfect time to visit the picturesque streets of Hampstead and Highgate, rumoured to be some of the most haunted in London.

Here are some of the spots - many of them pubs - said to harbour restless spirits.

The Spaniard’s Inn

Termed ‘London’s most haunted pub’, The Spaniard’s Inn certainly lives up to its name with all manner of ghostly happenings reported.

It was allegedly the birthplace of notorious highwayman Dick Turpin, who used the watering hole - where his father was the landlord - to plan his robberies. The upstairs room, believed to be Dick’s childhood bedroom, is decorated with pictures of the highwayman on his horse, and numerous guests have reported seeing his ghost.

@thecuriouspixie Haunted pub worth a visit this Halloween📍Spaniards Inn, Hampstead, NW3 #London #PlacesToVisit #ThingsToDoInLondon #Halloween #SpookySeason #SpookySeason2022 ♬ Spooky music box bell horror BGM - Notzan ACT

According to legend, a previous Spanish landlord and his brother both fell in love with the same woman, and duelled to the death over her. Juan, the murdered brother, still haunts the pub to this day, and a woman in white has also been seen in the gardens.

Moneylender ‘Black Dick’ was trampled to death by a horse and carriage outside the pub, and his ghost is said to tug on guest’s arms to warn them they’ve had enough to drink.

The Magdala Tavern

The Magdala Tavern is infamous for being the site where Ruth Ellis - the last women to be hanged in Britain - shot her lover dead. You can even spot bullet holes on the wall, although they were apparently drilled for dramatic effect by a quick-thinking landlady.

The Holly Bush pub

This Hampstead pub is said to be haunted by a ghostly waitress who takes orders but never delivers them, leading to confusing among waiting customers when they find out no one who matches her description has even worked there.

@eastlondonmornings Halloween walk in Hampstead 🎃 Five places not to miss: 📍Start at Hampstead Heath overground station and walk up to Burgh House, stop for a coffee and a scone 📍Continue down the Flask Walk, one of the prettiest alley in Hampstead. Stop at Flask pub for a pint. 📍Walk to the iconic Holly Bush pub, great lunch spot 📍Wonder around Holly Hill, the set of many movies 📍Have a snack at the oldest creperie in London La Creperie De Hampstead. Now the top tip: the queue is always at least 30-40 minutes, get drinks for the queue from the pub down the road! Cheers 🥂 #hampstead #explorelondon #londonvillage #londontown #letsdolondon #londonlife #londoncity #london #londondiaries #лондон #londonstreets #伦敦 #londonlove #london_city_photo #elm_london #londontravel #visitlondon #london4all #londoniscalling #londonphotography #londontrip #london_enthusiast #london_only #halloweenlondon ♬ Fall October Halloween horror classic(177261) - rareNote

Highgate Cemetery

The unmistakable smell of wild garlic wards off the infamous vampire that is said to wander the grounds of Highgate Cemetery. The strange figure has been reported by numerous locals, and is said to resemble a classic vampire with glowing red eyes and a cape.

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The cemetery houses many famous graves, including Karl Marx and George Michael.

The Flask pub

This historic Highgate pub is said to be home to the ghost of a heartbroken Spanish barmaid who hanged herself in the cellar. It is also home to the ghost of a man in a cavalier’s uniform who wanders around the bar. If the place wasn’t haunted enough, one of the first ever autopsies - most likely on a body stolen from Highgate Cemetery - is said to have taken place in the pub.

Hampstead Heath

Hampstead Heath was frequented by highwaymen who preyed on wealthy travellers returning to London. Once caught, the criminals were hanged from trees on the Heath. Some, like highwayman Claude Duval, were so popular their deaths were mourned by locals.

Not all those hanged were criminals: Jimmy Reid, a Highland bagpiper, was hanged for playing the ‘instrument of war’ on the Heath after the battle of Culloden.