Bath Ghost Walk: Haunted Streets & Hidden Graves

Two hours walking Bath's darker history, from sealed Civil War cellars to the spirits that never left.

The Haunted Paths of Bath is a two-hour guided ghost walk through Bath revealing centuries of disturbed graves, tragic deaths and lingering spirits beneath the city's golden stone. Your live guide leads you from hidden burial grounds beneath Bath Abbey to sealed Civil War cellars, phantom footsteps at Abbey Green, the Grey Lady of the Theatre Royal, and the heartbreaking story of Julianna Popjoy. The tour includes games and quizzes woven through the walk, finishing in Queen Square with one final ghostly guardian. All areas are wheelchair accessible and the route suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Guided ghost walk through Bath

• Stand at old Hanging Tree site
• Discover history of The Cross Bath
• Hear stories of duels on Gravel Walk
• Learn tale of Juliana Papjoy

The Experience

You arrive at the old Hanging Tree site in Bath's centre and stand where restless spirits of monks are said to wander. From there, your guide leads you through two hours of true local tales — the kind Bath's elegant crescents and golden stone don't advertise. You'll hear about the housekeeper who never left room 13 of the Theatre Royal, even after the Blitz bombings; the duels fought for honour along Gravel Walk that ended in bloodshed; and the bizarre, sad story of Julianna Popjoy, the mistress who vowed never to sleep in a bed again. The guide brings these histories to life without the usual theatrical flourish — the stories themselves carry the weight.

The walk passes Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein and winds through eerie Trim Street before reaching Royal Crescent, where you'll learn of the phantom carriage that never arrives. You'll stand in places where things happened — burial grounds beneath Abbey Green, sealed cellars from the Civil War — rather than hearing about them from a distance. Games and quizzes punctuate the route, so it's not a lecture but a conversation with someone who knows Bath's hidden layers. The walk finishes in Queen Square with one final ghostly guardian, and by then you've traced a map of the city that most visitors never see.

The route is wheelchair accessible throughout, and all surfaces are paved. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Public transportation stops nearby if you need to reach the starting point, and the pace suits all fitness levels — you're walking at a steady clip through the city, not climbing or scrambling. The guide speaks English and leads the group through the streets as they stand, so there's no separate admission to pay at each stop.

What’s included

A live guide in English leading the full two-hour walk; games and quizzes woven through the route to deepen the stories.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by See Your City

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to explore Bath's history beyond the famous crescents — the walk suits solo travellers, couples, and small groups equally, and a live guide means you're not navigating on your own or listening to a recording.

Traveler reviews

4.74★★★★★★★★★★

47 verified traveler reviews

5 ★41

4 ★4

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the actual story behind Julianna Popjoy that the guide tells on this walk?

Julianna Popjoy was a mistress whose heartbreaking tale the guide reveals during the walk — she vowed never to sleep in a bed again, a detail the tour uses to illustrate the human cost of Bath's elegant past.

Do I need to book entry tickets to the Abbey or the Theatre Royal separately?

No separate tickets are required for this ghost walk. You pass these sites and hear their stories from the street and exterior spaces; the tour doesn't include entry into the buildings themselves.

How much walking is involved, and are there places to rest?

The walk covers Bath's central streets over two hours at a steady pace, with no steep climbs. The route is fully wheelchair accessible and paved throughout, and you'll pass through squares and along streets where you can pause if needed.

Will the guide explain what happened at the Hanging Tree and Abbey Green?

Yes — the walk opens at the old Hanging Tree site where you'll hear about the restless spirits of monks said to wander Abbey Green, and the guide reveals the disturbed graves and burial grounds beneath Bath Abbey as part of the tour's history.

Is this tour suitable for children, and do they need to be a certain age?

The tour suits all ages and fitness levels. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller throughout the walk, and the stories blend history with humour rather than relying on jump scares.