Is the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London Worth Visiting?
Skip to content HOME ABOUT About Me Contact FAQ DESTINATIONS Austria Belize England Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Portugal Scotland Slovenia Spain Switzerland USA RESOURCES Booking Resources Travel Blogger Guide TRAVEL TIPS Inspiration Packing Planning Tech & Apps Europe | England | London
Is the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London Worth Visiting?
By Michelle Updated on 04/14/2025This site contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Program. At no additional cost to you, I may receive a commission off these links. They help fund this blog. Thanks for your support! See my Disclosure Policy for more info.
1.4K sharesOne of the most highly anticipated events on my trip to Europe was the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London.
I missed 221b Baker St on my last trip and was determined not to miss it again as I’ve been a fan of Sherlock for quite a while now! With all the hullabaloo over BBC Sherlock , Elementary , and Robert Downey Jr.’s films , I was nervous it would be more of a tourist trap than ever!
So, is the Sherlock Holmes Museum worth visiting?
Table of Contents
Toggle Guide to Visiting The Famous Detective How to Get to 221b Baker Street Sherlock Holmes Museum Tickets Visiting the 221b Baker St Museum Inside Sherlock’s Apartment A Look at the Famous Detective’s Desk The Baker Street Museum Shop Take a Guided Baker St Museum Walking Tour A Review of the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London Sherlock Holmes Museum FAQs How long does it take to go around the Sherlock Holmes Museum? Do you have to pay for the Sherlock Holmes Museum?Guide to Visiting The Famous Detective
How to Get to 221b Baker Street
As you probably already know, Sherlock Holmes’ address is 221b Baker Street, and so is the museum’s. Yes, 221b Baker Street truly exists.
The museum was also the first stop on my self-induced Sherlock-inspired tour of London .
The 221b Baker St Museum was close to my YHA hostel, so I walked there.
However, if your accommodation isn’t so conveniently located, you can also get there by tube: just get off at the Baker Street station on the London Underground. You can get there by bus or by mainline train (Marylebone Station is a 5 minute walk away).
Sherlock Holmes Museum Tickets
It’s a pretty bustling street, being that it’s near Madame Tussauds and Regent’s Park, so no worries if you’re a solo female traveler .
When you arrive, go directly inside to purchase your ticket, then go outside to wait in line. Sherlock Holmes Museum tickets cost £16 for Adults and £11 for Children (under 16 years).
As a note, they do not offer tickets online. You must buy them at 221B Baker St by cash, credit, or debit card. You also can’t book in advance.
It wasn’t jam-packed when I went so that I wouldn’t worry too much about this. However, since the writing of this post, a few people have mentioned two-hour waits, so you may want to show up early.
🎟️ Update 2024: They now encourage booking tickets online in advance to avoid long wait times. Your ticket is also only valid on the date and time shown on your booking confirmation.
Please note, you will lose your ticket if you do not arrive 10 minutes before the time on your ticket. You will also be required to present it upon arrival.
Visiting the 221b Baker St Museum
The London Sherlock Museum is a small building, so they only let a certain amount of people in at a time.
Honestly, I truly appreciate this because I hate being too crowded. Too many places cram people in and it ruins the experience. Bring an umbrella in case it rains because there’s no covering for you to stand under while waiting.
Seventeen steps up, and you have reached Sherlock Holmes’ apartment. If you’re like me and have read the books, you will actually count those seventeen steps! Dorky, I know. #sorrynotsorry
Upon reaching the living room, you can see his famous deerstalker, magnifying glass, and pipe on the small table in the middle.
You can tell a real fan and ardent researcher of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books took the time to think about everything in the flat. You’ll notice yet another deerstalker on his bed below.
🇬🇧 If you’re looking for additional things to do , check out my 2 day London itinerary . It’ll provide some inspiration on what to see, where to eat, and the best places to stay on a budget.
Inside Sherlock’s Apartment
The room above is Sherlock’s, and you’ll notice that there’s an incredible amount of detail here.
Upon entering, you do feel that he could have lived in this very apartment. It was actually a boarding house during Sherlock’s time, so it’s very accurate to the Victorian period.
What impressed me most was that there are references to most of Sherlock and Watson’s adventures. For example, “A Scandal in Bohemia,” which is one of my favorite stories, is represented amongst others. The photo wall pictured above features real criminals from London’s history.
A Look at the Famous Detective’s Desk
There are also lots of letters from the infamous detective to Watson and other handwritten notes. I liked the way they set up the scene below with his magnifying glass.
They let you take pictures of everything, and if you needed help, a museum employee was always nearby.
All of the employees were dressed in period clothing, so that was a lovely touch as well. I always love when museums go all out, especially for something that could be “living history” in a way.
You could spend all day reading the little articles here. I do apologize. I forgot to take a picture of Watson’s room upstairs, but hey, you’ve got to have some surprises when you go to this fantastic 221b Baker Str Museum, right?
Below is a close-up of Mr. Holmes’ desk. You can see his bag, ink wells, and signs that he’s been doing some scientific testing lately.
I wonder what he’s discovered today?
🇬🇧 Follow my free self-guided Sherlock Holmes walking tour inspired by BBC Sherlock if you haven’t gotten enough of the famous detective after a visit to 221b.
