Touristy, rude staff, terrible beer selection.** **I didn't come here by choice, obviously. read more

Needing somewhere to meet my brother pre-family brunch recently, he suggested the Sherlock Holmes. Located a few minutes from Trafalgar Square and Bronte, our brunch spot of choice, it was the logical choice. Arriving a bit earlier meant I could do some proper people watching outside; due to its vicinity to such a popular tourist attraction, there's plenty of footfall around. Even better is watching people's reactions when they notice the name of the pub - cue plenty of photos (I was probably in at least five during the 10 minutes I was waiting...) and excited reactions. We only stopped inside for about 20 minutes but this gave us time to catch up, and easy access to plugs meant I could charge my phone, which is always a good thing when you're in London and have various meet ups planned for the day. The interior is a pretty traditional pub vibe albeit it with a tourist edge. Two pints set us (well, my brother) back over £10 which felt high, even for London, and the real kicker here. Alright atmosphere, high prices. read more

Wow! GreAt drinks Coolest bar Inside and and outside space is awesome! Wait staff is very attentive fun and accommodating...plus they speak other languages too like Italian! Upstairs Sherlock homes room is cool and even has the whole smaller room like the book. A must go when in london! read more

Got the order wrong first time but corrected it. Nice waitstaff. Cool pictures etc. Food was very average. Rosemary fries are just fries with some fresh rosemary dumped on top . Had to ask for condiments. Pub is always busy! read more

"Try Their Own Sherlock Holmes Ale" Charming pub with a great brew of their own, the Sherlock Holmes Ale. It was packed with people, they were spilling out onto the street, as I became accustomed to seeing in London. It fascinates me that they let people drink in the street kind of far away from the tavern; they don't allow that where I come from. People were sitting across the street drinking on the steps of another building, there were glasses and bottles in the doorway of this other place and we saw glasses on the opposite street corner, too. So we decided to do the same thing and take our drinks outside and sit across the street. Eventually an employee came out and collected up all the empties from the entire area and returned to the pub. All in all, it's a great stop for a drink, some old-timey atmosphere, and lively goings-on. read more

I was dreading heading to my pub lunch here (obviously not selected by me, because reading the reviews and knowing all of the amazing gastropubs in London I would have never chosen this place) but was pleasantly surprised. Yes, as we walked through the ground floor to go upstairs to the restaurant the smell of beer is overwhelming, but the restaurant upstairs was pleasant and traditional. The menu has a large selection of food, and everyone's meal was good, but nothing to rave about. The sticky toffee pudding was very good, and I appreciated that they had Fairtrade coffee and the mugs to prove it! Service was fine, not great. Too bad I calculated the tip wrong and made their day. Also, one of our party ordered tomato soup and onion rings and was told she had to complete a minimum of £10/head, and that her beer didn't count. Luckily she was up for dessert. A bit ridiculous though! read more

I know, I have already reviewed this pub, but when I was here Easter 2013 it was so packed that all I got to experience of the place was a crowd to people, and a lovely French women that I ended up speaking to. However, since that time I signed up to Yelp, and decided to post a review of a couple of pubs I visited in London. Well, realising that I didn't actually 'experience' this pub, and also that it happens to be on Northumberland Ave, making it a Monopoly Pub (and I believe it is the only pub on Northumberland Ave), it was definitely worth a second visit. Actually, the main reason was that there was a Sherlock Holmes museum on the second floor. Actually, it is just a room decked out like Sherlock's office, but it is still pretty cool, and definitely something that you don't see in many pubs. Mind you, the bartender was also pretty cool, so I have to admit that, other than the cool experience I had back in 2013, this is definitely an awesome London pub, even though it does get pretty crowded. Oh, it also has a rooftop deck, but it is basically for the smokers. read more

Sherlock Holmes - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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AOK, if a little bit crowded, a little bit overpriced, and a little bit not so great food. Strangely tatty but comfortable, with enough nooks that you can often get a seat. Anything bad is probably more due to the area than anything else. But nothing moves me to come back here. Which is OK. You might dread entering, but it's not worth dreading. Just pop in, have a pint, especially in lazy long days of summer. read more

This was the first place I ate at after flying into Heathrow. After hearing all sorts of bad things about the food in London, I was actually surprised by how fish & chips actually tasted good. It's definitely different from the fish & chips you'd find at fast food joints in the US - there is a lot more meat in the fish and it's cooked perfectly. Although there was nothing that stood out here, eating here gave me a heavy addiction to pub food (and the beer of course). I think I ate at like 6-7 different pubs during my week or so stay in London. I even went to the pub at the airport on my way out. read more

Definitely touristy, but I loved it. I loved the decor and the atmosphere! We only managed to have a drink, and just hung around for a while. This was our first night in London and spent a lot of time travelling, so we were a bit tired to stay for a while. read more

