Chester named among the top three 'spookiest' cities

The research, commissioned by train company LNER (London North Eastern Railway), ranked 90 UK towns and cities based on three main factors: the number of ghost sightings, the number of haunted hotels and the yearly average of searches for ‘spooky’ terms, such as ‘ghost tours’ and ‘haunted houses’.

This data was then weighted against the population and calculated to give each city a ‘Spooky Score’ out of 100.

The results meant that Chester came in third, with a score of 51.0/100.

Chester has one of the highest numbers of ghost sightings per capita in the UK, standing at 33.1 reported sightings per 100,000 people.

Residents of Chester generate over 70,000 spooky related search queries each year.

The top ten

1. Exeter (79.8/100)
2. York (70.5/100)
3. Chester (51.0/100)
4. St Albans (47.2/100)
5. Brighton (46.8/100)
6. Hartlepool (46.0/100)
7. Bath (44.0/100)
8. Newcastle upon Tyne (39.4/100)
9. Peterborough (37.7/100)
10. Lincoln (37.3/100)

Exeter was judged to be the spookiest city in the UK, with a score of 79.8/100, this was helped by having one of the highest numbers of haunted hotels in the UK (5), and a higher ghost sighting score of 42.4 reported sightings per 100,000 people.

London did not make the top ten, but does have the highest number of reported ghost sightings, with a whopping 147.

David Flesher, Commercial Director at LNER, said: “We’re proud to connect customers to some of the UK’s spookiest spots, making it easy to plan a Halloween weekend filled with thrills and chills. From pumpkin patches in the countryside, to haunted tours in historic cities, our trains take you there in comfort and style.

“Autumn is the perfect time for a family day out or weekend break. Whether it's a fun-filled adventure or a visit to a city brimming with seasonal events and fun frights, we look forward to welcoming customers onboard.”

The full report is available to view on the LNER website.