THE SHERLOCK HOLMES · AT A GLANCE
Location:📍10–11 Northumberland Street, London WC2N 5DB
Nearest Tube: Charing Cross (Bakerloo & Northern lines) or Embankment (Bakerloo, Circle, District & Northern lines)
Best For: Sherlock Holmes fans, literary travelers, curious wanderers, and photography enthusiasts
Pub Owner: Greene King
Drink Pick: Sherlock Holmes Pale Ale or Dr Watson’s Amber Ale
Why The Sherlock Holmes Is Worth Seeking Out
⭐ Traveler’s Pick: Tucked just off Trafalgar Square on Northumberland Street, the Sherlock Holmes is a Victorian-themed London pub where photographs, artwork, and memorabilia devoted to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective fill the walls. It’s an easy stop for a pint and a look around, with plenty of details for Holmes fans to discover.
What to Look For
Take a Look Around the Bar
While you enjoy the traditional pub atmosphere downstairs, take a moment to notice just how thoroughly Sherlock Holmes has taken over the walls— photographs, prints and memorabilia crowd the room.
The 221B Display Hiding Upstairs
Some visitors come to the pub without realizing it’s there. Sherlock Holmes fans may come specifically looking for it. Either way, don’t leave without taking a look at the display hiding upstairs.
The display is part of the pub rather than a separate museum attraction, so there’s no admission ticket to see it.
If you’re having a drink in the downstairs bar, head upstairs toward the restaurant, where you can peek through the corridor viewing windows into a re-creation of Holmes and Watson’s sitting room at the fictional 221B Baker Street. If you choose to eat in the restaurant, diners get a full view through the glass wall facing the room.
If it looks old, that’s because it is.
The display has its origins in a major Sherlock Holmes exhibition held in London in 1951. When the pub became The Sherlock Holmes in 1957, surviving furniture and artifacts from that exhibition were used to create the display you see here today.
Were You Hoping to Visit the Actual 221B Baker Street?
The famous 221B Baker Street address is actually about 2.3 miles from the pub, at the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The easiest route is to take the Bakerloo line from Charing Cross directly to Baker Street.
How to Order a Drink at the Sherlock Holmes
Where to Go: If you’re just here for a drink, stay downstairs and head to the main bar counter.
What to Order: Keep the Sherlock theme going with one of the pub’s house ales: Sherlock Holmes Pale Ale or Dr Watson’s Amber Ale. If neither is pouring that day, ask the bartender which cask ale they’d recommend instead.
How to Order: Ask for a pint or half-pint and pay at the bar. Take your drink to your chosen spot.
Tipping: Do I Need to Tip When I Order a Drink at the Bar?
No. Tipping isn’t customary when ordering drinks at the bar in a London pub. You don’t need to add a percentage, leave money on the bar, or leave cash on your table when you go. If the card machine prompts you for a tip, you can skip it.
Also Looking to Order Food?
The Sherlock Holmes serves traditional British pub food in the downstairs bar. If a meal is part of your plan, head upstairs to the first-floor dining rooms for a sit-down experience.
Know Before You Go
Check the Hours Before You Go:
Check the Sherlock Holmes’ official website for current opening and food-service hours, particularly if a meal is part of your plan.
Walk-Ins Welcome:
You can stop in for a look or a drink without booking a table. The downstairs bar can get busy, especially around peak sightseeing times, so an earlier visit may give you more room to look around.
Planning a Meal Upstairs?
The first-floor dining rooms offer a sit-down option. Booking ahead is sensible during busy periods.
Bringing the Family?
The Sherlock Holmes welcomes families, including children.
Keep Exploring London’s Literary Pubs
If The Sherlock Holmes has you looking for more London pubs with stories tied to famous writers and literary history, keep going with two very different places where the connections go well beyond the name above the door.
Head to Fleet Street for one of London’s great literary pubs, with long-standing connections to writers including Charles Dickens and a wonderfully atmospheric maze of historic rooms.
The Dog & Duck
Head into Soho for a wonderfully compact Victorian pub with its own literary pedigree, including a famous connection to George Orwell.