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On the trail of Sherlock Holmes

Cynthia Ross Cravit, 50Plus.com

It seems elementary that British tourism officials are hoping the new movie Sherlock Holmes will inspire visitors to follow the trail of the master sleuth and his sidekick Dr. Watson.

VisitBritain, the country's national tourism agency, has created an online guide for famous landmarks and places of interest for fans of literature's great detective Sherlock Holmes and the newly released movie, which was filmed in various locations around London, Manchester and Liverpool. The movie coincides with the 150th anniversary of the birth of Holmes' creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

"Sherlock Holmes was the Victorian 'CSI' -- he was always the smartest person in the room," Katrina Sutton, film tourism and public relations manager for VisitBritain, told CNN. "Films serve as a moving postcard... It's a really exciting and different way to interest travelers in coming to Britain."

It has been more than a century since the fabled detective tracked down criminals on the foggy, gas-lit streets of London, but today's visitors will have no trouble following in his footsteps. In fact, London is home to more than 300 Sherlock Holmes sites, according to author Thomas Bruce Wheeler in his book The New Finding Sherlock's London.

So don your deerstalker cap and calabash pipe -- and, just to get you started -- check out these Sherlock-inspired hot spots.

Sleuthing the streets of London

221b Baker Street, London. The fictional home of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes and John Watson (from about 1881-1904) is now the real-life home of the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Its location at 221b Baker Street in London is considered among the world's most famous addresses. The museum features a variety of Holmes memorabilia, including a life-size character of Holmes' archenemy, Professor Moriarty.

The first-floor study, styled in Victorian décor, makes it easy to imagine Holmes and Watson relaxing in front of the fire while mulling over a particularly difficult case. And if you stop in the gift shop, you can buy your very own cap, pipe, magnifying glass and walking stick. Nearby, a 9-foot bronze statue of Holmes greets visitors at the Baker Street Underground station.

St. Bartholomew's Hospital. If you'd like to see where Holmes first met Watson, head to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The building was founded in 1123 and is home to a museum showcasing works of art and medical equipment used in centuries past. It was at a chemical laboratory inside the hospital that Holmes and Watson were introduced to each other in "A Study in Scarlet", published in 1887. Nearby is Saint Bartholomew the Great Church, one of London's oldest churches, serving as a place of worship since around 1140 -- and also one of the locations used in the movie. (Other movies filmed here include Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Other Boleyn Girl.)

St. Paul's Cathedral. VisitBritain recommends a stop at this famous landmark, which also happens to be a key location in the Sherlock Holmes movie and the site of a chase scene on a spiral staircase. For other movie locations, fans can check out The Freemason's Hall and Brompton Cemetery in London, The Liverpool Docks in Merseyside, Liverpool, and the Manchester Town Hall in Albert Square, Manchester.

Guided walking tour of Sherlock Holmes' London. "It is a hobby of mine," said Holmes, "to have an exact knowledge of London." (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1890.) The guided tour 'In the footsteps of Sherlock Holmes' will take you through Charing Cross, the Strand's gas-lit alleys, and Covent Garden with its Opera House and colourful market stalls.

Simpson's-in-the-Strand. After all this Sherlock stalking, you'll want to treat yourself to a lavish Sherlock-inspired feast. Featured in many of Holmes' mysteries, this classic eating establishment has been a part of the London high society scene since 1828, and, in fact, was a favourite of Conan Doyle. Take in the view of what Watson described as 'the rushing stream of life on the Strand'. Among its 'famous guests', the restaurant lists Vincent Van Gogh, Charles Dickens, George Bernard Shaw, Benjamin Disraeli, William Gladstone and, of course, Sherlock Holmes.

Sherlock Holmes Public House and Restaurant. If you're looking for more casual dining, head to the Sherlock Holmes Pub. Here you can fill up on dishes such as the Hounds of the Baskerville -- described as 'traditional toad (sausages) in the hole (Yorkshire pudding) served with buttered mash potatoes, gravy and vegetables.' Or you could go for Sherlock's Own Favourite, which consists of '8oz sirloin of beef, grilled to your choice, served with tomato, mushrooms, fries and garnish'. And you can wash it all down with a pint of Sherlock Holmes Ale.

Attracting Sherlock fans from around the world, the pub is filled with Holmes-inspired artifacts including Dr Watson's old service revolver, original cartoons and the stuffed and mounted head of the Hound of the Baskervilles. The restaurant's main attraction is a replica of Holmes' and Watson's sitting room and study.

Langham Hotel. Conan Doyle, who used to live nearby, was a frequent visitor at this historic hotel on Regent Street. The hotel makes an appearance in several Sherlock Holmes adventures, including "A Scandal in Bohemia", where the central character was asked where he was staying, and he replies, "You will find me at The Langham, under the name of the Count Von Kramm." The hotel is currently offering a Sherlock Holmes package, which includes one night in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle suite, a pair of tickets to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, English breakfast, cocktails and a Conan Doyle book. See the website for details.

ON THE WEB

Go to VisitBritain.com for a map of tourist destinations and itineraries relevant to Holmes and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

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