Don’t miss our meet-up at 221B Baker Street — come uncover the secrets of the great detective “Sherlock Holmes”!

Text and photos by /miss kitB

The world-famous 221B Baker Street is the residence of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his loyal sidekick Dr. Watson. I’m definitely a fan of Sherlock, especially as portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch. BBC’s *Sherlock* is undoubtedly one of the finest TV dramas in recent years. No matter how well you know this brilliant detective, when you fly to London, a visit to 221B Baker Street is a must. Since 1990, the address has been turned into a museum, allowing fans from around the world to pay homage and explore the daily living space of the great detective.

The ground floor of the building houses a souvenir shop, selling a wide variety of Sherlock Holmes-related merchandise, including plenty of items inspired by the popular recent TV series. To enhance the immersive experience, the interior decoration of the house retains a Victorian-era charm, and the female staff all dress in maid outfits. Once you step through the entrance, most visitors don’t just browse the shop for souvenirs — tickets to the Sherlock Holmes Museum can be purchased at the cashier counter at the end from the maids, costing £10 per adult. When buying your ticket, you’ll also receive a folded A4 monochrome brochure. Since the first few people in line were Japanese girls, the maid almost handed me the Japanese version. This seemingly simple brochure is actually quite thoughtful — the museum offers multilingual guides for visitors from around the world.

The museum entrance is located next to the shop. After purchasing your ticket, you need to push open a door and head upstairs. There’s a costumed male staff member at the entrance who checks your ticket and greets you. By the time I visited that day (it was only a bit past 5 PM, really), it was already dark outside, and the museum was about to close... V? But the ticket seller assured me there was still enough time to visit, so I decided to trust her. The staircase leading up is dim and narrow — the kind of stairwell you’d find in a second-floor bookstore in Mong Kok, where there’s barely enough room for one and a half people. However, this one is carpeted, with paintings decorating the walls on both sides, and the wooden steps creak loudly underfoot. So if you’re here to consult with Mr. Holmes on a case, this is the kind of staircase you’ll climb to reach him.

The first floor is where you’ll find Sherlock Holmes’ room and the living room. Pretty cozy, right? That armchair by the window, the deerstalker hat, the magnifying glass used for investigating clues, the pipes (the fireplace even has real flames), the bed displaying some investigative tools, the book left halfway open on the bedside table, and even a mirror for grooming.

The hall is where the detective receives his guests, and because it’s cluttered with various items, it feels very authentic. Of course, if you’ve read the novels thoroughly and know all the details of the detective’s life, you’ll notice that every little object plays a role.

The second floor contains the rooms of Dr. Watson and the landlady, continuing to showcase various books, documents, newspapers, letters, and props related to Sherlock Holmes. Even if you aren’t very familiar with the stories, the vintage items on display are still fascinating to look at — people in those days had a refined lifestyle, and their everyday items were exquisitely crafted.

The third floor features a slightly eerie exhibit of life-sized crime scene mannequins, recreating classic scenes from Sherlock Holmes stories. Turn off the lights, and it could easily pass for a haunted house. Further up, there’s also a toilet in the attic, and that’s about it.

The museum may not be incredibly exciting or visually stunning, but it’s still worth a visit for fans making a pilgrimage. Photography is allowed inside, and the group of Japanese girls ahead of me were taking selfies at every corner. If you’re visiting alone, you can also ask one of the maids to take a commemorative photo for you. Gazing out the window at the streets of London feels quite romantic.
 

INFO
The Sherlockl Holmes Museum
Address: 221b Baker Street London NW1 6XE
Phone: 020 7935 8866
Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:00
Website:http://www.sherlock-holmes.co.uk
Admission Fee: £10 (adults), £8 (children under 16)
 

miss kitB

A core member of the Not-So-Serious Association, or a “multifunctional cross-media freelance creator.” Believes boredom is the mother of creativity, and happiness is life’s greatest asset. Eats breakfast every day and travels the Earth daily.
Blog:http://kitx.mysinablog.com/index.php