The Ghost of Room 333

Dating back to 1865, the luxurious Langham Hotel in London has enjoyed mixed fortunes. It started life as London’s first truly grand hotel, boasting some 500 rooms, but other, grander hotels came on the scene and its popularity waned over the years. In the 1950s, it was taken over as administrative offices by the BBC.

A number of ghosts have been reported, including that of a German prince who threw himself out of a fourth floor bedroom window prior to the First World War. His presence is heralded by a sudden drop in temperature as he moves through walls and closed doors. The spirit of Emperor Napoleon III has also been seen, strangely enough more in the basement than anywhere! On the third floor, a ghostly butler wanders the corridors but, on the same floor, a much more sinister presence is felt - and even seen - in Room 333.

It is believed to be the restless spirit of a Victorian doctor who stayed in that room with his bride. He murdered her and then took his own life in that very room and now seems unable – or unwilling – to leave. In 1973, when the building was still owned by the BBC, the third floor comprised overnight staff accommodation. The journalist, James Alexander Gordon, was staying in that room one night in October. He awoke to see a fluorescent ball of light which gradually began to assume human shape. It hovered around two feet off the floor and was dressed in extravagant Victorian evening wear. Curiously, it was missing the lower portion of both legs. Gordon asked what it wanted but it did not reply - just continued to stare at him, with vacant eyes. Then, it opened its arms and moved towards him.

 Thoroughly spooked, the journalist fled from the room and raced down to reception where he told the uninterested attendant. When he refused either to believe Gordon’s story or accompany him back to his room, the reporter returned by himself. The ghost was still there, but noticeably fainter than before. Other BBC staff reported their own disturbed nights in that room over the years – and their accounts matched Gordon’s.

The BBC sold the hotel and it underwent two phases of refurbishment. Today it is once again a luxury, 5 star hotel. In 2014, the England cricket team stayed there and had some unnerving experiences. Once again, room 333 featured heavily. Bowler Stuart Broad found the room stiflingly hot, and had such a frightening experience there that he demanded to be given another room. It seems the taps suddenly turned on full all by themselves. When he switched the lights on, the taps switched off, but on turning the lights back off, the sound of rushing water from both faucets signalled the end of his stay. 

 Other members of the team – especially those staying in the third floor – reported a variety of spooky, inexplicable events and at least one of the cricketers’ girlfriends refused to stay there.

In May 2003, a female guest staying in room 333 checked out in the middle of the night, giving no reason for her sudden departure. A few days later she sent a letter explaining that she had cut her stay short was because her sleep was interrupted by the ghost, who repeatedly shook her bed. 

 Langham’s certainly seems to qualify is one of London’s most haunted hotels. Staying there isn’t cheap, but for a truly haunting experience, it might just be worth it. Especially, so I am told, in October. That is when the ghostly activity – especially in room 333 – reaches its crescendo. Here’s a link to the official hotel website: Langham Hotel