Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot Tours in London

The universal appeal of Sherlock Holmes is hardly surprising. And now that the version with Benedict Cumberbatch has taken the western world by storm, interest in the sleuth has increased a thousandfold.

Holmes’ cold, penetrating gaze could sweep the scene of the crime like a Victorian Darth Vader, but he also played the violin, injected drugs and wore a deerstalker cap in the middle of the West End. He was a true English eccentric with a razor-sharp brain.

His loyal sidekick, Watkins, grounded him in the real world thus allowing the brainy sleuth to indulge in mind games, music and morphine.

At the  Sherlock Holmes Museum,  221b Baker Street, London  you will find a replica of Holmes’ fictional rooms where he found board and lodging with his long-suffering landlady, Mrs Hudson.

However, Conan Doyle based Sherlock Holmes on a real life forensic scientist, Dr Joseph Bell whom he knew from his student days in Edinburgh.

The Museum is open every day of the year (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am - 6pm.

There is a fascinating walk led by experienced leaders of a well-established company, London Walks. Called In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes, the walk follows Holmes and Watson from Charing Cross, through to The Strand and on to the atmospheric Covent Garden area.

This walk takes place every Friday at 2 pm and you meet your guide, known as  either  Richard IV or Corinna,  outside Embankment Tube Station.

At the end of this walk, there is a visit to a reproduction of Holmes’ study. Here you can see many artefacts that have been donated by the Conan Doyle family.

Here's the link to London Walks.

Now you have solved the mystery of where to find your favourite detective – the game's afoot!

Poirot, the famous Belgian detective, could so easily be perceived as an annoying little man. His immaculate appearance, carefully waxed moustache, obsession with neatness and order, and his high self-regard for himself and his abilities could lead to loathing.

But in fact, readers and viewers love him! The main reason for this is because when Poirot has a murder to solve, he regards everything dispassionately. During his investigations he often refers to himself as 'Poirot' and will sit patiently meditating, waiting for his 'little grey cells' to deliver the vital link that will lead to the arrest of the criminal (this usually takes place in a crowded drawing room). If only we normal humans could be so stoical when faced with a dreadful dilemma!

He does have his weaknesses though...but they are so endearing. Poirot’s neurotic attention to detail with regard to his clothes and his personal space extend to the way he utilises the aforementioned "little grey cells" to retrieve psychological order from criminal chaos. So even his weaknesses serve his purpose in the end.

And who couldn’t be intrigued by a famous detective who won’t go to dinner with his assistant, Captain Hastings, because he has to finish collating his stamp collection!

Many people who have read the books also enjoy David Suchet’s portrayal of the little detective in the British television series, Poirot. Suchet is regarded as the finest interpreter of the brainy Belgian and the one thought to be nearest to the character Agatha Christie had in mind.

But almost as interesting as Poirot himself  is the part played by that area of London known as Bloomsbury where many of the Poirot episodes are filmed.

A firm called  Detective Tours  specialises in tailor-made tours, including the Bloomsbury of Poirot, and this could include an imposing building which in the books is known as Whitehaven Mansions. This is Poirot’s fictional flat, which for the television series is, in reality, Florin Court, Charterhouse Square, London WC1.

Here's the link to Detective Tours.  These are bespoke tours, so it's a good idea to contact them to have a chat about your requirements.

Dedicated Poirot fans can suspend reality completely by boarding a Pullman Train at London’s Victoria station. Whilst enjoying a five-course lunch, glass of champagne and half a bottle of wine you will relive the atmosphere of Murder on the Orient Express, complete with suspicious fellow passengers, a dreadful murder and the opportunity to help the Belgian sleuth solve the mystery!

This tour doesn’t come cheap at around £300 but, after all, for Poirot only the best is good enough!

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So, set aside the stamp collection, get those little grey cells working and spend a day in London looking for Poirot! (And if you do find him, be sure not to call him ‘French’ - he is Belgian!)

And if you manage to bump into Holmes in the morning, chances are he'll be making his way back home from a night 'banging the gong' in Limehouse, so won't be in a fit state to stop for a chat!