London's literary trail includes the Sherlock Holmes Museum and the Charles Dickens Museum where visitors will find plenty to stir the imagination.
London is renowned for its many fine museums, both large and small. If you’re looking for something small and friendly the Sherlock Holmes Museum and the Charles Dickens Museum will be firm favourites.
Sherlock Holmes Museum
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are so much a part of Victorian London that we tend to forget that they were invented by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is located at 221b Baker Street. The museum displays Holmes’ personal papers. His notebook, violin, chemistry equipment, slippers and disguises are in their usual places together with familiar paraphernalia described in Conan Doyle’s detective stories.
Visitors are positively encouraged to take photographs at this museum. You can sit in the detective’s armchair, wear his deerstalker and hold his pipe while you pose for photographs.
An innovative arrangement of life-size wax models represents scenes from the stories. Just imagine Holmes and Moriarty, his arch enemy, standing in the same room!
Sherlock Holmes aficionado or just a curious visitor? This little museum is bound to stir your imagination and the best thing about it is that visitors can handle almost all of the artefacts as they are transported back to the 19th century.
Charles Dickens Museum
Still on the literary trail, the Charles Dickens Museum at Doughty Street, in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury. Dickens’ only London home to survive was re-opened as a Museum in 1925. It represents the world's most important collection of documents and memorabilia relating to the great Victorian novelist and social commentator.
Dickens and his family occupied this Georgian house from 1837-39 and it was here that he wrote “Barnaby Rudge”, “Nicholas Nickleby” and “Oliver Twist”.
Dickens was a well-known theatrical producer, director and actor and this is reflected by the paintings, rare editions and manuscripts that are on display.
The first floor drawing room has been restored to its appearance in Dickens’ time with many pieces of original furniture. The rest of the house features an fascinating collection of papers and letters. Much of this collection dates from 1824 when his father was imprisoned as a debtor in Marshalsea Prison. Many portraits of Dickens and his family hang on the walls together with illustrations of his novels.
In the basement you’ll find a comprehensive library and research facility with several first editions of Dickens’ best known works.
Whether you’re an amateur sleuth, an experienced detective or simply a lover of fine writing you’re sure to find something of interest at either of these outstanding attractions.
Further information:
Charles Dickens Museum 48 Doughty St, Bloomsbury, WC1N 2LX, Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7405 2127
Sherlock Holmes Museum, 221b Baker Street London NW1 6XE, Telephone: London 00 44 (0)207 935 8866
