Holmes & "Sherlock" sites you can see in London

[bedelia1984]

Hi All! Not sure if this is the right thread, but I will be in London soon enough and just wondering is there any special Sherlock Holmes themed spot that is worth the visit? I am planning to check out the Scotland Yard exhibit already. I hear there is a special Holmes museum, but wasn't sure how good it was, from looking at the website. Any thoughts appreciated!

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hi All! Not sure if this is the right thread, but I will be in London soon enough and just wondering is there any special Sherlock Holmes themed spot that is worth the visit? I am planning to check out the Scotland Yard exhibit already. I hear there is a special Holmes museum, but wasn't sure how good it was, from looking at the website. Any thoughts appreciated!

 

Oh, good heavens, there are a bunch of places!  (In fact, I think I'd better start you a new thread for this.)

 

I haven't seen the Scotland Yard exhibit (is that at Scotland Yard?), but it sounds interesting.  Please let us know what you think of it.

 

Alex and I found the Holmes Museum a bit disappointing.  I was expecting some exhibits (e.g., maybe a Conan Doyle manuscript or two), but it's basically just a recreation of a Victorian #221, with some oddities (e.g., the head of The Hound) displayed on the top floor.  We did like the "Doctor Watson" who was working that day, though.

 

There's a Sherlock Holmes pub that's supposed to be really good, though we haven't been in.  They apparently have Holmes-themed drinks and dishes, plus their own recreation of Holmes & Watson's sitting room.

 

There are Sherlock Holmes walking tours, but again, I cannot speak from experience.

 

Many of the locations featured in Conan Doyle's stories are fictitious, but St. Bartholomew's Hospital (where Holmes met Watson) is perfectly real, though.  They even have some historical exhibits there (but once more, I've never been).

 

Assuming that you may also be interested in some Sherlock filming locations, don't fail to check out Sherlockology's list of locations. (click the buttons at the top of the page to change seasons).

 

Alex and I have been to a number of those.  Our favorites are:

 

"221 Baker Street" (which is actually #187 North Gower Street, a quick walk from Euston Square tube station).

 

Speedy's (at the same address), which actually has very nice food, plus tables out front in nice weather, where you can watch your fellow Sherlock fans having their pictures taken on the #187 doorstep.

 

Bart's.  I recommend walking northward up Giltspur Street (the unlabeled street in the center of this map) from Viaduct / Newgate Street (labeled as the A40 on the map), the route that John's taxi took in "Reichenbach."  Along the way, you'll see the familiar "St. Bartholomew's Hospital" sign on the end of a building to your right.  John's vantage point for Sherlock's fall was on the west (left) side of the loop at the top of the street.

 

 OK, everybody, please share your favorite Holmes and/or Sherlock related spots in London -- either those you've visited, or those you hope to visit.

[bedelia1984]

Thank you, Carol!

 

The exhibit I was talking about is this one.

 

I would very much like to check out some filming locations too. I can't believe you can eat at Speedy's! My time will be really limited. If I can, would love to see St. Barts, and that pub does sound like a bit of fun too (if I can persuade the non- Sherlockian I'm visiting to go there!)

 

 

[J.P.]

Speedy's can be closed from time to time, but it is a regular bar/pub. Funny feeling - sitting there and "just" having a cuppa. :D

 

I also recommend Sherlockology as a source for locations. I also suggest that - before you go - you print a map of London Underground and mark all locations and stations you need to go to - it makes the traveling much easier. The Old Bailey is just around the corner from Bart's, and when you visit Buckingham Palace you may take a look at the Wellington Barracks (from the Bloody Soldier case) few steps away. The double benches are still there.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Speedy's can be closed from time to time, but it is a regular bar/pub. Funny feeling - sitting there and "just" having a cuppa. :D

 

Speedy's is basically a breakfast-and-lunch place, so yes, they will be closed later in the day.  (Check their website for hours.)  If you're planning to visit "#221" be sure to go when Speedy's is open -- you have to eat anyhow, and their food is really good.  They can be busy at mealtimes, though, so I'd recommend off-hours if you're wanting to sit a while.  (And technically it's a cafe, not a pub, since they don't serve alcoholic drinks.)

 

I also recommend Sherlockology as a source for locations. I also suggest that - before you go - you print a map of London Underground and mark all locations and stations you need to go to - it makes the traveling much easier....

Excellent suggestion, planning ahead!

 

You will definitely want a Tube map -- but note that they're actually just connectivity diagrams.  They're invaluable for getting from station to station, but they are not drawn to scale or even shaped like the actual system, let alone like the city above.  Once you leave the Tube station, you're likely to want some sort of city map.

 

I highly recommend "The Handy London Map and Guide," a sturdy little booklet that's available from Amazon (UK or US).  It shows all of Central London (i.e., everywhere you're likely to go) in great detail, with public buildings and Tube stations clearly marked, plus it has a Tube diagram in the back.  It fits neatly in your purse or coat pocket, and is far easier to consult on a windy street corner than a fold-out map would be.

 

[bedelia1984]

Thank you, J.P. !

 

I think a map is a must, as you have said. I would very much like to see The Old Bailey. I have to confess I have visited London a couple of times and not been inside Buckingham Palace. I would like to see those barracks too. And lunch at Speedy's sounds like just the ticket. I wonder if it's newfound fame makes it hard to get a table.

