Alexandria Ghosts: Ghost Tours & Haunted Pub Crawls — Attraction in Alexandria

VERY DISAPPOINTING! My adult daughter & I took the Alexandria Ghosts Boos & Booze Haunted Pub Tour last night. We were so disappointed that we left before the tour ended. I don't blame the tour guide for our dissatisfaction. She was very sweet, but she clearly had not received appropriate training from the tour operator. She was only able to share a few stories of hauntings in or near some of the historic buildings we passed.

Because this was supposed to be a pub crawl, we stopped at O'Connell's Irish Restaurant & Bar, a beautiful historic establishment. The bar was very crowded and, unlike some more organized pub crawls, no arrangements had been made to have seating available for the group. I don't think that anyone in our group actually found a seat, but some people fought their way to the bar for a drink. Even more disappointing, the tour guide didn't know whether O'Connell's was haunted. It is. The pub has an interesting history, and is haunted by at least one spirit. The tour operators should have included a minimum of one story about O'Connell's resident ghost.

The next pub that we went to (I can't remember the name), was similarly crowded and again no arrangements had been made to seat our group. It was so crowded that my daughter and I sat on a bench at the entrance rather than fight the crowd to get drinks. Our tour guide was also sitting there, and she was kind enough to tell my daughter and me about the ghosts that haunt this pub. However, our group had not been told about this.

To be fair, it was obvious that most of the participants on this pub crawl were not interested in the ghost stories, so perhaps my expectations were too high. But I have been on other haunted pub crawls where we actually sat down in each pub for a drink and listened to tales of its ghosts. Perhaps our group would have been interested if they were able to relax in the haunted pubs and hear actual ghost stories about the buildings they were in.

It was a beautiful fall evening, and just walking around Alexandria was fun. The streets were decorated for Halloween and there were lots of people in interesting costumes and lots of dogs, some also in costumes, to enjoy. I heartily recommend an evening out in Old Town Alexandria for Halloween.

However, I cannot endorse Alexandria Ghosts Boos & Booze Pub Crawl. Apparently, Alexandria Ghosts Tours is owned or franchised by US Ghost Adventures, which operates tours in 100+ locations across the country. Their website is appealing, but the tour itself did not live up to its advertising. Perhaps some of its ghost tours in other locations are more interesting, but based on this experience, I wouldn't risk trying a US Ghost Adventures tour anywhere in the country.

With so many historic buildings, interesting deaths, and compelling hauntings to work with in Alexandria, how could this ghost tour have been so uninspiring? Don't waste...

Buzz was professional, hilarious, and knowledgeable of both Alexandria History and the stories they were telling, and it was just the exact right amount of spooky to bring it all together! We didn't pay for the extra add on time, but we absolutely regret that decision and definitely won't make that mistake again next time.

There are multiple companies running tours in Alexandria but if you are in Alexandria and looking to do a ghost tour, this is the one to do!

I also wanted to mention for those trying to decide between different tour companies: while we were walking to our tour, we stopped to ask some colonially dressed tour guides for help finding City Hall. These other "local" guides refused to help us find city hall after we mentioned we were going on this tour, told us they would give us a free tour if we skipped the tour we paid for, and said nasty things about the tour we had selected. It was some of the most unprofessional behavior I have ever seen from a group of adults running a business in my life. In contrast, when we asked our guide about the other tour options in the city, he gave nothing but professional commentary. All of that to say, I would skip whatever "tours" the other groups are offering and stick with...

I had an incredible night with the Alexandria Ghosts Spirits and Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl with my best friend from out of town, and it was an unforgettable experience, thanks to our incredible guide, Wayne. Having been on over 25 ghost tours across various states and continents, I can confidently say this was by far the best one, and it’s all because of Wayne’s captivating storytelling and extensive historical knowledge.

Wayne infused the tour with an engaging mix of historical insights, fun facts (including some fascinating drinking habits of past Presidents!), trivia, and of course, plenty of eerie ghost stories—both about the sites we visited and from his own personal experiences. It felt like much more than just a ghost tour; it was an immersive journey through time with a dash of spooky intrigue. The highlight of the night was catching a photo of the infamous Female Stranger at The Gatsby. I honestly believe the ghosts are drawn to Wayne’s presence and storytelling as much as the tour guests are!

If you’re looking for a ghost tour that goes beyond the typical experience and leaves you with incredible memories, find out which tours Wayne is leading. He truly made this night one for the books. Highly...