Fun museum with a lot of stairs and very helpful staff
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: September 2019
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Good
The Sherlock Holmes Museum is at 221b Baker Street, located in a Georgian town house dating from 1815. It is more like visiting Sherlock's home rather than a traditional museum, although there are objects and paraphernalia from the stories.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
The museum is spread over several floors. On the ground floor is the large shop, selling a wide variety of gifts and books. There is a single step into the shop, see photo. This is where you need to go when you arrive to buy your tickets, before joining the queue. There are a lot of stairs with a single handrail. See photo.The stairs are quite steep but there is a half landing between each floor and on each floor you can stop and rest before you continue up the stairs. The stairs are quite narrow so people tend to wait rather than overtake you on the stairs. On the first floor is Holmes and Watson's study/ living room. Like the rest of the house it is decorated in Victorian furnishings. There is a sofa which you can sit on, this is the only seating as you make your way round the museum. In the front room a member of staff in Victorian costume welcomes you and tells you a bit about the museum. In the back roomis Holmes' bedroom. There are more stairs to the second floor. Here you will find Mrs Hudson's room in the front and Dr Watson's bedroom at the rear. The front room is more like a traditional museum with glass display cabinets. Further stairs take you to the third floor. Here there are two rooms with waxwork models with scenes and characters from the stories. There is also a very short flight of stairs with no rail to a toilet for exhibition purposes only. I didn't feel comfortable about using these stairs. See photo. To exit the museum you retrace your steps down the stairs.
Parking & Transport
Excellent
The nearest tube stations are Baker Street and Marylebone, neither of which offer step free access. However, there are several buses that stop nearby. I would suggest travelling to King's Cross, Victoria or Paddington and then taking a bus to the museum.
Accessible Toilets
0There are no toilets at all in the museum for public use.
Staff
Excellent
Staff were very friendly and welcoming. When I went into the shop they made me aware that there is a lot of stairs and they told the person taking the tickets at the door to let us in without queue, which was very appriciated. In the museum there were staff by the stairs and they were encouraging for me to take my time, rest and sit on the sofa on the first floor.
Additional Information
The layout of the museum will mean that the museum is not suitable for wheelchair users. However, if you can manage the stairs, it is worth making the effort as it is a lot of fun. Holmes' fans will love the museum and will get all the in- jokes but you don't have to be a big fan or very knowledgeable as you can just enjoy it as a nice Victorian town house too.
