The Old Red Lion

The Old Red Lion claims to be one of London’s oldest pubs, with parts of the building dating back to 1415. The establishment has operated as both a pub and a theatre for over a century, and this dual identity has apparently attracted multiple ghosts from both the theatrical and tavern worlds. The building’s long history includes violence, tragedy, and drama—both on and off the stage.

The most frequently reported ghost is that of a young girl believed to have been murdered on the premises in the 19th century. Witnesses describe her as appearing in period dress, looking frightened and confused, most often seen in the theatre space and in the corridors connecting it to the pub. Some actors and staff have reported seeing her watching performances from the wings or sitting in empty seats during rehearsals. Her presence is often accompanied by a drop in temperature and a feeling of profound sadness. Some witnesses report hearing a young girl crying when no child is present.

The theatre itself is said to be haunted by several theatrical ghosts, including actors and audience members from different eras who seem unable to leave the venue. Performers have reported feeling hands adjusting their costumes when no one is nearby, hearing applause from an empty auditorium, and finding props moved to different positions between rehearsals. The sound of footsteps crosses the stage when it’s supposedly empty, and some actors refuse to be alone in the dressing rooms, reporting an overwhelming sense of being watched. Lights flicker and malfunction without technical explanation, scripts and books move on their own, and there are regular reports of shadowy figures in period costume appearing briefly in mirrors and darkened corners.

In the pub areas, glasses slide across the bar, doors open and close by themselves, and staff report hearing conversations in empty rooms. The smell of old greasepaint and powder occasionally wafts through certain areas, and some patrons report seeing Victorian-era theatre-goers in formal dress appearing briefly before fading away. The haunting is considered active but generally benign, with the ghosts seeming to be simply continuing their association with a building that has been a center of entertainment and gathering for over six centuries.