Private Bespoke Tour: Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The best part of this private London tour is the way it connects Sherlock Holmes fiction with real streets, hospitals, restaurants, and offices. You follow the trail from Embankment to Baker Street, while a dedicated Sherlockian adds the London and literary background behind the cases.

I like the personal scale and the unhurried timing. Richard, the guide, worked at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, and his approach is flexible rather than scripted. I also like the Arthur Conan Doyle thread, which gives you more than a tour of fictional addresses. The drawback is that you must pay for Underground travel and the museum separately, and several stops are brief exterior visits.

Key points to know before booking

• A private tour for up to two people: The $232.04 rate covers the group, not each person, which makes the price easier to assess for a couple or two friends.
• Richard brings Sherlockian experience: He worked at the Sherlock Holmes Museum and knows both the stories and London’s wider past.
• The route mixes fiction and fact: You visit Holmes locations, Conan Doyle’s former medical practice, the Langham connection, and filming sites.
• Walking is combined with the Tube: An Oyster Card or travel card is required to move between parts of the route.
• The pace is flexible: Stops are leisurely, and the tour is designed around conversation rather than rushing from one address to the next.
• The museum is an optional finish: You end at 221b Baker Street, but entry to the Sherlock Holmes Museum is not included.

Why this tour works for Sherlock fans

This is not simply a walk past a blue plaque or a photo stop at Baker Street. The route builds a story about how Holmes came to life, where Arthur Conan Doyle worked, and how the fictional detective fits into old London.

You begin near Embankment and finish at Baker Street, moving through central London by foot and Underground. Along the way, you get famous Holmes references, literary history, police lore, and a few ordinary city details that help the stories feel less distant.

The private format matters. You are not tied to the pace of a large group, and Richard can adjust the amount of time spent on Holmes, Conan Doyle, filming locations, or general London history. That flexibility is especially useful if one person knows every case while the other is just starting with the character.

The tour suits newcomers as well as committed Sherlockians. A first-time reader gets the basic story of Holmes and Watson, while a longtime fan gets locations tied to specific characters and scenes. Richard’s museum background adds useful context, but the tour is not presented as a test of your Holmes trivia.

Starting at Northumberland Avenue

The tour begins at Embankment station and heads to Northumberland Avenue. This is a strong opening because the Sherlock Holmes Pub occupies what was once the Northumberland Hotel.

In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Henry Baskerville stayed at the hotel when he came to London for help from Holmes. That small detail gives the first stop a clear purpose. You are not just looking at a pub with a Holmes-themed name. You are standing outside a building linked to one of the detective’s best-known cases.

This is also where Richard explains Arthur Conan Doyle’s life and the creation of Sherlock Holmes. That opening context helps you understand the difference between the fictional detective and the doctor who invented him.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes and admission is free. You should expect an exterior visit, with the chance to look inside the pub depending on timing and access. The nearby Turkish bath is also connected with the Holmes stories, adding another piece of Victorian atmosphere to the area.

Scotland Yard and the old detective world

The next stop is the historic Metropolitan Police headquarters, the home base associated with Scotland Yard detectives Lestrade and Hopkins.

Holmes often had a low opinion of official police work, and that tension is part of the fun. The police detectives are not simply background figures. They help show how Holmes operates outside normal procedure, using observation and deduction where the Yard relies on formal investigation.

The building has been restored, with large gas lamps that suit the period setting. You may still see modern traffic and black cabs around you, but the architecture helps you picture an older London of hansom cabs and gas-lit streets.

This is another short stop, around 10 minutes, and there is no admission fee. Its value comes mainly from Richard’s explanation. If you want long interior visits or a museum about the Metropolitan Police, this tour does not provide that. You are getting a street-level connection to the stories instead.

Lunch history at Simpson’s in the Strand

Holmes and Watson often needed food between cases, and Simpson’s in the Strand was Holmes’s favorite restaurant.

The restaurant began as a chess club and coffee house. It later attracted figures including Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Winston Churchill. The connection to Conan Doyle makes this more than a fictional dining reference.

