Scary Original Ghost Story | The Man On The Clapham Omnibus
After finishing a late shift at the café, Jake boards the last bus home through the dark London streets. When a dishevelled stranger takes the seat beside him and insists they know each other, Jake is disturbed by the man’s strange intensity and simmering anger.
At first, Jake dismisses the encounter as unsettling but meaningless. Then the man appears again…
MY INSPIRATION FOR THIS STORY
I live in London and have always loved the old red buses so closely associated with the city. I sometimes visit Clapham, and I’ve long been intrigued by the phrase “the man on the Clapham omnibus” – an old expression once used in BBC voiceovers and legal discussions to mean the ordinary man in the street.
Originally, I imagined the story involving a ghost from that earlier era, perhaps the 1930s. But as someone who regularly rides London buses and watches pedestrians trying to navigate the busy modern streets and cycle lanes – of which more in due course – I decided a present-day spectre might be even more disturbing.
I hope you enjoy the result.
Narrated by me, Tina Vantyler. Today’s paranormal pleaser is from my book, The Doctor At Cutting Corner And Other Ghost Stories, which contains six original ghostly tales to send icy shivers rippling down your spine. Check it out: https://books2read.com/u/47Jkda [https://books2read.com/u/47Jkda]
MY PARANORMAL BOOKS
I’m the author of 10 books of ghost stories: seven collections of true British hauntings, two collections of my own fictional tales, and one chilling ghostly novella. Expect graveyards full of eerie and haunting tales to stir your imagination. All books are available on Amazon and other retailers.
My books on Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Tina-Vantyler/author/B08YP23W3Q?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true [https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Tina-Vantyler/author/B08YP23W3Q?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true]
My books on Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tina-Vantyler/author/B08YP23W3Q?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=be0f111d-71fc-4302-bce0-798d7f3b140f [https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tina-Vantyler/author/B08YP23W3Q?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=be0f111d-71fc-4302-bce0-798d7f3b140f]
This story is a work of fiction. Names of characters, places and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or companies, businesses, events or locations is entirely coincidental.
This is an original production by Tina Vantyler © 2026. All rights reserved.