virtual tour sherlock holmes museum

The Sherlock Holmes Museum - Virtual Tour

Posted by Steve Emecz on March 29, 2020

With all the museums and art galleries closed due to COVID-19, we tracked down a virtual tour of The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street.

It's one of the locations featured in Alistair Duncan's wonderful tour of London through the eyes of Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - ' Close To Holmes '. 

We also have a virtual tour of The Art of Sherlock Holmes .

...and please remember every book bought on this site we will plant a tree as part of our #bookstotrees campaign.

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StarTribune

New interactive exhibit brings sherlock holmes home to minnesota.

Tucked in a labyrinth-like storage area beneath the University of Minnesota's Andersen Library is the world's largest collection of Sherlock Holmes items — more than 60,000 pieces of Holmes history, from original manuscripts to rare Sherlockian memorabilia.

Some of these artifacts have spent the past decade on tour as part of "Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition," an international exhibit that was designed and developed in St. Paul. Despite its local roots, the exhibit has never been on view in Minnesota — until now.

Until April 2, the interactive exhibit at the Minnesota History Center allows visitors to step into the shoes of Holmes and Watson, learn about forensic science, deduction and the investigative process, all while trying to solve a case of their own.

The exhibit was the brainchild of designer, curator and content developer Geoffrey M. Curley, who was then at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Curley wanted to find a way to engage the public in history and science. But how?

The solution turned out to be elementary.

"We started looking at different characters in literature and film that may align with the very basic principles of science," Curley said. "Holmes aligns 100% with contemporary science, really the foundation of it, which is the scientific method through observation."

Curley's company, Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates, partnered with the St. Paul-based Exhibits Development Group to create the exhibit, which premiered in 2013 at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and has been touring ever since.

From London to St. Paul

Dimly lit and lined with fabricated cobblestone walls, the exhibit evokes the shadowy streets of Victorian-era London — and a carefully designed crime scene. There's been a murder, and it'll take some Sherlock-style sleuthing to solve the case.

But first, there's a history lesson on the mastermind behind the iconic detective. The initial gallery offers an introduction to renowned doctor-turned-writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who authored the four novels and 56 short stories that make up the Holmes canon.

"This first gallery gives an understanding of where Doyle's head was at," Curley said. "What could empower him to write such an impactful character that utilizes the science, history and logical thinking that no other author really had at that time?"

The display includes one-of-a-kind artifacts from the University of Minnesota, including pages from Doyle's original manuscript of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" and an early publication of "Beeton's Christmas Annual," an 1887 magazine in which the very first Holmes story was published.

Tim Johnson, the university's E.W. McDiarmid Curator of the Sherlock Holmes Collections (plural, Johnson pointed out, because it's technically a "collection of collections"), explained that in 1974, the Andersen library acquired a few first editions from James C. Iraldi, a collector and member of the longstanding organization of Holmes enthusiasts known as the Baker Street Irregulars.

But it was an important donation in 1978 that put the university's collections on the map.

Dr. Philip Hench, a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist and Nobel Prize winner, amassed a valuable collection of rare Holmes items throughout his lifetime, including the original works featured in the exhibition. Following Hench's death in 1965, his widow donated the collection to the university.

"When that arrived here, it was like the Sherlockian world sat up and took notice, and wondered 'OK, what's going on at the University of Minnesota?'" Johnson said.

The collections attracted other donors and continued to grow.

Cracking the case

After learning about Doyle's legacy and the scientific innovations of the time, visitors are invited to put on their detective caps and embark on a crime-solving adventure. Through a series of interactive displays, they can use Holmes' methods and modern forensic science to analyze evidence and crack the case.

To make sure the forensic science was up to date, the exhibition partnered with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

"What we wanted to do is promote and provide information about the actual techniques of modern-day science," said BCA forensic science supervisor Myha Le. "If you go to each of these demonstrations, there's multiple facets of what we actually do."

The exhibit's final gallery explores Holmes as one of history's most beloved and enduring characters. Posters, board games, illustrations and other Holmes-themed knick-knacks line the walls, showcasing the detective's prevalence in pop culture throughout the decades.

But his legacy extends beyond the world of fiction, Curley explained.

"The tools that Sherlock uses really are those that help us understand the world around us," he said. "In a time when we need to question what's true and what's not, utilizing these scientific tools to help us evaluate what's true and what's opinion is essential."

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Sherlock Holmes Museum

Opening hours.

