King's Lynn, Norfolk
The Duke's Head Hotel is reputedly haunted by several spirits, with both ghosts being suicide victims. The most prominent is the Red Lady - a woman who committed suicide over her inability to choose between two lovers. This tragic figure has been seen walking the corridors and climbing staircases, dressed in red clothing that gives her the distinctive name. The hotel also has supernatural activity connected to The Gambling Ghost of Room 18, a man who accrued large gambling debts and shot himself in the head. Though his suicide attempt was initially unsuccessful, he later died of his wounds in Room 18, telling his would-be samaritans 'I will return' before perishing. His ghostly moaning once drove people away from the room, though this particular haunting has reportedly faded over time. The hauntings reflect the hotel's long history as a place where personal tragedies have left lasting spiritual impressions.
The Red Lady (woman who killed herself over two lovers) and The Gambling Ghost of Room 18 (man who died from gambling-related suicide attempt)
The Red Lady: This primary spirit appears as a woman dressed in red clothing, most commonly seen walking the corridors and climbing the hotel's staircases. Her story involves a tragic love triangle that ended in her suicide when she couldn't choose between two lovers. The red clothing she wears in death has become her identifying characteristic, leading staff and guests to refer to her as the Red Lady. Her appearances are typically brief but unmistakable, and she seems to be endlessly wandering the hotel as if still searching for resolution to her romantic tragedy. The Gambling Ghost of Room 18: This tragic spirit was a man who accrued devastating gambling debts during the Georgian era. Faced with financial ruin and social disgrace, he attempted suicide by shooting himself in the head, but his aim was not true. Wounded but not killed instantly, he was brought to Room 18 where he lay dying from his wounds. His final words to those trying to help him were 'I will return' - a prophecy that proved accurate. After his death, Room 18 became haunted by his ghostly moaning, which was so distressing that it drove people away from the room. While the intensity of this haunting has reportedly diminished over time, the room still experiences supernatural activity connected to this tormented gambler's spirit. General Supernatural Activity: Beyond these specific spirits, the Duke's Head experiences the typical range of phenomena associated with haunted historic hotels, including unexplained sounds, cold spots, and the feeling of being watched.
A man who accrued devastating gambling debts attempted suicide by shooting himself, but survived long enough to be taken to Room 18, where his final words were 'I will return' before dying from his wounds.
A woman who committed suicide over romantic complications involving two lovers, now eternally walks the corridors and staircases of the Duke's Head Hotel, identifiable by her distinctive red clothing.
Built between 1683-1689 (Georgian era)
Built as a coaching inn by Sir John Turner MP, designed to accommodate visitors to his Merchants' Exchange (now the Custom House)
The Duke's Head was built by Sir John Turner MP, a local wine merchant and three-time mayor of King's Lynn, between 1683 and 1689. Designed by the renowned King's Lynn architect Henry Bell (who also designed the town's Custom House), it stands as a magnificent example of Georgian architecture. The hotel overlooks the historic Tuesday Market Place and has been a cornerstone of King's Lynn's hospitality for over 300 years. It stands on the site of an ancient inn called the Gryffin and has witnessed centuries of the town's maritime trading history. The building was noted in the 1930s for its excellent English cuisine and continues to serve as a landmark hotel in the heart of this historic port town.
Georgian brick architecture with a striking powder-blue facade designed by Henry Bell. The building features symmetrical Georgian proportions, sash windows, and elegant stonework typical of late 17th-century civic architecture. The interior combines period features with modern luxury accommodations.
The most commonly reported supernatural activity involves sightings of the Red Lady walking through corridors and climbing staircases, always dressed in her distinctive red clothing. Room 18 was historically notorious for ghostly moaning sounds that were so distressing they drove people away, though this activity has reportedly diminished. Staff and guests occasionally report unexplained cold spots in various areas of the hotel, particularly in the older sections of the building, and feelings of overwhelming sadness or despair. The supernatural activity seems to center around the emotional trauma of past guests, with most encounters relating to feelings of sadness, regret, or unresolved personal conflicts rather than malevolent presences.
The corridors and staircases throughout the hotel are where the Red Lady is most frequently encountered, as she appears to endlessly walk these areas in search of something or someone. Room 18 was historically the most active location, though the supernatural activity there has reportedly diminished over time. The older sections of the Georgian building tend to experience more supernatural phenomena than the modern additions.
Hotel staff and guests have reported encounters with the Red Lady over many years, with descriptions remaining remarkably consistent regarding her appearance in red clothing and her behavior of walking through corridors and climbing stairs. Former guests of Room 18 documented the distressing moaning sounds that once plagued that particular accommodation, with the haunting being so pronounced that it made the room unusable for extended periods. The gambling ghost's final words 'I will return' were witnessed by those who tried to help him in his dying moments, providing credible historical testimony to the haunting's origins. The hotel's management acknowledges the supernatural reputation while maintaining that the spirits are generally benign.
While not subjected to major television investigations, the Duke's Head's supernatural reputation is well-established among local paranormal enthusiasts and ghost tour operators in King's Lynn. The hotel's inclusion in local ghost walks and supernatural tourism reflects its accepted status as one of the town's haunted locations.
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📅 Sample dates:2025-08-30 to 2025-09-01 • 2 adults
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Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near the corridors and staircases throughout the hotel are where the red lady is most frequently encountered for the best chance of supernatural encounters!
Address:
5-6 Tuesday Market Place, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 1JS
Phone: +44 1553 774996
Status: Operating (Surya Hotels)
The hotel offers dinner, bed & breakfast packages, romantic escapes with prosecco and three-course dinners, and wedding celebration packages. While no specific ghost tours are offered, the hotel's location makes it ideal for exploring King's Lynn's haunted heritage.
The Georgian building has some accessibility features, though as a historic property built in the 1680s, full accessibility may be limited. The hotel provides assistance where possible and has made efforts to accommodate guests with mobility needs.
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