London turns criminal, and the clues follow you. This Sherlock Holmes Old London walking tour by Richards Tours, led by Richard (a guide who worked at the Sherlock Holmes Museum), strings famous scenes together with real London settings. I love how the stops feel like an author’s field notes, not a dry list of sights.

I also love the very small group size, capped at 12, because you get answers, not just announcements. One thing to consider, though: if your group is tiny, the pace can be quicker than expected, so you may want extra time if you plan to linger at the museum.

Key moments and why they matter

• A guide with Baker Street museum experience: Richard brings the Doyle world to life with insider context.
• More attention with a max group size of 12: you can ask questions and keep the story threaded.
• You walk through first-meeting ground at St Bartholomew’s Hospital: Watson and Holmes come together in the canon.
• Multiple stops are quick photo moments plus story time: free exterior views that don’t eat your whole afternoon.
• 221B Baker Street is the finish line: optional museum entry lets you choose how deep you go.
• Tube connections use Oyster or travel cards: plan for a bit of underground hopping between locations.

Why this Sherlock Holmes Old London tour feels different

If you love Sherlock Holmes, you probably know the big stuff already. The fun here is how your guide links the big scenes to the exact streets and buildings where Doyle placed his characters.

Richard’s angle is practical storytelling. Instead of treating London like a backdrop, he treats it like a character, with authorship, publishing, and real-life addresses woven into the walk.

And because the group is kept small, the tour can stay nimble. That matters when you’re moving between tight streets and busy intersections.

Meeting at Embankment and getting your bearings fast

You start at Embankment station (Embankment Pl, London WC2N 6NS). That’s a smart launch point because you’re already in a central zone with easy onward connections.

From the start, the tour works like a “slow investigation.” You build a map in your head as you go, so the next stop lands with context instead of confusion.

One practical note: the tour uses the London Underground between locations, so bring an Oyster Card or travel card. The tour includes a mobile ticket, which helps you get started without fumbling paper.

Northumberland Avenue clues, including the Sherlock Holmes Pub

The first big Holmes mood comes when you pause outside the Sherlock Holmes Pub on Northumberland Avenue. Richard frames it with Doyle’s life, including how the pub was once the Northumberland Hotel, tied to Sir Henry Baskerville’s arrival in London.

Right nearby is the Turkish bath location where Holmes and Watson are said to have relaxed around cases. Even if you don’t know every adaptation detail, the guide’s explanation helps you see why these places became part of the Holmes “London geography.”

This section is also a good place to catch your first photos. Look for angles that include street context, not just signage. It’s the street-level detail that makes the clues click.

Scotland Yard, gas lamps, and the Lestrade factor

Next you head toward Metropolitan Police headquarters at Scotland Yard. Richard points out how Lestrade and Hopkins connect to this historic setting, and he adds the “modern cab could look like a Hansom Cab” style of visual imagination.

The building has been restored, with features like huge gas lamps that make it easier to picture the era in your head. You’ll feel the shift from 21st-century London to something closer to Conan Doyle’s timeframe.

This stop is brief, by design. It’s a quick anchor point, then you move on before the story loses momentum.

Simpson’s in the Strand, and yes, Sherlock liked the food

The walk includes Simpson’s in the Strand, a classic English restaurant with a long memory. The guide explains that it’s tied to Holmes, including the idea that it was a favorite spot for Sherlock to take nourishment.

Richard also connects Simpson’s to major writers and cultural figures, noting its history before it became a restaurant. It was originally a chess club and coffee house, and it became linked with people like Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Winston Churchill.

If you arrive before lunch service, you can sometimes peek inside and see meat carving trolleys that have been used since 1840. Even if you can’t see them on your day, the context makes this stop more than a quick lunch sign-off.

Somerset House shortcuts and film-location memories

Not every stop here is a straight Holmes setting, and that’s part of why the tour feels well-paced. Somerset House becomes a walking shortcut, but Richard also makes it fun by tying it to film.

You’ll walk down a 300-year-old staircase, then continue toward Temple area. The guide uses that movement to keep the story flowing across London, not just within one small pocket.

I like this kind of stop because it breaks the “only Sherlock, only plaques” pattern. You get architecture, setting, and a sense of how London routes and real landmarks shape daily life.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital: where Holmes and Watson connect

This is one of the most meaningful moments on the whole walk. Richard takes you to St Bartholomew’s Hospital, described as London’s oldest hospital, and ties it directly to the Holmes origin story.

He explains the connection from A Study in Scarlet, including how Watson first meets Holmes through introductions, with key events linked to the Criterion Bar area. Then the story continues into the idea of Holmes performing analysis and experiments in St Barts and the partnership forming afterward at 221B Baker Street.

Even if you’re a casual fan, this is where the tour gives your brain something solid: the story isn’t just “somewhere in London.” It’s a real medical institution location that becomes the stage for forensic-style thinking.

Expect this stop to feel longer than a normal street-view pause. Richard uses the setting to walk you through what Watson learns and why Holmes operates the way he does.