Winter November - April Saturday and Sunday 13:30 - 17:00 Summer May till October daily 13:30 - 18:00

Sherlock Holmes Museum Conon Doyle Square 3860 Meiringen Phone  +41 (0)33 972 60 08 sherlockholmes.ch

Sherlock Holmes - The myth lives on. This is proven by the innumerable traces of Holmes in Meiringen. The Sherlock Holmes Museum is one of the highlights, besides the bronze statue and the roaring Reichenbach Falls with the fateful battle site.

The museum opened in 1991 on the 100th death anniversary of Sherlock Holmes in the basement of the old English church in the center of the village of Meiringen. Holmes fans will find numerous objects here related to the history of their favorite detective. In addition, the parlor of the Victorian home located at Baker Street 221b in London, where Holmes lived with his assistant Dr. Watson, is authentically recreated.

Free entry to museums

General information

Group & pricing information, booking information, discover the surroundings.

Sherlock Holmes Museum Conon Doyle Square 3860  Meiringen Switzerland

Phone  +41 (0)33 972 60 08 [email protected] sherlockholmes.ch Show Route

Sherlock Holmes Museum Conon Doyle Square 3860 Meiringen Phone  +41 (0)33 972 60 08 sherlockholmes.ch Show Route

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The adventures of sherlock holmes, a brief history.

Without question one of the most recognized and beloved characters ever created is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. As Doyle scholar Vincent Starett noted, "(Holmes is) a symbol as familiar as the Tower of London, a name that has become a permanent part of the English language. A larger literature has grown around him than around any other character except Hamlet."

It is no surprise then that a fair number of people to this day believe that Holmes is not a fictional character at all, but a once living and breathing thinker of the first order, quick to assist clients ranging from a scandal-prone European aristocracy to Scotland Yard's often baffled detectives. And let us not forget the many and varied commoners from all walks of English life who found their most perplexing puzzles swiftly pieced together by Holmes, and who today give us a wonderful peek into Edwardian England.

As great as his popularity might be, and as long-lasting as his legend has proven, Holmes is a fictional construct. It is known through Doyle's own comments that Holmes is based on Dr. Joseph Bell, whose reputation at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, Scotland was legendary. Dr. Bell amazed medical students, including a young Doyle in 1876, with his "miraculous" diagnostic abilities, often deducing a patient's ailment "as soon as they walked through the door, sometimes before they had opened their mouths... He would tell them their symptoms and even give them details of their past life, and very seldom was he in error." Sound like someone we know?

Sherlock Holmes in Print

The Strand published the Holmes adventures throughout 1891, 1892 and 1893, making Doyle the most popular writer of short stories in England, but the work was all-consuming, and he soon grew tired of the character. He wanted to branch out from the detective genre to write historical novels (The White Company) and even science fiction (The Lost World), and so in the twenty-sixth Holmes story penned by Doyle, The Final Problem , the author did the unthinkable: He KILLED Sherlock Holmes.

Hound was followed in 1903 by the next series of adventures, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, then came The Adventure of the Empty House, and next was His Last Bow (another vain attempt at ending his character's career). Finally in 1927, Doyle concluded the Holmes canon, forty years after he began it, with The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes.

A short three years later, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, aged seventy one and in ill health, died... but Sherlock Holmes? Ah, how well he would live on!

Sherlock Holmes on Stage, Screen and Airwaves

Sherlock Holmes transitioned from the pages of Doyle's books to virtually every artistic genre except perhaps interpretive dance (tho I have found reference to a ballet, so perhaps this is untrue)! The first major actor to appear as Holmes was William Gillette who appeared on stage in over 1,200 performances from the turn of the 20th Century to the 1930s.

Holmes' stories have been a recurring part of radio programming since 1930, with Yankees beating the BBC in tackling this decidedly British icon. Over 600 Holmes-related broadcasts have been cataloged, but no one knows the full number, especially as this partial count does not even consider foreign language productions!

Numerous Holmes spoofs exist, including films by Buster Keaton, Abbott and Costello, Gene Wilder, as well as some interesting pairings such as George C. Scott and Joanne Woodward teaming up as the crime-solving duo. Something we would love to see (or even just hear) is the 1949 NBC Texaco Star Theatre television send-up with Milton Berle, Victor Moore and a surprise appearance by Basil Rathbone himself. My personal favorite Holmes send- up is Peeper Radio Theater's 30 Second Holmes , an outrageously amusing condensing of the cases; short, indeed, yet still mostly recognizable (they don't always make the deadline however... listen for the bell).

