Skip to main content

Swan Hotel

Approximately £150 - £300+ per night
Book Now
Swan Hotel - haunted hotel in Babergh District, Suffolk

Swan Hotel

Babergh District, Suffolk

Parts date to circa 1390 (over 600 years old) 4-star (luxury hotel, Pride of Britain Hotels group) 0 Ghosts

Book Your Stay

Price Range: Approximately £150 - £300+ per night
Rooms: 45
Spirits: 0 Ghosts

Sample dates:2026-05-06 to 2026-05-08 • 2 adults
Dates and guest count can be changed on booking sites

Affiliate Disclosure: We earn a commission from some bookings at no extra cost to you. Read our affiliate disclosure

Paranormal Tip: Book rooms near room 15 (the 'haunted chamber' - former servants' quarters) for the best chance of supernatural encounters!

The Resident Spirits

Often cited as Suffolk's most haunted hotel. The best-known spirit is the Room 15 Housekeeper, a tragic 19th-century woman who committed suicide after being jilted at the altar whilst pregnant. She appears in Room 15 and throughout the older wings. The same spirit is also known as the Grey Lady and is responsible for the famous foot-tickling incident involving a visiting nun.

Known Ghosts:

The Room 15 Housekeeper, The Grey Lady of Lavenham, The Housekeeper's Playful Side (Foot-Tickler), Unseen Child

The Room 15 Housekeeper appears as a woman in Victorian dress, often described as wearing grey or white clothing appropriate to a domestic servant. She is most commonly seen in Room 15, standing at the foot of beds or by windows with a melancholic expression. Her most famous encounter involved a nun staying in Room 15 who was awakened by the sensation of someone tickling her feet. Security guards have reported frightening encounters during night rounds. Multiple guests have seen her standing in Room 15 during the night.

Historical Background

Building Age

Parts date to circa 1390 (over 600 years old)

Original Purpose

Guildhall for wealthy wool traders, later an inn.

Historical Significance

One of Britain’s oldest continually running hotels. Consists of three merged medieval buildings. Hosted visiting nobility in Tudor times. Served as a billet for American airmen in WWII (USAAF 487th Bombardment Group). The Gallery Restaurant features ship timbers, some rumored from the Spanish Armada.

Architecture

Showcase of medieval timber-frame architecture. Features mullioned windows, inglenook fireplaces, ancient brick floors. The Gallery Restaurant has a high timbered ceiling. Georgian and Victorian refurbishments added wings while maintaining original style.

What Guests Experience

Reported Activity

Apparition of a Victorian woman in servant's dress, foot-tickling sensations (particularly the nun incident), cold spots and temperature drops, feeling of being watched, melancholic atmosphere in Room 15, occasional sounds of distress or weeping.

Most Active Areas

Room 15 (the 'Haunted Chamber' - former servants' quarters), corridors in the older wing, areas that were once part of the coaching inn's staff accommodation, the Gallery dining hall.

Witness Accounts

The most famous account involves a nun who felt someone tickling her feet while staying in Room 15. Security guards have reported being frightened during encounters while doing night rounds. Multiple guests have reported seeing her standing in Room 15 at night. Hotel staff acknowledge the hauntings and sometimes speak aloud to the spirit when working in Room 15.

Paranormal Investigations

Featured on TV's 'Most Haunted' programme. Multiple paranormal groups have investigated, with several recording electromagnetic anomalies and temperature fluctuations in Room 15. The phenomena are well-documented and on multiple ghost hunting websites. The hotel maintains a measured approach, neither heavily promoting nor dismissing the hauntings.

Experience These Encounters Yourself

Ready to witness the paranormal activity firsthand? Book your stay and join the ranks of guests who've encountered the supernatural.

Check Availability & Rates

Watch

Watch our video about Swan Hotel and its ghostly residents.

Contact Details

Address:
High Street, Lavenham, Suffolk, CO10 9QA

Phone: +44 1787 247477

Status: Operating

Special Packages

No specific ghost packages, but hotel is known for luxury stays. Sells a booklet on its history including 'The Lady in Grey'.

Accessibility

Limited due to age and quirky levels. Some ground-floor rooms available. No elevator. Discuss needs with staff.

Share This Hotel

Help others discover this haunted hotel

Explore the Area

12 haunted sites, 1 attractions, and 0 ghost tours within 10-20 miles

Filter by Entity Type

Location Details

Click a map pin to view details

Swan Hotel & Surroundings Legend

Hotel
Apparition
Poltergeist
Post-Mortem Apparition
UFO
Attraction

Stay & Explore the Paranormal

Book your stay at Swan Hotel and explore 12 haunted locations within walking or short driving distance.

Book Your Paranormal Adventure

Ready to Meet Our Ghosts?

Book your stay and experience the supernatural activity firsthand. Many guests report paranormal encounters during their visits.