The Langham, Queen Anne Street practice, and Crosbie Care

From St Bartholomew’s, the tour moves into areas tied to Doyle and to Watson’s world. This is where the walk starts building a satisfying pattern: author life, character life, and the places where both shaped each other.

At The Langham, London, Richard tells the story of how the hotel hosted writers in August 1889, including Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle dining with an American publisher. The point here isn’t just gossip. It helps explain how Doyle’s career moved beyond London and into international attention.

Then you see Queen Anne Street Practice, linked to Watson moving out of 221B and opening his medical practice at 8 Queen Anne Street. Standing outside the building, Richard has you picture Sherlock visiting the doorstep, cane in hand, with Mrs Watson’s patience tested by yet another adventure.

The final Doyle-life anchoring comes at Crosbie Care. Richard frames it as a pilgrimage stop for true Sherlockians, tied to Conan Doyle’s medical practice. He notes that Doyle joked that not a single patient darkened his door, and he points out that the exterior has been unchanged since Conan Doyle’s time (since 1891). Richard also connects the building to Doyle writing The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes between patient visits.

These stops are short, but they land. They make the Holmes world feel less like a TV set and more like a map of real professional routines.

Baker Street Station area: statue first, then 221B

Near the end, you reach Baker Street Station and the surrounding landmarks. Richard brings you to the Sherlock Holmes Statue, commissioned by the Abbey National Building Society that occupied 221 Baker Street for years.

The guide shares a story about why the statue exists and what it signals about how quickly Holmes became a public figure. It’s a good moment to slow down and look around, because you’re literally stepping into the “icon zone” that adaptations rely on.

Then the tour finishes at 221B Baker Street, at the Sherlock Holmes Museum. The museum is not included, but you get about 40 minutes to enter or shop. The museum is set up as Sherlock and Watson’s home with Mrs Hudson as part of the scene.

This ending works well because you can choose your level of fandom. If you want souvenirs and photos, you can keep it light. If you want full immersion, you can spend your time on the displays.

Price, pace, and practical tips for getting real value

The price is $108.32 per person for about 3 to 4 hours. For London, that’s not cheap, but it’s not random either. You’re paying for a guide with deep subject focus, a walking route that hits multiple meaningful addresses, and a small-group format that keeps the tour conversational.

You also get a value advantage from the stop style. Most locations are free to visit from the outside, and the schedule uses quick story pauses so you don’t feel like you’re stuck in line or spending your whole afternoon in indoor ticket queues.

That said, plan around the pace. When the group is very small, you may move faster than the “3 to 4 hours” expectation. I’d treat it as a realistic range, not a promise. If you’re the type who wants extra time at the museum or wants to linger for photos at every corner, build in buffer time before dinner.

A few tips that help:

• Bring comfortable shoes. This is a walking tour, not a sit-and-watch experience.
• Have your Tube card ready. You’ll need Oyster or a travel card for Underground travel between locations.
• If you’re a serious Holmes fan, consider not visiting the biggest sites too early on your own. Richard’s storytelling works best when the setting is still part of the walk, not already “checked off” before you hear the details.

Who should book this Sherlock Holmes Old London tour

This is a strong fit if you:

• Are a Sherlock Holmes fan, especially if you like the books and enjoy how adaptations still circle back to Doyle’s London.
• Want a walking tour that teaches real place-based context, not just trivia.
• Prefer smaller groups with room for questions and follow-ups.

It’s also a good choice if you’re mixing in a London trip. You’ll cover several key zones and finish right at Baker Street, so your next stops can be easy to build around.

If you want a relaxed pace with tons of free time at each location, you might want to plan your day with extra wiggle room. The tour is story-driven, and that can mean less lingering than a self-guided stroll.

Should you book Sherlock Holmes Old London with a very small group?

Yes, if you want your Holmes London time to feel like a guided investigation instead of a checklist. The standout value is Richard’s insider angle from the Sherlock Holmes Museum, plus the small-group attention that keeps the walk moving with purpose.

I would especially recommend it to anyone who plans to visit the museum anyway. Ending at 221B Baker Street is convenient, and the tour sets you up to get more out of the displays once you walk inside.

If your schedule is tight or you like to take long breaks between stops, book it with buffer time. On quieter days, the pace can run quicker, and you’ll want room to slow down where you care most.

FAQ

How long is the Sherlock Holmes Old London walking tour?

It runs for about 3 to 4 hours.

What is the price per person?

The price is $108.32 per person.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Embankment station (Embankment Pl, London WC2N 6NS) and ends at the Sherlock Holmes Museum at 221B Baker Street (London NW1 6XE).

Is the museum ticket included?

No. Admission to the Sherlock Holmes Museum is not included.

Do I need an Oyster card or travel card?

Yes. You need an Oyster Card or travel card to use the London Underground between locations.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What group size should I expect?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is there a mobile ticket?

Yes, the tour provides a mobile ticket.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance of the experience start time.