What happens on a Ghost Tour?

Ghost tours have become increasingly popular as a unique way to explore the history of various locations while indulging in a thrill-filled experience.

Such tours offer not just the opportunity to encounter spooky stories and urban legends, but they also provide insight into the rich tapestry of a region’s past.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into what happens on a ghost tour and what participants can expect to see, hear, and feel.

At Ghostly Nights, we host various ghost hunting events across the South West of the UK - explore our range of destinations today and choose your haunt!

The Gathering: Your First Steps into the Unknown

Every unforgettable Ghostly Nights experience begins the moment you arrive - not at some vague “historic landmark,” but at a handpicked, atmospherically charged location with a real story to tell. Think crumbling courtyards, echoing halls, or candlelit rooms where the past doesn’t feel so distant.

You’ll be greeted by our Night Leader - no gimmicks, no Halloween costumes (apart from the one day), just passionate, knowledgeable team members who live and breathe paranormal history. This isn’t a theme park ride; it’s an honest dive into the unknown.

After check-in and a quick safety rundown (because ghosts aren’t the only thing we take seriously), your guide will introduce the night’s agenda: the vigil locations, the equipment, and a teaser of some of the eerie tales connected to the venue. It’s not about spooking for the sake of it - we’re setting the tone for an evening of genuine investigation, curiosity, and maybe even contact.

The Historical Context

We don’t just tell ghost stories - we dig into the dark corners of history that created them.

Each location we investigate has layers of real-life drama: forgotten tragedies, whispered scandals, and mysteries that never made it into the school textbooks. As you move from one area to the next, your guide will peel back these layers, weaving together historical facts and local legends with a storyteller’s instinct and a skeptic’s eye.

Did a servant girl really vanish beneath the cellar floors? Was that fire truly an accident? The best part is, we won’t hand you easy answers. We’ll arm you with the context - then it’s up to you to listen, watch, and decide what’s real.

We walk the line between documented history and unexplained phenomena - and by the end of the night, you’ll be doing the same.

Visiting Haunted Locations

A significant portion of ghost tours involves visiting locations reputed to be haunted. These spots can range from ancient graveyards to grand, historic homes and even active sites such as theatres or hotels. Here, the atmosphere tends to thicken with anticipation.

Many ghost tours include stops at sites where participants may try to capture paranormal activity. For example, we have a range of haunted pubs in the UK that we tour.

Ghost hunters may bring along equipment such as EMF detectors, dowsing rods, or spirit boxes, though simply using your curiosity and intuition can also be rewarding.

Some tours might even encourage participants to share their experiences, creating a communal feeling of excitement and trepidation.

Personal Encounters and Experiences

One of the key features of ghost tours is the personal experiences that participants may encounter along the way. Some people claim to have felt cold spots, heard strange noises, or even seen apparitions. Ghost tours thrive on these personal encounters, providing anecdotes and leaving an open invitation for others to share their stories.

Guide-led discussions often break down the phenomenon of ghostly encounters, explaining the psychology behind these experiences and how fear can heighten our senses. Many participants come away from ghost tours feeling a deeper connection not just to the places they visited, but to the human stories that resonate through time, both joyful and tragic.

The Role of Storytelling

Unlike traditional ghost tours that rely on scripted storytelling and theatrics, Ghostly Nights takes a different path - one that puts the focus on real-time experience. We don’t feed you spooky tales just for entertainment. We invite you to step into the atmosphere, take hold of the equipment, and listen.

Throughout the night, it’s the building itself, the shifting energies, and your own senses that do the talking. Our Group Leaders may share known local lore or historical accounts when it’s relevant, but we’re not here to perform. We’re here to investigate - alongside you.

Every vigil is a chance for direct connection: to the history, to the space, and maybe… to someone no longer living. Whether it’s a sudden temperature drop, a whisper through a spirit box, or a motion sensor lighting up without explanation - those moments aren’t scripted.

They’re yours. And they’re what make a Ghostly Nights event unforgettable.

What Happens on a Ghost Tour: Final Thoughts

Ghost tours are much more than a simple stroll through historic locations; they are immersive experiences that combine history, storytelling, and the thrill of the unknown. Participants can expect to gather knowledge about the past, visit haunted sites, and perhaps even have personal encounters that fuel their curiosity about the afterlife.

Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or just in it for the thrilling stories and history, ghost tours offer an unforgettable glimpse into what lies beyond. Prepare yourself for an evening that promises spine-chilling tales and a deeper appreciation for the ghosts of history. So, if you’ve been contemplating joining a ghost hunt, contact us today and book one in!