St Ives, Cambridgeshire
The Golden Lion Hotel is haunted by three primary spirits: the Green Lady who haunts rooms 12 and 13, Oliver Cromwell who walks the adjacent corridor on the 13th day of every month, and a Royalist soldier from the English Civil War who glides through Room 15. The hotel has developed a reputation for paranormal activity dating back to at least 1893.
The Green Lady (Intelligent Haunting), Oliver Cromwell (Intelligent Haunting), The Cavalier Ghost (Residual Haunting)
The Green Lady primarily haunts rooms 12 and 13, where she is notorious for pulling bedclothes off sleeping guests. Her identity remains unknown despite over a century of sightings. Oliver Cromwell's ghost appears monthly on the 13th day, walking the corridor adjacent to rooms 12-15 with authoritative presence. The Cavalier ghost in Room 15 represents a Royalist soldier from the English Civil War, observed gliding through walls in what appears to be a residual haunting, endlessly replaying his final moments.
The most famous ghost of the Golden Lion Hotel, the Green Lady haunts rooms 12 and 13. She is known for pulling bedclothes off guests and her mysterious identity remains unknown.
On the 13th day of every month, Oliver Cromwell himself is said to walk the corridor adjacent to rooms 12-15 at the Golden Lion Hotel, where he once lived in St Ives.
A ghostly Royalist soldier from the English Civil War era haunts Room 15, where he is observed gliding through walls, likely a Cavalier who met his end during the conflict.
19th century (current building), site dates to 1728 as The Red Lion
Coaching inn and tavern
The site has a long history of hospitality, with The Red Lion documented in 1728, renamed The Golden Lion in 1784. The current building dates to the 19th century when it became the town's premier coaching inn. Oliver Cromwell lived in St Ives from 1631-1636, though his connection to the current building is historical folklore rather than documented fact. The hotel underwent major renovation in 1853 with the installation of the iconic gilded lion statue.
19th-century coaching inn with Grade II listed features
Rooms 12, 13, 14 and 15 and the adjacent corridor experience the most activity. Phenomena include bedclothes being pulled off guests, doors opening and closing, bells ringing throughout the hotel, poltergeist-like disturbances, and apparitions of figures in period dress. Temperature drops and the sensation of being watched are commonly reported.
Rooms 12, 13, 14, and 15, plus the adjacent corridor connecting these rooms. The corridor is particularly active on the 13th day of each month.
Multiple generations of guests and staff have reported encounters. The 1970s saw particularly active poltergeist phenomena including moving ornaments, door swinging, and bell ringing. Guests continue to report bedclothes being removed and sightings of figures in period dress.
The Cambridge University Society for Psychical Research investigated in the early 1970s, spending three nights with recording equipment but experiencing no phenomena during their stay. Local folklore suggests the spirits 'celebrated' with renewed activity after the investigators left.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-28 to 2025-08-30 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near rooms 12 for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Not explicitly advertised, but their haunted reputation is a known feature.
Historic building, it's advisable to check specific accessibility needs directly with the hotel.
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