If you arrive before lunch service, Richard may be able to show you the interior and the meat-carving trolleys used since 1840. This is one of the route’s more appealing details because it links a literary setting with an actual dining tradition.

The visit is planned for roughly 10 minutes, so do not expect a meal as part of the tour. If the restaurant is serving lunch, access may be limited. That is worth keeping in mind if you hoped to sit down there. The tour offers a look and a story, not a reserved table or included food.

Somerset House and the route to Temple

Somerset House is not a major Holmes location, but it gives the tour a useful break between story stops.

The site began as a Tudor palace belonging to the Duke of Somerset and was later rebuilt as a civic building in 1775. It has also appeared in the film Love Actually. Richard uses the complex as a route toward Temple station, including a 300-year-old staircase.

This portion takes only about five minutes. Its importance is practical as much as historical. You get a change of scene, a striking old building, and a direct route to the next section of the tour.

If your main goal is Sherlock Holmes at every stop, Somerset House may feel like a detour. I see it as a sensible addition because it gives you more of London and avoids treating the experience as a narrow checklist of fictional addresses.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital and the first meeting

St Bartholomew’s Hospital is one of the most important stops on the route. It is London’s oldest hospital and the place where Holmes and Watson first met in A Study in Scarlet.

The story begins with Watson meeting his former colleague Young Stamford in the Criterion Bar. Stamford mentions an eccentric man named Sherlock who needs someone to share the rent on rooms in Baker Street. Watson then visits the laboratory at St Bartholomew’s, where Holmes displays his powers of analysis.

The next day, the partnership is established at 221b Baker Street. That makes St Bartholomew’s more than another setting. It is the starting point of the Holmes and Watson relationship.

You spend around 20 minutes here, the longest exterior stop before Baker Street. Richard also covers the area’s broader past, so the visit is not limited to retelling the opening plot.

The hospital grounds and surrounding streets may be active working areas, so this is not a staged Holmes attraction. You are seeing a real London institution with a fictional connection. That mix is one of the tour’s strongest features.

The Langham and Conan Doyle’s breakthrough

The Langham hotel adds an important chapter to Arthur Conan Doyle’s story.

When the hotel had only recently opened, Doyle and Oscar Wilde were invited to dine with an American publisher in August 1889. The meeting helped launch both authors’ international careers.

For many people, the Holmes stories are the whole point of this tour. I like the Langham stop because it reminds you that Conan Doyle was an author with a career of his own, not merely the name behind one famous character.

The visit lasts about five minutes. You will not spend a long period inside the hotel, and the tour does not include a meal there. The value is in understanding the literary network and professional turning point linked to the building.

Watson’s medical practice on Queen Anne Street

The route then moves to Queen Anne Street, where Dr Watson sets up his medical practice after marrying Mary Morstan and leaving Baker Street.

In the stories, Watson cannot remain a bachelor forever. His marriage changes his domestic life, but it does not end his connection with Holmes. You can picture Holmes arriving at the practice to pull Watson into another case, with Mrs Watson less than thrilled by the interruption.

The stop takes about five minutes and focuses on the exterior of the building. It is a small detail, but it adds depth to Watson. He is not only Holmes’s assistant. He is also a doctor with a home, a marriage, and a professional life.

This stop will mean more to readers who know Watson’s personal story. For newcomers, Richard fills in enough background to make the address understandable without requiring perfect recall.

Conan Doyle’s former practice at Crosbie Care

Crosbie Care is a pilgrimage stop for serious Sherlockians because Arthur Conan Doyle once had his medical practice inside the building.

The exterior remains unchanged from 1891, when Doyle worked there. He reportedly walked for about 20 minutes each morning and later joked that not a single patient darkened his door.

That empty waiting room gave Doyle time to write the stories that became The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. The setting offers a direct link between the author’s medical career and his writing life.

You spend about 10 minutes here. Again, this is an exterior visit, but the building’s unchanged appearance gives the stop unusual force. You are looking at a place where Doyle worked while developing the world of Holmes.

