Sherlock Holmes Museum in London – history, photo, description, opening hours, ticket prices 2021, map
In the heart of London is a museum dedicated to the legendary and world-famous consulting detective Sherlock Holmes. Despite the fact that the outstanding detective is a fictional character of the writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he is still considered the “thunderstorm” of the underworld throughout the UK, the personification of justice and honor.
Story
The busy Baker Street became truly famous thanks to the stories and novels of A.K. Doyle. The first works about the brilliant detective were published at the end of the 19th century. In fact, there was no such address in London, where Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson allegedly rented an apartment. The street ended at number 85.
No. 221-B appeared only in 1934, when Baker Street was significantly lengthened. This literary address was assigned to a four-story house that was the only surviving Victorian building on the street. The building was originally owned by the Abbey National Bank, whose employees received bags of mail addressed to Mr. Holmes. In a financial organization for a long time there was a separate position for a person whose duties included answering letters from citizens awaiting the help of a detective.
In 1990, the decision was made to open the Sherlock Holmes Museum at No. 239 because there was a protracted dispute over the ownership of the iconic address between the city council and Abbey National. After several years of litigation, the bank ceased to exist. A plaque was solemnly installed on the building with the famous book address, although it was out of line with the general numbering.
Interior
The four-story house, built in 1815, is an architectural and historical value of London. A round memorial plaque mounted on the facade of the building informs that the detective consultant Sherlock Holmes lived here from 1881 to 1904. The museum is furnished with authentic furniture and household items from the second half of the 19th century. Thus, the apartments allow visitors to the museum to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the stay of the beloved literary hero Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
A constable is on duty at the entrance to the house, and inside the hostess of the dwelling, Miss Hudson, greets guests. The interior of the house realistically reproduces the environment that corresponds to the description in the book. The creaky seventeen steps lead to the rooms of Holmes and Dr. Watson. Here, each exhibit represents the life and detective work of Sherlock. These are his personal belongings, file cabinets, books, tools and much more. Everything testifies to the presence of a brilliant intellect in this house.
The decoration of the apartments creates an absolute illusion of a lived-in apartment. It seems that the famous astute detective with a felt hat will now come out to meet his guests. Smoking a pipe and making notes in a notebook, he will be interested in listening to the stories of visitors and creating logical conclusions.
What to see
Unique museum exhibits will certainly make a pleasant impression, making you want to re-read the famous stories about the valiant detective. All the attributes and objects that the detective used while solving exciting mysteries and catching the cunning criminals of Great Britain fill the small rooms on all four floors of the house. This is one of those museums where you are allowed to touch exhibits that are not hidden under glass. Visitors to Holmes' apartment can sit comfortably in the detective's chair and take photos as a keepsake.
Exposition on the 1st floor
The first floor is a souvenir shop that is impossible to bypass. Here they sell entrance tickets to the museum, as well as all kinds of commemorative products with the symbols of Holmes: books, caps, pipes, T-shirts, toys, ceramics, matchboxes, key rings and much more. The store has photographs of actors who in their time embodied the screen images of Sherlock Holmes. Among them, a place of honor is occupied by the famous Soviet and Russian actor Vasily Livanov, who became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for the brilliantly played role of an English detective.
Exhibition on the 2nd floor
The famous living room with a fireplace, where Holmes and Watson received their guests, is located on the second floor of the museum. This is a cozy small room, lit by wide windows, furnished with comfortable easy chairs and a small sofa. On the table are the hats of the detective and his assistant, a magnifying glass, and a smoking pipe.
Red-wallpapered walls are adorned with paintings and Queen Victoria's patriotic ‘VR' monogram, shot from a depressed detective's revolver. In the corner of the room is a served dining table. The living room was used by Holmes as a study. Therefore, here you can also see a chemical laboratory with a microscope, test tubes and bottles, an abundance of book volumes, stacks of letters, newspapers, candelabra, small figurines, a Turkish shoe for storing tobacco, a bearskin on the floor.
Near the fireplace lies a violin, playing which helped Sherlock build a logical chain of thought. In Holmes's bedroom, adjoining the study, portraits of famous criminals in England are hung. Bags with a set of master keys, gloves, masks and cosmetic accessories for makeup are scattered on the bed.
Coca-Cola London Eye ticket £24.30
Tower of London and Royal Treasures
ticket £26.80 Tower Bridge ticket £9.80
Westminster Abbey entrance ticket and audio guide £20
Madame Tussauds ticket – £29
St. Paul's Cathedral: Fast Track Ticket – £16
Shard Skyscraper – Entrance Ticket & Champagne – £24.95
Exhibition on the 3rd floor
The third floor of the museum is represented by the rooms of Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson. The office of a companion and true friend of Sherlock fully characterizes his guest. The cozy apartments are decorated in bright colors. The room contains medical books, a blood pressure monitor, a collection of walking sticks, a revolver, stuffed animals, and a handwritten diary of Holmes' adventures.
The home of the owner of the house is clean and tidy. A bronze bust of Sherlock is located here and display tables are displayed with objects that Mrs. Hudson carefully kept in memory of her famous tenant. The expositions are connected with Holmes' cases under investigation: knives, poisoned throwing arrows, masks, a book with a niche for a pistol, a metal bowl with a part of a human hand, auricles, bones, vials of poison.
Mrs. Hudson's personal belongings look harmonious in the room: shoes, a shoe dryer, ceramic figurines, candlesticks, a basket of threads. There is a book on the writing table, where each guest of the museum can write his comments and wishes.
Exhibition on the 4th floor
Two rooms on the fourth floor are occupied by wax figures of book characters depicting scenes from various stories. On the wall, like a hunting trophy, hangs the huge head of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Around the perimeter of the apartment are recognizable characters that evoke memories of some of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
The stooped man, glaring at the visitors of the museum with an evil eye, is a sworn enemy of Holmes and the head of the London underworld. This is Professor Moriarty. The red-haired pawnbroker Wilson sits at the table and rewrites the Encyclopædia Britannica. Sprawled out on the floor was a reporter, St. Clair, moonlighting as a professional beggar. The Ribbon Motley stepfather dies from the bite of his own swamp viper. In the corner of the room, a desperate lady shoots a blackmailer with a pistol.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is open daily from 9:30 to 18:00. Only Christmas (December 24) is considered a day off. Admission is £6 for adults and £4 for children. It is allowed to take pictures and make videos in the museum.
Where is it located and how to get there
Sherlock Holmes' house is located in the center of London at the well-known address – Baker Street, 221-B. A popular attraction is located near the Baker Street subway station, adorned with a profile picture of the famous detective. After exiting the subway, the Holmes monument will point you in the right direction to the museum. You can also get there by shuttle buses No. 18, No. 27, No. 30, No. 159, No. 274.