Sherlock Holmes, Charing Cross, WC2

Randomness Guide to London - Sherlock Holmes entry

Randomness Guide to London - Sherlock Holmes entry

This is a fairly big u-shaped pub next to Charing Cross train station. It has set itself up as a Sherlock Holmes theme pub and all sorts of Holmes memorabilia adorns the walls, whilst a muted TV set plays old black and white Holmes movies. It's a Greene King pub so the pumps had IPA, Abbot, Speckled Hen, Royal London and a rebadged beer uninspiringly called Sherlock Holmes. The Royal London was surprisingly well kept and I was able to find a table to myself at which to enjoy it. My fellow customers seemed to consist almost exclusively of foreign tourists - a testament to the success of the theme perhaps. There are better pubs in the area and I imagine this place could become tourist trap hell in the summer, but it was fine on an overcast March evening.

This is largely a tourist restaurant as far as I can see, with tourist prices to match, although it does do some real ale (GKIPA, Abbott, OSH and “Sherlock Holmes Ale”). Some Holmes memorabilia around the wall, plus a small Sherlock Holmes “museum” upstairs. As a pub it's not too bad as long as you don't mind lots of tourists, the pervasive smell of overpriced fish and chips, and Greene King beers. But the Ship and Shovell a few feet away is far superior.

Official site of the Sherlock Holmes, contains menu - www.sherlockholmespub.com

This place is the king of tourist traps, but then that is to be expected with the Sherlock Holmes theme. It's a nice looking pub u-shaped pub with a restaurant upstairs along with a replica of Holmes’ and Watson’s study and sitting room that can be viewed through a glass wall. There is also some more paraphernalia in the main bar area including the stuffed head of the Hound of the Baskervilles which is mounted on the wall. The barman was very friendly, but my pint of Sherlock Holmes was decidedly iffy. Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and a few bog standard lagers were also available amongst others. This place is worth a look just for the interest factor, but there are better pubs around this area.

Official site of the Sherlock Holmes, contains menu - www.sherlockholmespub.com

Very attractive pub from the outside and if you can get one of the outside seats on a fine summer's day then you will be guaranteed to get in 100's of tourist's holiday pictures, as this place attracts them in swarms. It's not so attractive on a cold, wet December evening, but then has the advantage of no tourists and only the after-work crowd. It's an OK pub dispensing the usual GK fair, and my pint of Morelands, I mean Sherlock Holmes ale.. was perfectly passable, but hardly memorable. To the Holmes enthusiast then this place is probably worth a visit. But for the rest of us London residents the main purpose in life of this pub will always be to filter out the tourists before they discover the far superior Ship and Shovel further up Craven Passage.