Bristol Halloween: 8 best spooky myths, legends and ghost stories from Bristol

By Adriana Amor

Published 2nd Oct 2024, 12:04 BST

These are the best legends, myths and ghost stories to come from Bristol.

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Spooky season is just around the corner so we have compiled some of the best Bristolian folklores as we prepare for the countdown to Halloween.

We asked readers what their favourite legends, myths and ghost stories from Bristol are and this is the result.

From infamous pirates to crocodile sightings and hunted pubs, these are the 8 best legends, myths and ghost stories to come from Bristol

The urban legend started around 2007 and goes that a man pretended to be a car park attendant at Bristol Zoo for 25 years and collected £1 for each car park. One day, he didn't show up to work. The zoo asked Bristol City Council for help, but the council did not employ a replacement because the car park belonged to the zoo. The man had pocketed millions via his ruse and retired abroad. The popular urban legend, however, is untrue.

1. The Bristol Zoo Car Parking Attendant

The urban legend started around 2007 and goes that a man pretended to be a car park attendant at Bristol Zoo for 25 years and collected £1 for each car park. One day, he didn't show up to work. The zoo asked Bristol City Council for help, but the council did not employ a replacement because the car park belonged to the zoo. The man had pocketed millions via his ruse and retired abroad. The popular urban legend, however, is untrue. | Google

The red sandstone quarry dates back to the Middle Ages and was used to store goods brought in by ships from Africa and the West Indies during the 17th and 18th centuries. There are rumours that the caves were also used to keep slaves chained to the walls but there's very little evidence to support this. There is, however, some evidence that prisoners captured during the French Revolutionary Wars or Napoleonic Wars were kept in the site for solitary confinement.

2. Slaves chained in Redcliffe Caves

The red sandstone quarry dates back to the Middle Ages and was used to store goods brought in by ships from Africa and the West Indies during the 17th and 18th centuries. There are rumours that the caves were also used to keep slaves chained to the walls but there's very little evidence to support this. There is, however, some evidence that prisoners captured during the French Revolutionary Wars or Napoleonic Wars were kept in the site for solitary confinement. | National World

On moonlit nights, a headless horseman is said to ride around the grounds of Ashton Court Estate. Grey ladies who float through locked doors and phantom hounds have also been sighted.

3. The Headless Horseman in Ashton Court

On moonlit nights, a headless horseman is said to ride around the grounds of Ashton Court Estate. Grey ladies who float through locked doors and phantom hounds have also been sighted. | National World

The mystery of the Bristol Crocodile started in 2014 when a bus driver claimed to see a large crocodile in the River Avon near Bedminster Bridge. Other sightings included a local councillor who captured video footage of the creature and a mother of three who claimed to have seen it. A police investigation was launched, but they didn't find the crocodile.

4. The Bristol Crocodile

The mystery of the Bristol Crocodile started in 2014 when a bus driver claimed to see a large crocodile in the River Avon near Bedminster Bridge. Other sightings included a local councillor who captured video footage of the creature and a mother of three who claimed to have seen it. A police investigation was launched, but they didn't find the crocodile. | Martin Booth / SWNS Photo: Martin Booth / SWNS

Bristol Legends Halloween Pirates Pubs Ghosts

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