The Baker Street Museum Shop
Finally, the man himself! It’s a pretty nice bust of our high-functioning sociopath! I wish they sold mini versions of these in their shop!
After you leave the apartment, you can go back to visit the gift shop where you bought your ticket. It’s a bit pricey, but what souvenir shop isn’t?
They have a large assortment of souvenirs and their mail-order catalog contains the most extensive collection of Sherlockian gifts in the world! So you’ll absolutely be able to find something for your Sherlocked friend or family member.
“My mind rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere. I can dispense then with artificial stimulants. But I abhor the dull routine of existence.”
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Sign of FourTake a Guided Baker St Museum Walking Tour
If you’d like to bundle a trip to the Baker St Museum with a walking tour of London’s most popular sights, I recommend checking out this Sherlock-inspired walking tour .
I love booking with GetYourGuide, as they make it super easy to cancel and get refunded in case of any travel troubles.
Book Activities & Tours:
Powered by GetYourGuideA Review of the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London
So, is the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London worth it?
It was absolutely worth it! It does focus much more on the books than the film and television incarnations, as it should! But it’s good to note that in case you were expecting any Cluedo!
They have made Sir Arthur Conan Doyle proud, as well as this Baker St Museum reviewer!
So, is the Sherlock Holmes Museum worth visiting? Yes, I’d certainly say so!
Sherlock Museum Address: 221b Baker St, Marylebone, London NW1 6XE, United Kingdom
Hours: 9:30 am to 6 pm every day (except Christmas Day, 25th December)
Duration: 1 hour
Sherlock Holmes Museum FAQs
How long does it take to go around the Sherlock Holmes Museum?
I estimate about an hour to see the entire museum, though I was rather thorough as I’m a Sherlockian, so you may be able to pare this time down. However, depending on how long the wait to get in is, you may need to allot more time.
Do you have to pay for the Sherlock Holmes Museum?
Yes, as of 2024, Sherlock Holmes Museum tickets cost £16 for Adults and £11 for Children (under 16 years).
Looking for More Sherlock?
Get a Free Self-Guided Walking Sherlock Holmes London TourWant to remember this? Pin this Is the Sherlock Holmes Museum in London Worth Visiting? article to your favorite Pinterest board!
Post Tags: # Book # Museum # Sherlock Holmes MichelleMichelle is a 30-something wanderluster and occasional solo female traveler with a love of history. You'll find her road-tripping across the United States, hostel-hopping in Europe, or living luxuriously in Asia. She currently resides in Southern California and is writing an action-adventure novel.
Post navigation
Previous Reviewing Paddywagon Tours from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher Next Ultimate 2 Day London Itinerary: Top Sights for First-Timers8 Comments
Anonymous says: 08/04/2013 at 9:18 amThank you for posting this review. Due to health issues I will regrettably never get to make that ‘trip to London’, but I feel like I have seen the Museum through your eyes. Thanks so much for the terrific photographs & essay attached !
Reply Michelle Jensen says: 08/04/2013 at 8:01 pmYou are quite welcome! Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help in your virtual tour of London!
Reply Stephanie Medeiros says: 02/25/2014 at 3:49 pmI just wanna live in there!
Reply Michelle Jensen says: 02/25/2014 at 7:45 pmHaha, it’s a very nice part of London to this day!
Reply Lady Geek Out says: 02/25/2014 at 4:55 pmThat looks very cool! I didn’t visit when I went to London, but I’m planning to go back and will have to stop by this time!
Reply Michelle Jensen says: 02/25/2014 at 7:45 pmI didn’t get there my first time either, but it is worth it. I bet the popularity has gone up quite a bit since BBC Sherlock.
Reply Anonymous says: 05/03/2014 at 7:11 amWalking by now.there is over an hour wait in line. Next trip maybe.
Reply Michelle Jensen says: 05/04/2014 at 9:07 pmGeez, the wait wasn’t nearly that long when I went and I went in summer!
ReplyLeave a Reply Cancel reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
travel herstory
Hi! I'm Michelle! I’m a thirty-something wanderluster and occasional solo female traveler. Over the past 11 years, I've blogged my adventures to help you with yours. Here, you'll find itineraries, budget travel tips, sightseeing pass reviews, and recommendations on accommodations!
MORE ABOUT MEfollow me on social
Europe Travel Tips USA5 Day Ireland Itinerary: Essential Tips and Must-See Attractions
The Most Incredible Greek Island Hopping Itinerary Yet
Easy Guide to Visiting Stirling Castle in Scotland
37 Things to Do Before an International Trip: Easy Pre-Trip Checklist
Flight Vouchers: How to Make Your Travel Credit Stretch
How to Plan an International Trip for Free on Google Docs
See the Spectacular Space Shuttle Endeavour in LA
15 Nerdy Things to Do in Los Angeles: Unique Geek Guide
The Outlander Tour of Tryon Palace in New Bern
ABOUT CONTACT DESTINATIONS FAQ PRIVACY POLICY© 2025 Travel HerStory - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP
Home About Toggle child menu About Contact FAQ Destinations Toggle child menu Austria Belize England Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Portugal Scotland Slovenia Spain Switzerland USA Toggle child menu Arizona California Colorado Louisiana North Carolina Utah Virginia Washington DC Resources Toggle child menu Booking Resources Travel Blogger Guide Travel Tips Toggle child menu Inspiration Packing Planning Tech & Apps