London: Sherlock Holmes Walking Tour with Filming Sites

Summary

Walk London’s streets with Sherlock Holmes stories & film trivia

You’ll trace Sherlock Holmes’ adventures across London with a film-expert guide—see Piccadilly Circus, peek inside stories at the Royal Academy of Arts, and end at Somerset House overlooking the Thames. Expect trivia, laughter, and little moments where fiction and real life blur together. It’s more than just a walk—it feels like stepping into the story yourself.

What’s the experience like?

Someone waves a rolled-up umbrella at Piccadilly Circus—turns out that’s our guide, Mark, who’s got the kind of voice that cuts through city noise without shouting. He starts off with a quick “Ready to chase Holmes?” and we’re off into the tangle of central London. The air smells like coffee and rain on stone. I didn’t expect to laugh so much, but Mark’s got this way of mixing facts about Sherlock Holmes with little bits of gossip about the actors (apparently Robert Downey Jr. once tried to order tea in full costume at a nearby hotel—nobody blinked).

We stop outside the Royal Academy of Arts, which looks nothing like any crime scene I’ve ever seen—too grand for murder, honestly—but Mark points out how it doubled as a film location. He’s got photos from different adaptations tucked in his folder, flipping them open so we can match up the real thing with the movie version. There’s something weirdly satisfying about standing where Dr. Watson “first met” Holmes in one of those old films, even if it’s all fiction. The city feels different when you’re looking for clues.

The highlight for me was Somerset House at the end—the river glinting behind us and Mark telling us about Lord Blackwood (the villain from the 2009 movie) supposedly being held here. The building’s all columns and echoes; I half-expected someone to sweep past in a cape. We lingered by the Thames after everyone else wandered off, just letting London settle back into itself. I still think about that view sometimes, honestly.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Sherlock Holmes walking tour in London

• Meet guide at Piccadilly Circus
• Hear about Sherlock Holmes stories
• See where Holmes met Dr Watson
• Visit Royal Academy building
• Stroll pubs and grand hotels
• Stop for photos at Diogenes Club
• See filming locations linked to Holmes
• End tour at Somerset House

Top questions

How long is the Sherlock Holmes walking tour in London?

The tour lasts approximately 2 hours from start to finish.

Where does the Sherlock Holmes tour start?

The tour begins at Piccadilly Circus in central London.

Does the tour include filming locations from Sherlock Holmes movies?

Yes, you’ll visit sites used in films like Guy Ritchie’s 2009 ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and others.

Is there a local guide leading the tour?

Yes, a professional guide with film expertise leads each group.

Where does the tour end?

The walking tour finishes at Somerset House by the River Thames.

Is this Sherlock Holmes walking tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces on this tour are wheelchair accessible.

Are children or infants allowed on this tour?

Infants and small children can join in a pram or stroller.

Will we visit actual pubs or hotels mentioned in Sherlock Holmes stories?

You’ll stroll past several pubs and grand hotels referenced in books and films.

What’s included

Your morning includes a two-hour walk through central London with a professional film-expert guide who brings stories to life—from Piccadilly Circus to Somerset House—plus plenty of stops for photos and trivia along famous Sherlock Holmes filming locations before finishing by the Thames.