Right now we are in London and over the next few days I’ll be sharing some of the cool places The Girl and I have visited on our latest adventure. I hope you’ll follow along and don’t forget to checkout my instagram page for more travel pictures.
Being the HUGE Sherlock Holmes fan that The Girl Who Thinks She’s a Bird is, one of the first things we did when we arrived in London was to stop by 221B Baker Street and have a look around. If you aren’t familiar with Sherlock Holmes, 221B Baker Street is where the fictional character {written by Arthur Conan Doyle} lived.
We paid 16£ {total} and stood in line for a good 45 minutes before it was our turn to go inside.
When the books were written, 221B Baker Street didn’t exist. Baker Street only went up to 100. Over the years, the street was extended and the address housed a couple of different entities.
The Sherlock Holmes museum is on the street, but actually is closer to somewhere between 237-241. When the previous tenants of 221 vacated, the museum received the address.
The museum itself is kind of an homage to the fictional character and the rooms are filled with all sorts of antiques and trinkets from the time period. The picture above is staged as Mrs. Hudson’s room. If you are at all claustrophobic, watch out because 221B Baker Street is jam packed with not only stuff, but people too.
Cool fact: Apparently, before the museum existed, the business in 221 Baker Street had to have a full time secretary to open mail addressed to Sherlock Holmes. 😉
The Girl became a huge fan when she started watching Sherlock on Amazon. The Girl and I are pretty much suckers for any thing PBS–so add in that it’s a Masterpiece classic, and we are basically hooked. I know, I know, we are PBS nerds. I accept it. At least we have never actually written a letter to Sherlock Holmes and mailed it to the address–that should count for something, right?
If you haven’t ever seen the show, seriously, check it out. It is very well written {to the point I have to rewind it sometimes just to keep up with the smarts of it all}. Benedict Cumberbatch {what a name!} plays Sherlock–and let me tell you what, he nails the character. He is brilliant.
Season 1 is FREE to stream with your Amazon Prime membership.
Off to explore,
~Mavis
SHARE:
Kristina Z says
The Tube station at Baker St. (either yellow or green line ( both?)) is pretty neat, too. You will be going out to Kew Gardens, natch? Though I don’t know what’s on out there in February….
Helen in Meridian says
I figure that the reason you are in England this week is so that you can have The Girl presented with Rose this weekend on Downton Abbey. Not sure if she can stay for the whole season of being “presented”, but I am sure her manners and much better than that niece Rose. I thought maybe you were there in time for the flower show at Downton, but realized that it is the rainy season, and not the flower season.
Jules says
Oh, I love Sherlock too. I have been watching it online, free, through the Masterpiece Theater website.
Hey, Mavis, while you’re there can you bring home some real tea from London?
Andy H says
A big friendly welcome to England.
I second the idea to go to Kew Gardens if you get a chance. .
You made it here just at the right time.
Its just started to warm up a bit and the rain is holding off a bit.
My chickens think its spring and have started laying eggs two months early.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Andy! 🙂
LuAnn Braley says
I’m so jealous that you’re across the pond already. But Baker Street as well? OY! :O) Hope y’all have a GREAT time!