The first television series was produced by the BBC and broadcast in June of 1951; as expected, the BBC has produced the bulk of the English language films and series for television, and as noted above, admirably still produces Holmes for radio. One of the finest of the TV series starred Douglas Wilmer and Nigel Stock in 13 shows from 1964 to 1965. Peter Cushing took over for Wilmer when the series continued with 16 shows in 1968 and 1969. Next to Rathbone -- and until Jeremy Brett -- Cushing is probably the most recognized person portraying Holmes. This fact makes it very interesting to note that Cushing was less than pleased with his performance, citing the mental and physical tolls resulting from the demands of quick TV production schedules. Not so displeased that he could refuse to reprise the role for UK Channel 4 in 1984; The Masks of Death shows Cushing portraying Holmes in later life

Back in the US, Rathbone reprised his most famous role in 1953 for a live 30 minute broadcast, The Adventures of the Black Baronet. This was shown as part of the CBS television series Suspense (also a popular radio series), and intended as a pilot for a future series, but no network chose to produce further scripts. The first and only American television series, The New Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, broadcast in 1954, consisted of 39 half hour original stories produced by NBC.

The most recent Holmes production to air on US television is the 2004 BBC produced The Case of the Silk Stocking , appearing on PBS Masterpiece Theater in 2005 and several reprises thereafter. This is a non-canon pastiche story following Holmes' pursuit of a serial killer with a foot fetish, not a typical Holmes-type plot line, but the foggy London atmospherics are captured perfectly. Performances by Rupert Everett (Holmes) and Ian Hart (Watson) are both quite enjoyable and unique, although by overtly focusing on Holmes' opiate addiction, Everett's particularly languid interpertation will undoubtedly leave some traditional Sherlockians miffed (but then, when you think about it, they are easily miffed anyway).

Holmes' stories have been adapted for children as well, including the Steven Spielberg produced "Young Sherlock Holmes", a film which examined the deductive brilliance of the detective's early years. A recent animated television series features a female Inspector Lestrade of New Scotland Yard bringing a cryogenically preserved Sherlock Holmes back to life to help solve crime in the 22nd Century assisted by a robotic Watson (perhaps Wattson?).

Without question the most famous, or at least the best regarded Holmes to appear on television was that portrayed by Jeremy Brett, who starred with David Burke (then later with Edward Hardwicke). Granada TV in Britain produced nearly the entire canon with Brett in the lead role over three installments from 1984 to 1994 before the actor's untimely death. This series was first broadcast in the US by PBS and then later rebroadcast on A&E. Not limited to television, Brett portrayed the great detective in a long stage run (1988-89) in The Secrets of Sherlock Holmes, again with Edward Hardwicke as Dr. Watson. It is very unfortunate that this play was never filmed.

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About the One Act Adaptations

The Speckled Band ... A Scandal in Bohemia ... and The Final Adventure ... our series was selected to encompass three very distinct types of Holmes cases: A thrilling adventure... a light-hearted brain teaser with a twist... and a shocking tragedy. What more could a group of actors ask for!

We hope that you enjoy our productions, and as always, The One Act Players say thanks for tuning in.

Glenn Carlson ./.

One Act production info

More Excellent Sherlock Holmes Resources

• Sherlockian.net
• Wikipedia Holmes
• Gaslight on the Web
• 221B Baker Street
• IMDb Sherlock Holmes
• The Sherlock Holmes Museum of Baker Street
• Archive.org: Sherlock Holmes movies in the public domain

The Players extend our gratitude to The Sherlock Holmes Society for their extensive historical database.

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The Sherlock Holmes Society of London

A literary and social society for study of the life and work of sherlock holmes and dr watson ..

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Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes – a virtual tour

October 25, 2020 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

‘The Game’s Afoot!’ Follow the fascinating adventures of Holmes and Watson (and Conan Doyle) around London’s West End in this Virtual Tour led by our distinguished member Richard Burnip.

