Sherlock Tour
Taking in some of the best locations in a few hours
I know this will upset a lot of "old school" fans but I have had little interest in the world of Sherlock until the divine combination of Moffat and Gatiss released Cumberbatch and Freeman into our lives, I know this puts me on the back foot with some of you but I thought I ought to prepare you now that this blog post and tour are pretty much only featuring the BBC Series
My family love those 6 episodes with a passion and because of this I planned a little tour around the best locations in London as an extra surprise for my daughters 12th birthday
To save our poor feet from aimless wandering around I planned this with the sort of military precision that would make Dr Watson proud and if you only have a few hours and want to visit as much as possible I suggest you follow our route or adapt it for yourself
We live on the coast of Essex so we travelled into London by train (the ticket was also an all zones underground travel card) and arrived at Liverpool Street at around 10.30 and then
we caught a CIRCLE line tube to St James Park
Location 1
New Scotland Yard
Check the signs on your arrival and exit on the New Scotland Yard side, the building is directly in front of you, there is currently some building works happening in this area but the sign is easily spottable.
Obviously due to the security nightmares it would cause them you are not allowed in the building, while I totally understand its still such a shame... I would love the visit the Black Museum
http://www.met.police.uk/history/crime_museum.htm
We then doubled back on ourselves and went back into the underground station and went out the exit on the other side (the Broadway exit)
There are signs telling you where to cross the road and cut through Queen Anne's Gate which puts you in Birdcage Walk, turn left and walk up to the next location
Location 2
Buckingham Palace
ok... ok you got me, Buck House isn't technically a location as the scenes of Sherlock in his sheet were filmed elsewhere but as it is one of the funniest moments and also always worth a look we included it on our tour
you should always check on the website to avoid disappointment
but if you arrive at the right time (as we did) you will see the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony, it was only a "wet change" on the day we went but still worth a look if you like a bit of pomp!
Another reason we wanted to go to the palace is that it was Jubilee week and while this added a bit of sparkle it also added a lot more tourists than usual and a LOT of workmen dismantling the seating and stage areas from the massive concert held days earlier
It also meant that we could not walk up Constitution Hill to the Hyde Park Corner underground as planned but there is no reason why you cant, get the PICCADILLY line to Holborn then change to the CENTRAL line to St Pauls
Exit the underground station noticing the Panyer Boy on the wall to your left (next to what is currently a Cafe Nero)
and walk up Newgate Street towards
Location 3
Central Criminal Court
(The Old Bailey)
(The Old Bailey)
The Old Bailey where Moriarty was tried for his crimes and found not guilty after some masterful jury nobbling
Again the interior scenes were filmed elsewhere (good job too as we didn't fancy trying to get in anyway) but we did recreate the phone call outside from Dr Watson to tell Sherlock the news
Put the kettle on....
Again the interior scenes were filmed elsewhere (good job too as we didn't fancy trying to get in anyway) but we did recreate the phone call outside from Dr Watson to tell Sherlock the news
Put the kettle on....
From here cross the road towards the church (its all very well sign posted) and walk up Giltspur Street
you will see the next location immediately and if your a giddy fan like my daughter and I you will react the same way we did... Personally I have never been so excited to see a hospital
Location 4
you will see the next location immediately and if your a giddy fan like my daughter and I you will react the same way we did... Personally I have never been so excited to see a hospital
Location 4
St Bartholomews Hospital
We took a few photos of the end of the hospital as that is shown so often in the series, I knew it so well that it felt almost as though I had been there before, but we couldn't wait to get to the fall site at the other end of the building,
Strange really to travel all this way to stare at a bit of concrete but stare we did...
I had borrowed a few pictures from http://www.sherlockology.com/ to show my daughter exactly where Sherlock had fallen and where Benedict had been laying on the floor... I doubt she is the first person to sprawl on the floor there as nobody in the area was the least bit surprised at what we were doing!
I also noted that there is some graffiti starting to appear... I was already aware of the "Goodbye John" piece on the floor by the benches (which I thought was quite sweet) but people are starting to scribble on the wall of the hospital and that could get out of control quite easily and before you know it fans wont be welcome to hang about outside - If you do visit please leave your markers at home.
We walked around the area and stood where John stood listening to his friend say goodbye, we also considered asking a passing policeman on a bike to run us over but thought that might be going a tad too far...
I felt strangely attached to the area and of all the places we went it was the one I didn't want to leave
Strange really to travel all this way to stare at a bit of concrete but stare we did...
I had borrowed a few pictures from http://www.sherlockology.com/ to show my daughter exactly where Sherlock had fallen and where Benedict had been laying on the floor... I doubt she is the first person to sprawl on the floor there as nobody in the area was the least bit surprised at what we were doing!
I also noted that there is some graffiti starting to appear... I was already aware of the "Goodbye John" piece on the floor by the benches (which I thought was quite sweet) but people are starting to scribble on the wall of the hospital and that could get out of control quite easily and before you know it fans wont be welcome to hang about outside - If you do visit please leave your markers at home.
We walked around the area and stood where John stood listening to his friend say goodbye, we also considered asking a passing policeman on a bike to run us over but thought that might be going a tad too far...
I felt strangely attached to the area and of all the places we went it was the one I didn't want to leave
Saying goodbye to the hospital we walked up Long Lane, alongside Smithfield Market up to the BARBICAN underground station where we took the CIRCLE line to Euston Square there are signs telling you which way to exit for North Gower Street and as soon as you are on that street you will spot
Locations 5 & 6
The Front Door & Speedys Cafe
The number is different (of course) and there is a blue plaque for Giuseppe Mazzini (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuseppe_Mazzini) hidden under the light next to the door but you can tell straight away its the same door & the same knocker
Again nobody took any notice that we were taking pictures of a front door or the cafe so everyone in the area must be more than used to it!