For me, this is one of the most worthwhile stops for anyone who wants to understand Conan Doyle rather than only chase the detective’s fictional footsteps.

Baker Street station and the Holmes statue

Baker Street station is one of the oldest and best-preserved Underground stations in London. Holmes and Watson used the Underground in several stories, so the station provides a neat connection between Victorian fiction and London’s early public transport.

Outside the station, a statue of Sherlock Holmes greets you. The Abbey National Building Society commissioned it during the years when the company occupied 221 Baker Street.

Richard includes the story behind the statue before leading you toward Baker Street. That extra explanation is useful because the statue is easy to treat as a quick photograph. With context, it becomes part of the changing public image of Holmes.

This is a short five-minute stop, and it may be one of the busiest parts of the route because Baker Street is a major transport point. Keep your belongings close and listen for meeting instructions around the station.

Ending at 221b Baker Street

The tour ends at the Sherlock Holmes Museum, set at the famous 221b Baker Street address.

You can finish with the museum, browse Sherlock souvenirs, or simply end the walking portion outside. Museum admission is not included, so budget for that separately if you want to see the rooms presented as Holmes and Watson’s shared home with Mrs Hudson as landlady.

The planned museum visit lasts about 40 minutes, but the actual amount of time you spend there depends on your choice. This makes the ending flexible. You can continue your Holmes theme after Richard leaves, or finish with photographs and shopping.

Do not assume the museum entry is part of the $232.04 tour price. The guide’s service and private format are included, but museum admission is extra.

Price, pace, and practical value

The price is $232.04 per group of up to two people. For a couple, that works out to about $116 per person before Underground fares and museum admission. For two friends, the same group price makes the tour easier to justify than a per-person private rate.

The value rests on the guide rather than included attractions. You are paying for Richard’s time, planning, personal knowledge of Holmes and London, and the ability to shape a private 3 to 4 hour outing.

The pace is deliberately easy. The listed stops range from about five to 20 minutes, with walking and Tube travel between them. This is not a rapid march through ten addresses. The schedule leaves room for explanation and conversation.

Bring an Oyster Card or another London travel card. The route is mainly on foot, but the Underground helps connect the separate locations. Tube fares are not included.

You receive confirmation when booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not refunded. Children must be accompanied by an adult, service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

Who should book this private Holmes tour?

I would choose this for a Sherlock Holmes fan who wants context, not just photographs. It is also a good pick for a couple seeking a private London activity with a clear theme and a guide who can adjust the conversation to their interests.

It works for first-time Holmes readers because the route introduces the main characters and key events. Dedicated fans will get more from stops such as Crosbie Care, Queen Anne Street, and the Langham.

The tour also suits anyone interested in Arthur Conan Doyle. The author’s medical practice, professional network, and connection with Oscar Wilde give the experience a second subject.

I would think twice if you want a fully indoor attraction, a meal, or a tour with all admission and transport costs included. Several stops are brief and outdoors, and the museum is optional and extra.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you like literary London, prefer private guiding, and want Sherlock Holmes tied to real places rather than presented as a single Baker Street attraction. Richard’s flexible style and museum experience are strong reasons to choose it.

Skip it if you want a low-cost group walk or only need a quick photo at 221b Baker Street. For two people who value stories, personal attention, and a slower route through central London, the group price can be fair. Bring a travel card, leave room in the budget for the museum, and treat the fictional details as the starting point for seeing the real city.

FAQ

How long does the Sherlock Holmes and Arthur Conan Doyle tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers a private group of up to two people. Only your group participates.

Where does the tour begin?

The meeting point is Embankment station on Embankment Place, London WC2N 6NS.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Baker Street, near the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Is the Sherlock Holmes Museum included?

No. The tour ends at the museum, but admission is not included. You can choose to enter, shop for souvenirs, or finish outside.

Do I need an Oyster Card or travel card?

Yes. The experience is mainly a walking tour, but an Oyster Card or travel card is required for the London Underground sections.

Who guides the tour?

Richard leads the tour. He is a dedicated Sherlockian and previously worked at the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children can participate, but they must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted or refunded.