The footsteps of sherlock holmes and dr watson still echo loud and clear amid the glorious buildings, fascinating alleyways and evocative gas lamps of the strand and covent garden. among the highlights are two theatres where holmes got the better of professor moriarty, and a third where he went with watson to celebrate the end of two thrilling cases. we track down dr mortimer’s old hospital from the hound of the baskervilles (holmes was later taken there for emergency treatment), a street where mycroft holmes displayed uncharacteristic energy to help watson, holmes’s favourite restaurant, and the scene (barely changed) of a famous rendezvous with mary morstan in the sign of four . we pick up the trail of william gillette, the first great actor to play holmes, and see the unobtrusive office building where the fate of irene adler was decided (and the start of her journey when she left england ‘never to return’). plus turning our magnifying glasses on a location used in both the bbc’s sherlock and cbs’s elementary , and a railway station where our heroes set off on two of their most baffling cases. not forgetting several clues about arthur conan doyle himself: we visit a street where he stayed whilst working on some of the original stories, the offices of the strand magazine where holmes became famous, and even a theatre where holmes once came to the rescue of his creator— intriguing, book online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/footsteps-of-sherlock-holmes-a-virtual-tour-tickets-121602752105aff=erellivmlt&keep_tld=1 when you book you will receive a zoom link the day before the event., guided by actor, audiobook narrator and member of the sherlock holmes society of london, richard burnip ..

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“Watson: The Final Problem” – Edinburgh to New York!

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Minnesota History Center to Host “Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition”

Examine history through the lens of the world-famous detective and renowned author

(St Paul, MN) —   Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition  opens Oct. 20, at the Minnesota History Center offering an interactive experience combining science with history and culture to bring to life the historic underpinnings of author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s rich and vibrant stories.

WHERE/WHEN: Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W. in St. Paul. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Admission Admission to  Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition  is included with regular History Center admission of $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and college students, $6 ages 5 to 17; free age 4 and under and MNHS members. Auxiliary aids and services are available with advance notice. For more information, visit  www.minnesotahistorycenter.org , call 651-259-3000 or 1-800-657-3773.

BACKGROUND:  Visitors will learn how Sherlock Holmes, a fictitious scientific expert ahead of his time, used seemingly trivial observations of clues others missed to solve some of his era’s most puzzling mysteries – not unlike the work of a historian. His practices and techniques, created in the mind of doctor-turned-author Conan Doyle, encouraged a change in the way police work was conducted, and remain in practice today. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension contributed to the making of this renowned exhibition alongside St. Paul-based Exhibits Design Group, LLC.

Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition  Holmes features original manuscripts and period artifacts, investigative tools influenced and used by Sherlock Holmes, and interactive crime-solving opportunities. Some of these artifacts are on loan from the University of Minnesota which is home to the largest collection of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle items in the world.

Visitors will be transported into Sherlock Holmes’ London to solve a crime in a world just receiving its introduction to his ground-breaking methods. Then, visitors will then return to the present day – finding themselves in a showcase of Sherlock Holmes in all his manifestations from books and movies to today’s contemporary forensic science.

Exhibit and Program Support:  The exhibition is brought to the Minnesota History Center by the Minnesota Historical Society as the result of a unique arts partnership between Exhibits Development Group (EDG);  Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates; Conan Doyle Estate Ltd.; and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. Sherlock Holmes: The Exhibition is also funded in part by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008, through appropriations made by their legislature and Governor.

About Exhibits Development Group (EDG) EDG is dedicated to the development, production, marketing, and distribution of traveling museum exhibitions and cultural projects. EDG also serves as a partner to other exhibition organizers, museums, foundations, and collection owners in the U.S. and abroad, in the care and stewardship of their exhibitions and collections. EDG’s mission is to initiate and promote international cultural and intellectual exchange by bringing high-quality traveling exhibitions of art, science, and history to broad and diverse audiences. For more information, please visit  www.exhibitsdevelopment.com

About Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates, LLC (GMCA) GMCA is an innovative consulting company dedicated to supporting the development and execution of new and vibrant educational, hands-on, minds-on experiences for museums.  GMCA’s goal is to integrate new, cutting-edge technologies, environmental design and emotional storytelling with tantalizing visual, audio and tactile experiences making exhibitions personal, artistic, fun, educational, and memorable. For more information, please visit  www.gmcurley.com

About Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. is sole owner of the Sherlock Holmes and other Conan Doyle rights in the United States of America. Owned by members of the Conan Doyle family, and successor to the Estate of Dame Jean Conan Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s daughter who died in 1997), it manages the copyrights and trademarks in Sir Arthur’s works and characters.  For more information, please visit  www.conandoyleestate.co.uk

About Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Founded in 1944, the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) is one of the nation’s leading science museums, a world-class tourist attraction, and an award-winning educational resource for the kid in each of us. OMSI is located at 1945 SE Water Avenue, Portland, OR 97214. For general information, call 503.797.4000 or visit  www.omsi.edu .

