What are ghosts really like?

When: Ghosts have been seen at all times of the day or night and any time of year. There is certainly no bias towards Halloween or Christmas, as some people assume. A recent survey*** found that two thirds of reports of haunting activity occurred in the afternoon. Many ghost reports are one-offs, not associated with any pre-existing haunting.

The duration of ghost sightings can be summarised as brief - usually seconds rather than minutes. It can feel longer to witnesses as weird sights often leave a strong impression.

Where: Ghosts have been reported in many different places, but particularly where people live and work. This may simply be because potential witnesses spend most of their time in such places. Ghosts are not, contrary to popular belief, reported more frequently in graveyards. A recent survey*** found that older buildings produced the most reports of hauntings. Many ghost reports are one-offs, not associated with any pre-existing haunting.