Sherlock Holmes Museum Attraction Guide

London is brimming with fantastic museums. But if you’re a big fan of the legendary Sherlock Holmes series, there’s a museum that is just for you.

Located in Marylebone on the famous Baker Street is the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The museum is privately run and is dedicated to the fictional detective character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It’s easy to forget that Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character and didn’t actually exist as a historical figure. It’s especially difficult to remember that fact when you visit the museum itself.

The museum occupies a Georgian townhouse on Baker Street which was built in 1815. The building has been grade-listed due to its historical and cultural significance.

The museum covers the period of 1881 to 1904. If you’re a big fan of the Sherlock Holmes novels, you’ll know that during this time period in the books, Sherlock Holmes lived with his trusted friend Dr. John Watson and were tenants of Mrs. Hudson.

Fans who enter the museum are heartened to find that the inside has been designed to look exactly how it was described by Doyle. Visitors will see artefacts and furniture dating back to the Victorian era, including wallpaper and gaslight lamps. True fans will also notice various items that are referred to in the books. Keep an eye out for the magnifying glass, an old copy of The Times, a pipe, an ink bottle, a violin and of course, Sherlock’s famous deerstalker hat.

Some people may be curious as to who actually lived in the building before it was turned into the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The answer is that nobody really knows. It is documented that the house was licensed as lodgings between 1860 to 1934. This could be why Doyle decided to base his novel on the house in the first place. Despite this, there are no records of any lodgers residing at the address.

There are other strange coincidences that have arisen from trying to find out who lived at Baker Street prior to it becoming a museum. Serving maids who worked in the building have been linked to characters in Sherlock Holmes stories. There are also records that show that a man named Dr. Watson lived next door.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum is a popular attraction in Marylebone, attracting lots of visitors every year. If you do decide to pop by, the nearest tube stop is Baker Street station, which is a 0.1 mile walk.

After your visit, please come by to Aubaine for some delicious French cuisine and be sure to stop off at Daunt Books bookshop in Marylebone along the way.

Next up: Regents Park