Peculiar secrets that are a little spooky

Beneath an imposing church on busy Euston Road there’s an art gallery with a difference. Once a crypt used for coffin burials in the 1800s, the cavern beneath the church is now an atmospheric exhibition and creative events space. Head underground (access is through a red door on the side of the church) to find the spot, which is still the final resting place of 557 Londoners.

Tens of thousands of commuters and travelers pass over the Aurora bridge on a daily basis, rarely giving thought to the spooky troll that lurks right beneath the northern end of the bridge. Cemented in pop culture thanks to the film 10 Things I Hate About You, the troll was constructed in 1990. It is 18 feet tall and clutching a Volkswagen Beetle.

Check out the city’s most infamous spot, but at night with less of a crowd and a sunset view of the city. It’s an eerie experience wandering the halls and cells of a penitentiary that once housed some of the most notorious criminals. Dress in layers. It’s spooky and chilly here.

Slains Castle is a very impressive ruin that lies just outside Cruden Bay. Constructed in 1597 the castle looms over the cliffs edge, and has a slight eerie feel to the grounds. It’s no wonder then why this castle served as serious inspiration for Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula. Be careful when exploring the castle and near the cliffs, especially when it’s windy, as it’s easy to loose footing. Park in the small carpark off the A975 or take the slight longer walk in from Cruden Bay. “Once again... welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring.” – Bram Stoker, Dracula

It is almost a ghost town, but Doel still has about 20 residents. It can’t be easy living there. This deserted village north of Antwerp, which once had 1300 inhabitants, stands on the banks of the River Scheldt, next to a nuclear power station. The houses were due to be demolished in the 1960s to allow the construction of a new dock, but then the plan was put on hold. Most residents have now left, leaving behind abandoned houses, an empty church and a little harbour. The village has become a favourite location for street artists, including ROA and Bué the Warrior. It also attracts a few tourists, photographers and urbanists. Now there is a bold plan to revive the town. No one knows if Doel will still exist in a year, but it feels like a place that does not want to die.

An abandoned soap factory converted into a mesmerising ‘museum’ by French street artist Seth. It’s managed by a homeless family that squats on the premises and gives tours, living off proceeds of the catalogs. Admission is free, but getting in is tricky: look for a gap in the chain-link fence at the above address.

London has a second, secret underground system deep under the city. It’s like the Tube, but for the city’s mail instead. Built by the Post Office more than a century ago, the train network moved packages, postcards and parcels across the city through six-and-a-half miles (10,5 kilometres) of underground tunnel. It was taken out of service in 2003, but a stretch of the tunnel has recently been reopened as part of the Postal Museum. Visitors can now make like a letter and ride the rails on a tiny Tube train.

The old abbey church of Sint-Baafs has vanished. It was demolished by the Spanish in the 16th century, leaving behind an empty space. But then in 2006 the city gardens department decided to plant tall clipped hornbeam bushes to mark the outline of the vanished 12th-century church.