[J.P.]

As we were there, it was sometime around 10 AM and a Friday before the Con. There were some folks outside making pictures, and guests inside, but there were still free seats.

[bedelia1984]

Thanks J.P. I see online that it opens super early so I may try to go a little early to hopefully avoid crowds.

[bedelia1984]

Hey, just back from my trip and wanted to say thank you for the tips! I went to Speedy's for breakfast this morning and got to see the door and all the photos inside. I was glad I had been told to watch the opening hours as the main day I was around was Sunday, and it was shut so i knew to save it. I also went to St. Bart's and The Old Bailey. There was a lot of Sherlock grafitti at St Bart's- which I guessing they may not be too pleased about. I will have to go back again to see more.

 

The Crime Museum uncovered (at The London Museum) was really, really interesting, though I have to admit I came away wondering was it a little exploitative, considering a lot of the evidence featured was from violent crimes, especially those perpetrated against women. It was from an archive of evidence that previously had been used by the Metropolitan police to train new people in on crime scenes, so this so the first time the public can see it. They had a huge volume of stuff- ropes that were used in hangings, a trunk a body was found in, concealed weapons, Jack The Ripper's alleged handwritten letter, guns belonging to the Kray twins, crime scene photographs... It was extremely crowded, and though they staggered entry times every hour, it probably ought to have been every 15 mins or so, as the first few rooms were too packed to see much.

 

They didn't have anything Sherlock related in that show, but lots or merchandise in the gift shop (including a gorgeous Sherlock teddy bear, very expensive though). I noticed a 221B board game that looked a bit like Cluedo, and was seriously tempted- I ended up not getting it just to avoid carrying it around, but if anyone has played it I would love to know if it's any good.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Hey, just back from my trip and wanted to say thank you for the tips! I went to Speedy's for breakfast this morning and got to see the door and all the photos inside. I was glad I had been told to watch the opening hours as the main day I was around was Sunday, and it was shut so i knew to save it. I also went to St. Bart's and The Old Bailey. There was a lot of Sherlock grafitti at St Bart's- which I guessing they may not be too pleased about. I will have to go back again to see more.

You're certainly welcome!  How was your breakfast (and what did you have)?

 

Was the graffiti still mostly in the form of notes taped to the inside of the phone booth?  When we were there, I also noticed some comments written in the dust on the lower windows of the hospital buiding, which is likewise harmless.  But I was sad to see that there were also a few things written or scratched on the phone booth itself, which is vandalism despite any good intentions.

 

[bedelia1984]

I had bacon, sausages, mushrooms and toast- all very nice (not quite the full English as I can't stand eggs). I thought the cast photos were very sweet and it was nice how un-showbiz the place is. The staff were very friendly.

 

The grafitti is on the actual hospital walls behind the booth as well now I'm afraid- in paint and marker I think- it looked like it couldn't be removed, unless no-one tried. The dust I liked, and it is harmless- and somehow more effectively creepy as well.

 

 

 

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

It's idiots like that who give Sherlock fans a bad name!

 

Maybe the custodians figure that if they remove the current crop of graffiti, more will simply take its place -- so they're waiting for the current craze to run its course (good luck!).  Also, I've heard that they're planning a complete re-do for that face of the building ( :( ) so perhaps they simply don't care at this point.  Seems wrong somehow for a well-established building in London to change its appearance that radically -- I kinda hope they rethink that plan.

 

[bedelia1984]

Oh I think that would be such a shame too- overall it still looks wonderful. I am sorry about the graffiti, I think it would be the last thing the show wanted to happen.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I'm glad to see there are still notes in the phone booth, though!  The first time I was there (in May 2013), there were none, but then just a few days later it was loaded with 'em.  Apparently they remove them now and then, to keep the phone usable.  Wonder if the rate of posting the notes has decreased over time -- seems likely.

 

[bedelia1984]

I think it must be decreasing as I took that picture Sunday afternoon so it was unlikely to have been just cleared.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Now I'll have to go back and see what the dates are on our photos ...........   OK --

 

On Saturday 11 May 2013 at 2:49 pm, there were no notes whatsoever in/on the phone booth.

On Thursday 16 May at 12:20 pm, there were lots (and we added a couple).

On Saturday 18 May at 1:31 pm, there were still lots (including ours from the 16th), and at 6:44 that evening, they were still there.

 

And on a Sunday afternoon, you recently found a few notes there.

 

So it's apparently not like they remove all the notes on a particular day, at a particular time, every week.  It may not even be any official maintenance, but rather some irritable soul who clears them whenever they happen by.  Or even some Sherlock fan who's collecting them!

 

[J.P.]

This would be such a great idea - to collect all those writings into an online archive.

 

On 24th of April 2015 the booth was quite clean. :D

[Carol the Dabbler]

This would be such a great idea - to collect all those writings into an online archive.

 

On 24th of April 2015 the booth was quite clean. :D

 

And that was a Friday.

 

Yes, I agree, it would be interesting to see a "best of" collection.  Some of the notes we saw were very creative!

[bedelia1984]

I wish I'd taken a close up now, though it was just my dodgy phone camera. 

 

This would be such a great idea - to collect all those writings into an online archive.

 

 

It would be a nifty blog idea for a local willing to take photos regularly. Or even a time lapse animation of the notes coming and going would be cool too.