About Museum of London Museum of London tells the story of the world’s greatest city and its people.  It cares for more than two million objects in its collections and attracts over 600,000 visitors per year. It also holds the largest archaeological archive in the world.  The Museum’s collections of photographs, paintings and objects relating to 19th century London are particularly rich, supporting a deep understanding of the city during this extraordinary period in its history.  They are cared for by a team led by Alex Werner, the Museum’s Head of History Collections and an expert on 19th century London history and on Sherlock Holmes.  More information is available from  www.museumoflondon.org.uk

About the Minnesota Historical Society The Minnesota Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. MNHS collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, MNHS preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. Visit us at  www.mnhs.org

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Moscow Metro

The Moscow Metro Tour is included in most guided tours’ itineraries. Opened in 1935, under Stalin’s regime, the metro was not only meant to solve transport problems, but also was hailed as “a people’s palace”. Every station you will see during your Moscow metro tour looks like a palace room. There are bright paintings, mosaics, stained glass, bronze statues… Our Moscow metro tour includes the most impressive stations best architects and designers worked at - Ploshchad Revolutsii, Mayakovskaya, Komsomolskaya, Kievskaya, Novoslobodskaya and some others.

What is the kremlin in russia?

The guide will not only help you navigate the metro, but will also provide you with fascinating background tales for the images you see and a history of each station.

And there some stories to be told during the Moscow metro tour! The deepest station - Park Pobedy - is 84 metres under the ground with the world longest escalator of 140 meters. Parts of the so-called Metro-2, a secret strategic system of underground tunnels, was used for its construction.

During the Second World War the metro itself became a strategic asset: it was turned into the city's biggest bomb-shelter and one of the stations even became a library. 217 children were born here in 1941-1942! The metro is the most effective means of transport in the capital.

There are almost 200 stations 196 at the moment and trains run every 90 seconds! The guide of your Moscow metro tour can explain to you how to buy tickets and find your way if you plan to get around by yourself.

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The Moscow Metro Museum of Art: 10 Must-See Stations

There are few times one can claim having been on the subway all afternoon and loving it, but the Moscow Metro provides just that opportunity.  While many cities boast famous public transport systems—New York’s subway, London’s underground, San Salvador’s chicken buses—few warrant hours of exploration.  Moscow is different: Take one ride on the Metro, and you’ll find out that this network of railways can be so much more than point A to B drudgery.

The Metro began operating in 1935 with just thirteen stations, covering less than seven miles, but it has since grown into the world’s third busiest transit system ( Tokyo is first ), spanning about 200 miles and offering over 180 stops along the way.  The construction of the Metro began under Joseph Stalin’s command, and being one of the USSR’s most ambitious building projects, the iron-fisted leader instructed designers to create a place full of svet (radiance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future), a palace for the people and a tribute to the Mother nation.

Consequently, the Metro is among the most memorable attractions in Moscow.  The stations provide a unique collection of public art, comparable to anything the city’s galleries have to offer and providing a sense of the Soviet era, which is absent from the State National History Museum.  Even better, touring the Metro delivers palpable, experiential moments, which many of us don’t get standing in front of painting or a case of coins.

Though tours are available , discovering the Moscow Metro on your own provides a much more comprehensive, truer experience, something much less sterile than following a guide.  What better place is there to see the “real” Moscow than on mass transit: A few hours will expose you to characters and caricatures you’ll be hard-pressed to find dining near the Bolshoi Theater.  You become part of the attraction, hear it in the screech of the train, feel it as hurried commuters brush by: The Metro sucks you beneath the city and churns you into the mix.

With the recommendations of our born-and-bred Muscovite students, my wife Emma and I have just taken a self-guided tour of what some locals consider the top ten stations of the Moscow Metro. What most satisfied me about our Metro tour was the sense of adventure .  I loved following our route on the maps of the wagon walls as we circled the city, plotting out the course to the subsequent stops; having the weird sensation of being underground for nearly four hours; and discovering the next cavern of treasures, playing Indiana Jones for the afternoon, piecing together fragments of Russia’s mysterious history.  It’s the ultimate interactive museum.

Top Ten Stations (In order of appearance)

Kievskaya station.

