Forever linked with the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, Baker Street runs through the Marylebone district of central London. Arthur Conan Doyle gave Holmes the address of 221B Baker Street, a number that did not exist when the stories were written but has since become one of the most famous addresses in literature. The street was laid out in the 18th century and named after the builder William Baker. It developed as a smart residential address, and over time grew into a busy commercial street of shops, offices and apartments. The Holmes association draws visitors from around the world. The Sherlock Holmes Museum occupies a house numbered 221B by special arrangement, presented as the detective's lodgings, and a statue of Holmes stands near the Underground station. Baker Street station is itself a piece of history, one of the original stops on the Metropolitan Railway, the world's first underground line, which opened in 1863. Several of its platforms retain features recalling that early period of urban railways. The surrounding area holds other attractions, including Madame Tussauds waxworks a short distance away and the open space of Regent's Park at the northern end of the street. In the 20th century the street lent its name to a well-known popular song, and it has appeared frequently in film and television, reinforcing its place in the public imagination. Today it is a mix of retailers, restaurants and businesses, busy with commuters and shoppers, while the literary connection gives it a recognisability out of proportion to its size. For many visitors a walk along Baker Street is as much about a fictional character as about the real street, a rare case of literature shaping the identity of a place. Running roughly north to south, the street connects the Marylebone Road and Portman Square areas, threading through one of the busier parts of the West End.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: Baker Street, London, United Kingdom