REVIEW · GHOST AND HAUNTED TOURS
Guided Ghost Tour of Frome
Frome has a way of turning street corners into stories. This guided ghost tour is a tight, small-group walk with Revd Joseph Glanvill guiding you from stop to stop, mixing spooky lore with real local landmarks.
What I love most is the small group size (max 10), which keeps the mood eerie without losing focus. The second standout for me is the way the tour focuses on specific Frome sites, from Christchurch to haunted pubs like the Griffin and the Sun Inn, so you’re not just hearing generic ghost chatter.
One thing to plan for: it’s a walking tour with hills and cobbles. If you have major mobility limits, it may be a tough night on the ground.
In This Review
- Key things to know before you go
- Frome at night: the kind of spooky that feels local
- Meet Revd Joseph Glanvill at Christ Church
- Nunney Road folklore and why taxi drivers avoid it
- The Griffin Frome: a haunted pub stop that sets up your evening
- Lamb and Fountain and the mystery of the Elizabethan ice house
- The Sun Inn: more spooky events, still short and focused
- Catherine Hill and Shepherds Barton’s secret tunnels and bones
- St John the Baptist Church built on earlier Saxon remains
- Cork Street and the Duke of Monmouth tragedy
- The George Hotel & Granary: riots and murders
- The Grey Lady at BA11 1AR and the rattling paranormal coach
- What you get for the price: $24.72 for a focused night out
- The pacing, the group, and the walking reality
- Is this tour for you? (And who will enjoy it most)
- Should you book the Guided Ghost Tour of Frome?
Key things to know before you go

- Revd Joseph Glanvill leads in-character storytelling starting outside Christchurch Street West’s Christ Church
- Max 10 people keeps the group attentive and the pacing comfortable for a 70-minute walk
- Three pub-linked stops in the route, including the Griffin Frome, Lamb and Fountain, and the Sun Inn
- Churches and historic sites appear often, including St John the Baptist built on Saxon monastery remains
- You end at Willow Vale by the bridge, not back at the starting door, so plan your return
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Frome at night: the kind of spooky that feels local

A good ghost tour does two things well. It gives you atmosphere, and it anchors the scary bits to places you can actually find on a map the next day. This one nails the first part with evening pacing, night-time legends, and a guide who tells the stories like they matter. And it nails the second part by keeping you moving through recognizable Frome spots tied to named events and locations.
You’re out for about 1 hour 10 minutes. That’s long enough for real story momentum, but short enough that you’re not stuck in the cold for half your evening. And with a mobile ticket and a group capped at 10 travelers, the experience stays intimate and easy to manage, even when the street lighting gets low.
Meet Revd Joseph Glanvill at Christ Church

The tour begins outside Christ Church on Christchurch Street West. You’ll meet the Revd Joseph Glanvill, described as the late Vicar of Frome and a famous ghost hunter who died in 1680. His role sets the tone right away: this is not a jump-scare show. It’s story-led, with him pointing you toward what you should look for and what the site is tied to.
Stop 1 runs about 5 minutes, so it works like a handshake. You get the guide’s voice, then you’re off to the next location before the tour loses momentum. There’s also a practical bonus here: because the meeting point is clearly stated (Christchurch St W, Frome BA11 1EH), you can arrive, orient, and start without hunting.
One small tip: wear something warm even if you think you won’t need it. The tour’s short, but evenings can still feel sharp, and you’ll be standing outside for part of the time.
Nunney Road folklore and why taxi drivers avoid it
Next comes 1 Nunney Rd, where the tour leans into one of those “local legend” details that makes a town feel lived-in. Here you’ll hear about the Beast of Badcox, and you’ll also learn why taxi drivers have refused to drive along Nunney Road at night.
You don’t need to be a believer for this to land. The fun is in how the legend is tied to behavior, not just theatrics. It’s the difference between hearing a ghost story and understanding how a rumor can shape real choices. That’s what you get at this stop.
This segment is also about 5 minutes, so it stays punchy. You’ll likely enjoy it most if you like stories that come with geography, because the tour keeps reminding you that these legends are tied to actual street names you can walk again later.
The Griffin Frome: a haunted pub stop that sets up your evening

Stop 3 is a walk to The Griffin Frome, described as a haunted pub. Here you’ll get more direct paranormal claims tied to the building, as the Revd talks about paranormal activities that have been reported there.
It’s about 10 minutes, which is longer than the earlier stops and feels like the tour starts settling into its groove. This is also where the evening begins to feel like a proper route, not a sequence of quick anecdotes.
A consideration: you may not get the full “pub hangout” vibe you’d get on a classic pub crawl. The tour is focused on the story and the exterior or immediate surroundings of the pub-linked sites. If you want a drink as part of the experience, you’ll want to plan for that around the tour timing.
Lamb and Fountain and the mystery of the Elizabethan ice house

Stop 4 brings you to Lamb and Fountain, another haunted pub. This one has an extra historical hook: an Elizabethan ice house has been found. The story also includes strange sounds that are sometimes heard at night.
This stop is again about 5 minutes, but it’s memorable because it mixes the supernatural with a tangible artifact. When a ghost story attaches to something physical like an ice house, it’s easier to picture what might have happened there, and your brain stops treating it like pure fantasy.
If you like a blend of eerie and practical, this is the kind of moment that makes the tour feel more grounded. You can stand there, look around, and imagine how the building used to function, not just how it might feel now.
The Sun Inn: more spooky events, still short and focused

Stop 5 is The Sun Inn, another haunted pub stop where the Revd recounts spooky events said to have happened there. Like the Griffin, this is part of the tour’s pub-focused spine, and it runs about 10 minutes.
This longer duration matters because it gives the guide room to keep a story thread going. You’re not just hearing one spooky claim; you get a bit of narrative shape that helps the evening feel connected.
Also, the pub cluster is a smart design for a tour like this. Pubs are where people naturally gather, trade stories, and keep local folklore alive. So even if you don’t buy every paranormal claim, the setting helps you understand why the stories stick around.
Catherine Hill and Shepherds Barton’s secret tunnels and bones