Kievskaya Station went public in March of 1937, the rails between it and Park Kultury Station being the first to cross the Moscow River.  Kievskaya is full of mosaics depicting aristocratic scenes of Russian life, with great cameo appearances by Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin.  Each work has a Cyrillic title/explanation etched in the marble beneath it; however, if your Russian is rusty, you can just appreciate seeing familiar revolutionary dates like 1905 ( the Russian Revolution ) and 1917 ( the October Revolution ).

Mayakovskaya Station

Mayakovskaya Station ranks in my top three most notable Metro stations. Mayakovskaya just feels right, done Art Deco but no sense of gaudiness or pretention.  The arches are adorned with rounded chrome piping and create feeling of being in a jukebox, but the roof’s expansive mosaics of the sky are the real showstopper.  Subjects cleverly range from looking up at a high jumper, workers atop a building, spires of Orthodox cathedrals, to nimble aircraft humming by, a fleet of prop planes spelling out CCCP in the bluest of skies.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Novoslobodskaya is the Metro’s unique stained glass station.  Each column has its own distinctive panels of colorful glass, most of them with a floral theme, some of them capturing the odd sailor, musician, artist, gardener, or stenographer in action.  The glass is framed in Art Deco metalwork, and there is the lovely aspect of discovering panels in the less frequented haunches of the hall (on the trackside, between the incoming staircases).  Novosblod is, I’ve been told, the favorite amongst out-of-town visitors.

Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya Station is one of palatial grandeur.  It seems both magnificent and obligatory, like the presidential palace of a colonial city.  The yellow ceiling has leafy, white concrete garland and a series of golden military mosaics accenting the tile mosaics of glorified Russian life.  Switching lines here, the hallway has an Alice-in-Wonderland feel, impossibly long with decorative tile walls, culminating in a very old station left in a remarkable state of disrepair, offering a really tangible glimpse behind the palace walls.

Dostoevskaya Station

Dostoevskaya is a tribute to the late, great hero of Russian literature .  The station at first glance seems bare and unimpressive, a stark marble platform without a whiff of reassembled chips of tile.  However, two columns have eerie stone inlay collages of scenes from Dostoevsky’s work, including The Idiot , The Brothers Karamazov , and Crime and Punishment.   Then, standing at the center of the platform, the marble creates a kaleidoscope of reflections.  At the entrance, there is a large, inlay portrait of the author.

Chkalovskaya Station

Chkalovskaya does space Art Deco style (yet again).  Chrome borders all.  Passageways with curvy overhangs create the illusion of walking through the belly of a chic, new-age spacecraft.  There are two (kos)mosaics, one at each end, with planetary subjects.  Transferring here brings you above ground, where some rather elaborate metalwork is on display.  By name similarity only, I’d expected Komsolskaya Station to deliver some kosmonaut décor; instead, it was Chkalovskaya that took us up to the space station.

Elektrozavodskaya Station

Elektrozavodskaya is full of marble reliefs of workers, men and women, laboring through the different stages of industry.  The superhuman figures are round with muscles, Hollywood fit, and seemingly undeterred by each Herculean task they respectively perform.  The station is chocked with brass, from hammer and sickle light fixtures to beautiful, angular framework up the innards of the columns.  The station’s art pieces are less clever or extravagant than others, but identifying the different stages of industry is entertaining.

Baumanskaya Statio

Baumanskaya Station is the only stop that wasn’t suggested by the students.  Pulling in, the network of statues was just too enticing: Out of half-circle depressions in the platform’s columns, the USSR’s proud and powerful labor force again flaunts its success.  Pilots, blacksmiths, politicians, and artists have all congregated, posing amongst more Art Deco framing.  At the far end, a massive Soviet flag dons the face of Lenin and banners for ’05, ’17, and ‘45.  Standing in front of the flag, you can play with the echoing roof.

Ploshchad Revolutsii Station

Novokuznetskaya Station

Novokuznetskaya Station finishes off this tour, more or less, where it started: beautiful mosaics.  This station recalls the skyward-facing pieces from Mayakovskaya (Station #2), only with a little larger pictures in a more cramped, very trafficked area.  Due to a line of street lamps in the center of the platform, it has the atmosphere of a bustling market.  The more inventive sky scenes include a man on a ladder, women picking fruit, and a tank-dozer being craned in.  The station’s also has a handsome black-and-white stone mural.

