Sherlock Holmes Museum

The World's First Literary Character Museum

The Sherlock Holmes Museum holds the distinction of being the world's first museum dedicated to a fictional character. Opened in 1990, it occupies a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse built in 1815, located on Baker Street in London's Marylebone neighbourhood. Although the building physically sits between numbers 237 and 241, the City of Westminster granted it the iconic address 221B in recognition of its cultural significance. This address, immortalized in Arthur Conan Doyle's stories, never actually existed when the tales were written—Baker Street's numbering only reached 100 at that time.

A Victorian Time Capsule

The museum faithfully recreates the residence as described in Conan Doyle's narratives, spanning the period from 1881 to 1904 when Holmes and Dr. Watson supposedly lived there as tenants of Mrs. Hudson. Visitors ascend narrow staircases and navigate creaky wooden floors through four floors of meticulously decorated rooms. Gas lamps illuminate the spaces, casting authentic Victorian shadows across period furnishings and carefully curated artifacts. The first-floor study, which overlooks Baker Street, serves as the centrepiece, displaying Holmes' most iconic possessions: his deerstalker hat, magnifying glass, calabash pipe, notebooks, and various disguises used in his investigations.

Immersive Displays and Character Recreations

Beyond static displays, the museum brings the detective's world to life through life-size wax figures depicting scenes from Holmes' most celebrated cases. The third floor features elaborate re-enactments where costumed interpreters occasionally portray characters such as Mrs. Hudson, a policeman, and a maid, engaging with visitors and enhancing the immersive experience. Throughout the house, visitors encounter Watson's personal belongings, including his armchair and handwritten notes, alongside furnishings and objects that evoke the atmosphere of Victorian London. Each room tells a story, from Holmes' laboratory to Watson's quarters, creating a narrative journey through the detective's domestic life.

The Famous Address Dispute

The museum's address became the subject of an unusual historical dispute. Since the 1930s, the Royal Mail had been delivering letters addressed to Sherlock Holmes to the nearby Abbey National Bank building, which employed a dedicated secretary to handle such correspondence. The museum pursued multiple appeals to receive this mail, arguing it was the most appropriate custodian. This quirky controversy persisted for decades until 2002, when Abbey National vacated its headquarters after seventy years, and mail delivery was finally redirected to the museum—a symbolic victory for the institution.

A Destination for Literary Enthusiasts

The museum attracts devotees of the Holmes canon from around the world, offering a tangible connection to one of literature's most enduring characters. The narrow Victorian rooms, authentic period details, and carefully assembled memorabilia create an atmosphere that transports visitors into the pages of Conan Doyle's stories. Whether exploring Holmes' scientific instruments, examining Watson's personal effects, or studying the wax figure tableaux, visitors gain insight into the detective's fictional world and the Victorian era that inspired it. The adjacent gift shop offers themed souvenirs, including the famous deerstalker hat, allowing visitors to take a piece of 221B Baker Street home with them.