Stop 6 is at Catherine Hill, where the tour stops at Shepherds Barton. Here the story turns to discoveries: secret tunnels and bones were discovered.
This part lasts about 5 minutes, but it shifts the flavor. The tour stops feeling only like haunted pubs and street legends and starts leaning into the “what’s under the ground” angle. If you enjoy historical mystery, you’ll probably appreciate this stop, because bones and tunnels are details that feel unsettling without needing any extra staging.
Practical note: keep an eye on your footing around cobbles and uneven ground. This is the kind of stop where you’ll want to be fully present, and tripping ruins the mood.
St John the Baptist Church built on earlier Saxon remains

Stop 7 is St John the Baptist Church. The tour frames it as the Revd’s church, built on the remains of St Aldhelm’s Saxon monastery. It’s also described as still guarded by fearsome spirits.
This is about 5 minutes, but it’s an important stop in terms of tone. Churches are where you see how old beliefs layered over new ones, and how a site can collect stories across centuries. Whether you’re into ghost lore or not, you’ll likely find this stop gives the tour a “real time depth” effect.
If you’re someone who likes the historical logic behind legends, this is where the stories feel least random. The building itself is a story.
Cork Street and the Duke of Monmouth tragedy
Stop 8 goes to Cork Street. Here the tour connects the area to political violence: the Duke of Monmouth stayed here before being beaten in battle and later executed. The tour also describes that Frome men were hanged, and adds a particularly dark detail, that choking sounds can still be heard.
This stop runs about 5 minutes. It’s short, but it’s heavy. And that’s part of what makes the tour feel honest. Ghost stories in old towns often overlap with real violence and real fear, not just “someone floated by at midnight.”
If you prefer your spooky content lighter, this is the stop to mentally brace for. But if you like the darker side of local history, this is likely one of the most gripping moments of the route.
The George Hotel & Granary: riots and murders
Stop 9 is at The George Hotel & Granary, where you’ll hear about riots and murders connected to the place.
This segment is about 5 minutes, which means the guide likely hits the key points and keeps moving. That pacing works. You don’t sit too long in one bleak story, but you also don’t speed through it so fast that it disappears.
This stop fits the tour’s best theme: the idea that streets are not just pretty backdrops. They’re tied to events, and the events become legend over time.
The Grey Lady at BA11 1AR and the rattling paranormal coach
The final stop, stop 10, is marked as BA11 1AR. Here you’ll hear about the Grey Lady waiting in vain for her lover. You’ll also hear about a paranormal coach that rattles through Frome.
This is about 10 minutes, and it’s a strong way to end. You get a classic ghost character (the Grey Lady) plus a moving, noise-linked legend (the coach). Those two elements are easy for your brain to hang onto after the tour ends, especially because the ending time is long enough to let the mood settle.
You’ll finish the walk at 2 Willow Vale, by the bridge. That’s a key detail. Plan your next step so you’re not scrambling for the nearest way back to where you’re staying.
What you get for the price: $24.72 for a focused night out
At $24.72 per person, the value here comes from how much the tour packs into the time. For a little over an hour, you get:
- a guided route through named Frome locations
- a small group format that helps the guide keep everyone engaged
- a story-led evening that’s built around the town itself, not a screen or a single building
It also helps that each stop is listed as Admission Ticket Free, so you’re not paying extra to enter sites during the walk. That matters because it keeps your budget steady, and it reduces the “constant wait while people buy tickets” friction.
One optional cost, not required: you can offer the Revd Glanvill a gratuity if you wish. If this is the kind of experience where you like to reward great storytelling, keep a little cash or card tip option ready.
The pacing, the group, and the walking reality
This is a guided walk with moderate physical expectations. You should have moderate physical fitness, and it’s not recommended for people with a major walking disability. The route includes hills and cobbles, and at least one person specifically called out that it wouldn’t be suitable for mobility issues.
That doesn’t mean it’s extreme. It means you should respect the ground under your feet. If you do go, wear shoes with grip. Skip thin soles. And if you tend to feel cold, bring layers even if the day was warm.
Group size is a big part of why this works. With a cap of 10 travelers, it’s easier for the guide to keep control of the pace and keep you from spilling into crowds. It also helps the stories land. You hear more clearly, you notice more, and you stay in the moment.
Is this tour for you? (And who will enjoy it most)
If you like ghost stories but prefer them tied to real places, you’ll likely enjoy this. The tour is built on named locations you can return to, and the guide keeps the story grounded in what you can see around you.
It’s also a strong pick for:
- couples and small groups looking for a unique evening plan
- history-minded visitors who like folklore with physical landmarks
- skeptics who want something fun that still makes you look at a town differently
If you want a long sit-down pub crawl, this probably won’t satisfy you on its own. The stops are built for short storytelling moments, not extended time inside bars.
Should you book the Guided Ghost Tour of Frome?
Yes, I think it’s a good booking if you want an evening that mixes spooky legends with specific Frome locations. The small group size and the guide-led storytelling style make it feel like a real walk with a story guide, not a big tourist shuffle. The route is short enough to stay enjoyable, and the pub and church blend keeps the pace varied.
Book it if you’re traveling with friends who like the mix of eerie and historical. Skip it if you have major mobility limits or you’re expecting a drink-first pub crawl. And if you’re going on a colder night, show up ready to layer up, because you’ll be outside for key moments.
In short: this is a tidy, atmospheric Frome night that’s built for people who like their ghost stories attached to real streets.
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