Celebrate the 125th anniversary of one of the world’s most famous detectives with our round-up of Sherlock-linked sites.
This year marks the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first Sherlock Holmes story, written by author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in 1892.
125 years later, and after various adaptations, films and television series, Sherlock Holmes remains to be one of the most iconic fictional names in British literature history. So why not celebrate and find out more about the man in the deerstalker hat, on a future group trip?
221b Baker Street
Fans of the collection of mystery/detective stories might like to visit the home of Sherlock Holmes at 221b Baker Street in London, where the character fictionally lived between 1881 and 1904.
Behind the building’s facade is the Sherlock Homes Museum, which welcomes groups to enter and explore the Holmes collections.
It features a re-creation of Holmes’ sitting room and there is also a shop within the museum where visitors can purchase novelty Holmes merchandise and souvenirs. The first floor of the building is still maintained as it was in Victorian times, keeping the location’s authenticity.
The Sherlock Holmes Pub
Whilst seeking Sherlockian inspiration around London, why make lunch an exception? The Sherlock Holmes Pub, in Northumberland Street, not too far from The Strand, is themed around Sherlock Holmes’ living room and offers Sherlock inspired drinks such as Sherlock Holmes Ale and meals including his favourite food, Cumberland sausages - not to mention the memorabilia throughout such as Dr Watson’s old revolver.
www.sherlockholmes-stjames.co.uk
Speedy’s Cafe
Speedy’s Café in Camden might be somewhere you and your group would like to stop off at on your Holmes discovery tour as it was used frequently as the exterior of 221b Baker Street in the BBC series Sherlock, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman as Holmes and Watson.
Groups can grab a bite of themed food to eat here whilst admiring the fan-art and production photos that hang on the walls.
Pictured: Sherlock Holmes
St Bart’s Hospital, Bart’s Health and Bart’s Pathology Museum
St Bartholomew’s Hospital is where Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson first meet, both in Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories and the BBC adaptation and is where some of the filming took place.
Visitors to London can enter the hospital museum, Bart’s Health, to explore the history of the hospital if they fancy a more historical and educational day out, or they could visit Bart’s Pathology Museum, also inside St Bart’s Hospital.
This is said to be where Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote some of his stories. A plaque is hung outside the office which is thought to be where he did his writing. The building was also used in the BBC drama in the episode ‘A Study in Pink’ where Sherlock jumps off the roof.
Groups can also spot the red post-box just outside where fans wrote loving messages to Sherlock after the episode aired and they still remain there today for all to read.
www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/bartsmuseum and www.qmul.ac.uk/pathologymuseum/sherlock-holmes
Sherlock Holmes Tour
All the above locations can be seen on the Sherlock Holmes Tour that takes visitors around London, or they can be traced following your own itinerary. The tour takes Sherlock fans to see the iconic locations from both Doyle’s stories and the BBC production including places featured in The Illustrious Client, The Bruce Partington Plans and A Study in Scarlet.
www.britmovietours.com/bookings/sherlock-holmes-london-tour
Other places groups might want to keep an eye out for include: Irene Adler’s House situated in Eaton Square; Simpsons-in-the-Strand where Holmes and Watson regularly eat at in the stories; Madame Tussauds where a wax work of Robert Downey Jr as Sherlock Holmes stands; and New Scotland Yard which is featured in the TV series and novels (their IT system is called ‘Home Office Large Major Enquiry System’ or HOLMES) - despite being off limits for inside visits its still worth spotting on your trip to London.