I'm a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, so it was a no-brainer for me to stop by the Sherlock Holmes pub for dinner my first night in London. It was a big mistake. First, if you're expecting a lot of great Sherlock Holmes collectibles and memorabilia, you will be disappointed. A lot of pictures on the wall, and some attempt at recreating what 221 B. Baker St. would look like behind glass. But it's not at all very well done. The food is sub-par at best. The appetizer was the only thing decent. English food is notoriously bad, but this was the worst we had all week in London. But the real issue is the service, which is simply awful. We sat waiting 20 minutes for our food, and then another 20 minutes for the server to return. It was so bad that I didn't leave much of a tip, in part because I didn't want to wait another 20 minutes for change. If you're a real Sherlock Holmes fan, it will be hard to talk you out of going to this place. But let me assure you, your visit will only lead to disappointment. My suggestion will be to swing by and grab a picture of the front, and then find somewhere else for a nice dinner. read more

My wife and I came in here twice this week, once for drinks and the second time for dinner. The bar downstairs seemed crowded, however the dining room upstairs had several tables available. The ambience is like sitting in Sherlock Holmes's guest room with all of the detectives memorabilia and office replica. We started off ordering buffalo chicken wings and strips as starters. These were very delicious and are highly recommended. For dinner I ordered the buttermilk chicken breast sandwich and my wife ordered a hamburger. Both meals came with chips, however both burgers seemed very small, hence we were glad to have ordered starters. Service was attentive but the food seemed to take a while for both the starters and meal to be served. If we were in a hurry this would probably an issue but there are plenty of memorabilia to gaze at while you wait. #londonpubs #londonrestaurants #sherlockholmes read more

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Cool pub with descent prices for a touristy spot. Worth having a drink. The meat pie is absolutely disgusting! Crust is hard as a rock, meat is chewy, and gravy is sour. Came with cold mashed potatoes and an after thought of steamed veggies. read more

Best fish and chips EVER! We also ordered the steak pie which was just as delicious! We tried sticky toffee pudding for the first time and it didn't disappoint! It's a really busy spot, probably because it's close to the tourist attractions, but the wait is worth it!! I would definitely recommend. read more

Sherlock Holmes - Sticky toffee pudding - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

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Came here for a Sunday lunch with a mate at some point in the winter. We were in the area by chance, but decided to give it a go as it looked quirky. Downstairs is like a normal pub, but upstairs where the restaurant is, is hilarious! It is full to the brim with Sherlock Holmes memorabilia and nick-knacks, with a full-on room set up to look like Sherlock's office. It's absolutely fascinating - there was plenty to look at throughout the meal, and the were things from versions of Sherlock I didn't even know existed! The rest of the decor is very much like a home; cotton filly table clothes and the like. Just like being at your nans haha. The meal itself - it wasn't long until we were seated, and the roast was very fairly priced and huge in size. On a cold day it was just the thing we wanted. It was tasty, hot, plenty of it, and just really homely with kind and friendly service to match. Loved it. I would recommend it to anyone who just wants a simple and cosy Sunday roast with something a bit more to it. read more

The first time I went I thought it'd be a total tourist trap. I was surprised, as a big Holmes fan, to find a wealth of Holmesian paraphernalia on the walls-- not just a speckled ban or two. Superficially it looks like a regular English pub. Considering most of the pubs in London are about as authentic as kosher bacon though, it's not bad at all. Lots of tourists actually make it fun. I've been three or four times and each time enjoyed my visit. Can't remember if the food is any good-- got too hammered each time. read more

Stay away. Service is crap (for foreigners?). Took 1 hour to receive our food after every other person in the place was seated, ordered, and received food. This is after 2 checkins with the waitstaff after 30 and 45 min respectively. read more

Sherlock Holmes is my favorite pub in the Trafalgar Square area. Although it has a kitschy Sherlock Holmes theme it is not overdone (except for the names used in the menu items). The pub area downstairs tends to be pretty full so I prefer going up to the restaurant on second floor which is quiet and nicely appointed. (Note: You do pay a bit more in the restaurant because it is sit down service, but it is worth it). Sherlock Holmes study on the second floor is a nice touch too. The service in the pub and second floor is generally above average. The food is always very good and I especially recommend the fish and chips (with a pint of Cider to wash it down). Even the mushy peas were tasty. The other entries are good as well. Overall I can highly recommend Sherlock Holmes especially if you are in the area. read more

Had the distinct pleasure of walking in and feeling this was going to be a mystery in the making. Not only does the memorabilia hanging provide a great sense of entertainment but the crowds inside were all friendly to us as foreigners. Staff was courteous and attentive even during happy hour when it was quite busy. Ordered the Sirloin Steak which was delicious for Pub food. Big fan and will definitely come back whenever I'm in central London. read more