Again nobody took any notice that we were taking pictures of a front door or the cafe so everyone in the area must be more than used to it!
The flat above it has now been let (at a price of £330 a week!) but living there is a guaranteed way of meeting the cast & crew next year, I hope its a fan living up there or they could soon get annoyed with hoards of people at the door all day :)
Speedys was cosy but busy, we took a table for 2 in the corner and looked around at the Sherlock photos on the wall
We ordered 2 Sherlock wraps (with mayo instead of chilli sauce) & 2 drinks to keep us going, The wraps were very tasty, service was fast but friendly and it was fun spotting who else in the place was also only there because of our favourite tv show! I know there was at least one other table of fans as they did exactly the same as us... (took photos of the photos and of the wrap!)
When we were finished at Speedys we went back to Euston Square underground and took the CIRCLE line to...
Location 7
Baker Street
Ok, again not technically a location at all but you try telling people you did a Sherlock tour and missed out the real Baker Street!
there are signs everywhere telling you how to get to 221b and when you see it you realise what a good job they did finding North Gower Street as a replacement, the flats are so similar but with all the Sherlock references in every shop and restaurant up Baker Street its no wonder they couldn't film there!
There is a museum here but as I said at the start we are not "old" Sherlock fans and as I didn't think there would be much 'Batch action upstairs so we satisfied ourselves with going in the gift shop and spending a few pounds on 221b badges and a Baker Street metal road sign to put up in the kitchen!
we even tried on a double fronted death frisbee ear hat.
There was a fabulous old feel to everything there, even the staff were in period costume and the policeman who lets you into the museum was more than happy to have pictures taken
there are signs everywhere telling you how to get to 221b and when you see it you realise what a good job they did finding North Gower Street as a replacement, the flats are so similar but with all the Sherlock references in every shop and restaurant up Baker Street its no wonder they couldn't film there!
There is a museum here but as I said at the start we are not "old" Sherlock fans and as I didn't think there would be much 'Batch action upstairs so we satisfied ourselves with going in the gift shop and spending a few pounds on 221b badges and a Baker Street metal road sign to put up in the kitchen!
we even tried on a double fronted death frisbee ear hat.
There was a fabulous old feel to everything there, even the staff were in period costume and the policeman who lets you into the museum was more than happy to have pictures taken
Back to Baker Street underground station and take the CIRCLE line to Tower Hill for
Location 8
The Tower Of London
Again, I can feel you telling me this isn't really a location, but when i originally planned this trip for the daughter and I we were only really going for Buckingham palace and the Tower as she loves her history and as i mentioned earlier this is currently Jubilee week but when I thought about it i realised they both had a Sherlock connection so added the other locations to it,
This is a biggie and while i recommend it as a great thing to see while you are in London, you could take some fabulous pictures of it without having to pay to go in... but we did.
As we travelled in by train I had a 2 for 1 voucher for the tower so the price was reduced considerably http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
We saw as much as possible in the time we had left and made sure we visited the crown jewels, Jim would have approved.
This is a biggie and while i recommend it as a great thing to see while you are in London, you could take some fabulous pictures of it without having to pay to go in... but we did.
As we travelled in by train I had a 2 for 1 voucher for the tower so the price was reduced considerably http://www.daysoutguide.co.uk/2for1-london
We saw as much as possible in the time we had left and made sure we visited the crown jewels, Jim would have approved.
Honey... you should see me in a crown!
Next to the Tower ticket office is the Tower Subwayhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Subway
nothing to do with Sherlock but worth noting anyway
nothing to do with Sherlock but worth noting anyway
as is almost everything on these websites
From here we trotted back to Tower Hill and went home via Liverpool Street
I hope you have enjoyed this blog of our tour and can use it to plan your own trip, we had a fabulous day and it wasn't until we were leaving the tower that our feet began to hurt!
oh and....the toilets next to St Pauls cost 50p, very clean but so they should be for that money per piddle (there is a change machine) but the toilets at Baker Street are free and just as good
oh and....the toilets next to St Pauls cost 50p, very clean but so they should be for that money per piddle (there is a change machine) but the toilets at Baker Street are free and just as good
as are the ones at the Tower
so, to recap
From your starting point tube to
St James Park - exit one side for Scotland Yard, re-enter and exit on Broadway side, cut through Queen Anne's Gate to Birdcage Walk
Walk up to Buckingham Palace
Walk up Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner - take Piccadilly line, change at Holborn for St Paul's on the Central line.
Walk up Newgate Street to the Old Bailey, then cross to Giltspur Street for St Barts,
Walk up Long Lane alongside Smithfield Market to Barbican Station, get circle line to Euston Square, exit North Gower street side for Speedys
Back to Euston Square circle line to Baker Street (you could probably walk this if you know where you were going, we didnt so figured it was easier on our feet to go 2 stops by tube)
When you are finished at Baker Street, return to tube station and get the circle line to Tower Hill
Have a great time!
so, to recap
From your starting point tube to
St James Park - exit one side for Scotland Yard, re-enter and exit on Broadway side, cut through Queen Anne's Gate to Birdcage Walk
Walk up to Buckingham Palace
Walk up Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner - take Piccadilly line, change at Holborn for St Paul's on the Central line.
Walk up Newgate Street to the Old Bailey, then cross to Giltspur Street for St Barts,
Walk up Long Lane alongside Smithfield Market to Barbican Station, get circle line to Euston Square, exit North Gower street side for Speedys
Back to Euston Square circle line to Baker Street (you could probably walk this if you know where you were going, we didnt so figured it was easier on our feet to go 2 stops by tube)
When you are finished at Baker Street, return to tube station and get the circle line to Tower Hill
Have a great time!
