Drive to popular BBC Sherlock Holmes Shooting Locations
When Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman shot their first episode for the critically acclaimed BBC series, Sherlock Holmes, none knew what a hit the pair would become along with their show. Fans have never related to a Sherlock as much as they do with Benedict Cumberbatch’s version and many feel it largely because of how dances from intense to funny to indifferent moods while battling the entry of a best friend he never thought he would have. The utter tension, the big fall, the testing moments between the duo and fragility of many cases in BBC series have earned it a place in millions of hearts which is why all Sherlock shooting destinations are today flocked by tourists from across the world.
A large section of the series was shot in London for exterior and interior scenes, with few of them being shot in separate cities like Cardiff and Bristol with most of the interiors being filmed in the Cardiff alone. While tourists with the whole itinerary planned ahead, often make sure they at least visit 221b Baker Street, but if you are a true and a hardcore fangirl or fanboy, we have a list of Sherlock shooting locations that you could head too with a rental car at your end. The only prerequisite for this trip is a car and love for the show, but if you want to bring along a hat and a smoke pipe that’s allowed too (wink wink).
London
To be a BBC series Sherlock Holmes, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, fan and to be in London is truly more than a coincidence, its fate so one should see it as. UK is full of locations where the popular BBC series was shot as Sherlock and Watson went around solving crimes and facing the annoying but devilishly-brilliant Moriarty.
Our pipe-smoking handsome Sherlock played by Benedict Cumberbatch along with his best buddy Dr. Watson or Martin Freeman went through different locations in UK to shoot for the 4 seasons with a large number of filming done in London itself. From Sherlock’s home on Baker Street to the hospital they would venture into for lab experiments to street excursions to look for clues, there are so many filming locations that you could visit and reminisce your love for the show.
Here are few of the most popular shooting locations for BBC Sherlock Holmes:
01 North Gower Street
It would be foolish to explain to a Sherlock fan why tour if Sherlock shooting location begins from London. The whole show is London from A to Z, even the non-London locations are used as London. The various intense and typical Sherlocky scenes between Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch were shot at the No 187 North Gower Street, calling at 221B Baker Street.
Sherlock and 221B are the ketchup and fries, the fans know that. The real Baker Street at 237-41 is where you’ll find the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Remember Speedy’s Cafe where John Watson and Sherlock’s brother Mycroft sat and discussed Irene Adler. This too is located at the North Gower Street in Bloomsbury but can only be seen from outside.
02 Bartholomew’s Hospital
The second most important Sherlock filming destination is St Bartholomew’s Hospital or St Bart’s. London’s one of the oldest hospitals that was founded in 1123, St Bart’s was quite prominently filmed. It was also the famous spot where Sherlock and Dr. Watson meet for the very first time. Molly Hoper works at the same hospital and often is seen helping the duo, Sherlock and Watson, in their experiments and crime-solving plans. If you need more introduction, this is where Moriarty goes to the roof for the showdown with our hero Sherlock Holmes. Remember Reichenbach Fall?
03 Carlton Terrace
Carlton Terrace in London was used to film the Diogenes Club scenes. Diogenes Club in Sherlock was the gentleman’s club with a strange rule of silence where Mycroft Holmes, brother of Sherlock Holmes, often spent his time thinking. Even Dr. Watson visited the Diogenes Club once but was asked to leave. The scene where Mycroft is sitting calmly before he receives the message that Sherlock has used security access to get into Bakersville Military Base was shot at this location.
London’s Chinatown to gets a spot on the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes and if you stroll throughout the area, you’ll remember the episode The Blind Banker from Season One. It was the scene where both detective duos Watson and Holmes are searching for The Lucky Cat, an oriental curio shop. Chinatown has been part of many known TV and Film shows and any hard cord Sherlock fan would remember the episode shot here.
04 Landmark London Hotel
Landmark London Hotel was used to film the exterior of a very crucial scene from the Season 3, to bring Watson and Sherlock face to face with each other and do the big reveal that Mr. Holmes never really died. S2 was too dramatic and so the revelation was done using two separate locations, while Landmark London Hotel was used for exterior filming of the fictional Reunion Restaurant, the interior scene was filmed at Daffodil, Gloucestershire, Cheltenham.
05 New Scotland Yard
Already an attraction for many detective novels and movie fans, New Scotland Yard also enjoys a place on Sherlock filming destinations list. Located in number 10 Broadway, this building not only symbolizes the essence of crime-solving culture from Sherlock but rhymes so well with Sherlock’s world as to how Sherlock does what Scotland Yard police does except, they don’t really like the way he solves cases. The office building of New Scotland Yard is off-limits for tourists for casual tours but you could always get a photo-op from the outside.
06 Battersea Power Station
Used for multiple scenes in both Season 1 and Season 2, Battersea Power Station is fairly recognizable from the show. The moment you’ll see it, you’ll remember what and when happened and in which episode (if you’re a die-hard Sherlock fan. The interiors were used for the scene when our favorite detective got to meet Irene Adler for the first time. A lot of tense scenes were shot at Battersea Power Station, including the one where Mycroft and Watson meet to discuss Sherlock.