7 Creepy Places To Visit In The East Midlands When Lockdown Ends

With the third national coronavirus lockdown due to end, on April 12 the government will relax the 'stay local' message, which means that for the first time in months we can get out and visit some of our favourite creepy and fascinating haunted locations.

Like a lot of people, you might be hoping to make up for lost time and visit as many famous paranormal hotspots as you can this summer, so to help you out we've put together a list of seven spooky places that are famous for their ghost stories in the East Midlands.

Where possible with tried to pick open air locations and tourist attractions that will be allowed to open under the relaxed guidelines.

A mossy chasm in the Peak District, also known as Ludchurch, it has been considered holy by pagans and Christians alike for centuries. It's said that the Bonnie Prince Charlie, Robin Hood and Friar Tuck hid from the authorities within the chasm. The chasm itself is a damp, hidden pathway surrounded by mossy rocks, penetrating the Millstone Grit bedrock. It was created by a massive landslip on the hillside.

Today the Workhouse in Southwell is a fascinating National Trust property you can visit, described by the trust as the best-preserved workhouse in England. The abandoned rooms and corridors of this 19th-century workhouse once housed the poorest in society and today have a creepy vibe about them. The large complex was built in 1824 and later became a care home before eventually closing in the early 1990s. Like many other workhouses, those housed here endured gruelling labor, misery and suffering, it's no wonder that today Southwell Workhouse is said to be haunted.

The Temple of the Sun is known as the Stonehenge of the North. It's situated on land where there's been a lot of paranormal activity. It's a place of earth energy that is crisscrossed with ley lines. In the 1970s a group called the Dragon Project did some research here and found that at certain times of the year the stone seemed to be emanating ultrasound also electromagnetic signals.

The ancient stone circle is reportedly haunted by a bogart, which is a mischievous spirit that wanders around the area.

Sat in what is now a public park, the Grade II listed Aylestone Hall was originally opened a girls' boarding school in 1846. There have been sightings of the ghost of a woman dressed completely in black but with a pale white face, she's usually spotted in the dead of night.

Derbyshire's Bolsover Castle has been voted the creepiest castle in the UK. The castle, which is built on an ancient burial ground has been the site of many hauntings, including an incident when the spirit of a boy was seen holding hands with a visitor without them even noticing.

Staff at the castle have also reported sighting themselves, a security guard said he has seen unexplained lights, and another member of staff heard screaming when she was locking up for the night.

Elvaston Castle is a Gothic Revival stately home within walking distance of the city centre, which over the years has fallen into disrepair. The castle is said to be the most haunted location in Derbyshire.

Various professional investigations have been conducted in the castle, including by Yvette Fielding and the 'Most Haunted' team, with phenomena being reported including unexplained noises, unexplained apparitions, people being pushed and things being moved.

The castle's ghosts are said to include a maid and "a strong woman", as well as two spirits known as The Grey Lady and The White Lady. The White Lady is said to be the ghost of Maria, wife of the 4th Earl - she's been seen sitting in the windows of the castle, and walking the grounds with a white dog.

Clumber House once sat in the middle of a picturesque country park near Worksop. The main house was demolished in 1938 after being damaged by a series of fires leaving behind a Grade I listed chapel, an impressive four-acre walled kitchen garden, and the park itself - all of which are now open to the public under the management of the National Trust. The grounds are said to be haunted by the Grey Lady of Clumber park. She's been spotted on misty days in the form of a woman wearing a long grey cloak. Visitors have attempted to approach her but she's said to simply vanish into the mist without a trace.