OTLEY GHOST TOUR FIELD GUIDE
An Hour with Lord Bartholomew Catch: Walking Leeds’ Darker Past
A one-hour walking ghost-and-history tour of Leeds led by Turnip Fish Theatre Company; this guide lays out meeting logistics, the route through the city’s haunted hotspots, and what to bring.
An Hour with Lord Bartholomew Catch: Walking Leeds’ Darker Past.
Embark on a spine-chilling journey through Leeds’ haunted history with a ghoulish guide from Turnip Fish Theatre Company. Over the course of an hour you move through eerie hotspots— from the former home of the Yorkshire Witch to the city’s creepy Doll Hospital—hearing chilling ghost stories and grim tales of infamous characters along a street-level route that touches the city centre and its outskirts.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
The Yorkshire Witch’s Former Home
One of the tour’s anchor stories traces the former dwelling of Leeds’ infamous ‘Yorkshire Witch’, a recurring thread in the ghoulish narrative that anchors several stops on the route.
The City’s First Murder Site
The guide points out the exact spot tied to what the tour describes as the first murder in Leeds, folding grim local history into the walk’s darker tales.
Leeds’ Creepy Doll Hospital
One stop highlights the city’s notorious Doll Hospital, a favorite anecdote on the tour that combines unsettling imagery with theatrical storytelling.
What the day feels like
What the tour feels like
Meet your ghoulish guide at the appointed entrance, check in, and follow a narrated walking loop through Leeds’ most haunted hotspots. The hour-long walk alternates sharp, performative storytelling with pointed stops outside historic and infamous sites—the Corn Exchange, Shambles, the River Aire edge, market streets and music halls—ending with a theatrical farewell that blurs folklore and local history.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this hour-long ghost walk is for — and who should consider alternatives.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The tour lasts one hour; meet at the Corn Exchange entrance at the published start time.
Bring your booking name or proof of ticket, a camera or phone, and a sense of adventure (the operator cheekily lists “your spine”). Dress for the weather—tours run rain or shine unless extreme conditions force cancellation.
This is a street walking tour with stops outside buildings; you won’t enter venues as part of the itinerary. Check the operator’s website blogs for the detailed route if you want to preview it.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Where do we meet?
Meet your ghoulish guide by the entrance to the Corn Exchange.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes — dogs are welcome, provided they are well behaved.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Most children enjoy the tour; if a child is easily upset you can request an emotional support ghost to keep the meaner ghouls at bay.
Will the tour still run if it's raining?
Yes. Tours run rain or shine; in the event of extreme weather (storms/ice/snow) the operator may cancel and will notify you ahead of time.
Do we go into any buildings?
No — this is a street walking tour and all stops take place outside iconic buildings.
Where can I leave a review?
Leave a review on Tripadvisor or Get Your Guide; the operator also lists tours on Google and Facebook.