Here is a map and a brief description of our route:

Start at (1)Kievskaya on the “ring line” (look for the squares at the bottom of the platform signs to help you navigate—the ring line is #5, brown line) and go north to Belorusskaya, make a quick switch to the Dark Green/#2 line, and go south one stop to (2)Mayakovskaya.  Backtrack to the ring line—Brown/#5—and continue north, getting off at (3)Novosblodskaya and (4)Komsolskaya.  At Komsolskaya Station, transfer to the Red/#1 line, go south for two stops to Chistye Prudy, and get on the Light Green/#10 line going north.  Take a look at (5)Dostoevskaya Station on the northern segment of Light Green/#10 line then change directions and head south to (6)Chkalovskaya, which offers a transfer to the Dark Blue/#3 line, going west, away from the city center.  Have a look (7)Elektroskaya Station before backtracking into the center of Moscow, stopping off at (8)Baumskaya, getting off the Dark Blue/#3 line at (9)Ploschad Revolyutsii.  Change to the Dark Green/#2 line and go south one stop to see (10)Novokuznetskaya Station.

Check out our new Moscow Indie Travel Guide , book a flight to Moscow and read 10 Bars with Views Worth Blowing the Budget For

Jonathon Engels, formerly a patron saint of misadventure, has been stumbling his way across cultural borders since 2005 and is currently volunteering in the mountains outside of Antigua, Guatemala.  For more of his work, visit his website and blog .

Photo credits:   SergeyRod , all others courtesy of the author and may not be used without permission

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Access information

We are a small, welcoming Museum staffed by people as passionate about Sherlock Holmes as you are. We will be delighted to welcome you to the Museum and wish you a fascinating  and enjoyable visit.

Our friendly front of house and security staff are easily identifiable by their period costume or museum uniform, and are happy to help with any questions or problems during your visit.

The Museum can become very busy at times. Due to the small size of the rooms at 221B and our desire to give you an authentic, immersive experience we let just 15 visitors into the house at one time. We politely request you remain patient and respectful to our staff and visitors – exercising the restraint of Sherlock Holmes himself!

For larger groups wishing to visit, please check our Group visits page for information.

Admission charges: Adult: £16, Child (under 16 years): £11, Child (under 6 years) : free., Concessions (Students, Seniors and Disabled) : £14.00

You can either purchase your ticket online or in our shop on the day of your visit. Subject to availability.

Opening times

Monday – Sunday 9:30 am – 6 pm (last admission 5:30 pm)

Closed 25th of December. Other summer and Christmas opening hours may vary, and will be publicised on this website.

An average visit takes 30-45 minutes. After a short introduction your tour is self-guided so you’re welcome to stay for as long as you like, within our opening hours.

Disabled access

We regret that, due to the age and listed nature of the Museum building, we have been unable to make provision for disabled access to the upper floors. If you require any assistance in accessing parts of our building please do contact us ahead of your visit or ask one of our staff on site. Mobility aids are welcome where access allows.

Guide or assistance dogs are also welcome; please speak to a member of staff when you arrive or contact [email protected] with any questions.

A bite to eat

While we don’t have a café on site (even Mrs Hudson couldn’t stretch to that), there is an extensive choice of restaurants and cafés nearby. We do politely request that no food or drink is consumed in the Museum.

Cloakroom/luggage

Due to the heritage and authentic layout of Sherlock’s living quarters, we unfortunately can’t provide a cloakroom or luggage storage. We kindly ask you not to bring large items or suitcases with you on your visit, or to leave items unattended. You cannot take any suitcases or large bags into the museum or shop areas for security reasons . We are keen to protect the genuine Victorian fixtures and fittings of the rooms – and the great detective would soon be on our tail should any damage occur!

Mobility aids are accommodated where possible; and foldable pushchairs may be stored at our discretion.

In the public interest and for the protection and safety of our visitors and property, the Museum operates a secure, closed circuit television system throughout the Museum.

Our security staff have the right to ask you to leave if they judge your behaviour is causing risk, disruption or annoyance to others.

Children under the age of 16 are not allowed to visit the museum alone and must be supervised by at least one adult.

For any further information please contact [email protected] , or download our full Visitor Regulations.

Privacy Overview

Moscow Metro Tour

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Description

Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
• + Amazing deals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the very best cafes & restaurants. Discounts on weekdays (Mon-Fri).
• + A photo session amongst spectacular Moscow scenery that can be treasured for a lifetime.
• + Good value for souvenirs, taxis, and hotels.
• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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