(2014 Review). Ordered the Inspector Lestrade's Favourite Ploughman's Lunch, expecting it to not be the most stellar lunch meal, but just needed a light meal. Bread was rough and the ham was on par with what you would pick up from your grocery store. My travel partner said the burger was too dry as well. Not going to bash the pub too hard since I did not try any entrees, but was not too impressed with what we ordered. Prices are fair for London though. read more

Poor service, mediocre food, great gin selection. Had to figure out seating myself when I walked in, as it wasn't clear how seating worked. It kind of felt like I was traveling in a non-English speaking country. I was in around noon or so, and it was about half to 2/3 full. After a bartender finally told me to choose a table and wait for a server, I had to go to the bar after waiting 5-10 minutes with no service. Placed my order at the bar and my gin flight was served after about 5 minutes and 30m later, my greasy fish and bland chips arrived. The food was meh, but the gin was great. They have a least a couple dozen types of gin, so if you're in the area and like gin, give it a go. If you're looking for anything else, find another spot. read more

First time I came here I really liked the place. Came here again and probably won't waste my time going back. Put it simply, the service sucks. 3 bartenders behind the bar in a place that wasn't super busy, and after ten plus minutes, they were still fumbling around. Way too slow and little acknowledgement that they were going to help you. I give up and went nearby to The Harp instead...friendly and quick! read more

I went here for two reasons: 1) it was across the street from the hotel I was staying in; 2) a friend who was in London last summer recommended it. Three reasons I will not go back: 1) it's a tourist trap and wasn't anything like the true British pub experience; 2) the bangers and mash weren't very good, and the brown gravy tasted like one of those instant gravies you can make from a powder; 3) it was drafty and cold as f*ck in there when I went (albeit, this was around the time the UK was experiencing record low temperatures). read more

Went here a few years back but it left such an imprint on my mind that I will always remember it! The service was absolutely horrendous! We ordered food, but it took a while to flag the waitress down place the order. All we ordered was 1 order of overpriced Fish & Chips with Mushy peas! The food took around 45 minutes to arrive. Then we had to flag her down for the bill which took another 20 minutes. And the kicker was that there was no one else even in the place! There were 3 table--2 parties of 2 including me, and a party of one. And we were all looking at each other thinking the same things. The waitress was quite rude and lazy. It was totally a tourist trap. It was advertised by the hop on hop off tour bus company. We definitely felt ripped off. read more

This is an excellent option to escape the crowds of Trafalgar's Square. You'll find all the classic pub options with just the right amount of kitsch. A sign directs people on how to order to avoid awkward confusion, which is always appreciated. I would recommend it as a tasty and reasonably priced spot to enjoy lunch. read more

Sherlock Holmes - Pubs Near Me - London, XGL

While visiting London for the Olympics just last week, I stumbled into this cute little pub and it was adorable. Small but cute and clean. Nothing crazy but a good bar. Pretty solid selection of brewskis, the bartenders were mad chill and were really cool about us being Americans and the fact that we were owning Great Britain in most of the Olympic events LOL Prices were reasonable .. although I'm not fond of the dollar to pound conversion. Nonetheless, if and when I go back to London, I will surely hit up this spot again. read more

Touristy or not, this is a GREAT pub w/ some of the best food we had during our visit to London! Luck won out & we made reservations for the same night in their upstairs restaurant. Walked in to discover we had been saved the best table in the place.....right next to the Sherlock Holmes history room The waitstaff was nice as could be & there were *multiple* veggie options!! I had Veggie Toad in the Hole (Veggie Sausage & Yorkshire Pudding) which was outstanding. Served w/ tender carrots, potatoes in veggie gravy - it was a perfect way to enjoy "traditional" British Pub fare Parents got the Fish & Chips as well as the Shepard's Pie & both said their meals were phenomenal Dessert certainly didn't disappoint - Spotted Dick & Sticky Toffee Pudding topped off a most fabulous meal. The dining area was intimate & quiet even though every table was taken. Patrons were friendly & everyone seemed to have a great time - can't wait to come back! read more

As you might imagine, Sherlock Holmes pub does heavily feature the detective which it is names after. Designed to attract tourists, it is full of Sherlock Holmes related memorabilia over the walls and above the bar. It is interesting to look at to say the least. The problem with the pub is that it gets very packed. Being next to Charring Cross station means that it is a popular haunt for workers in the city wishing to stop off for a pint on the way home. During these times it is barely possible to move or get to the bar. In fact it is one of those pubs where most punters spill outside even though they don't smoke, propping their pints on the shelf on the window. If it's a quiet drink you're after, you won't find it here. It does has a buzz which is quite infectious but patience is required. It is not always busy and in the afternoon it makes a good stopping off point of you're whizzing around the West End. read more

This review is specifically about the restaurant and not the bar. I walked through the bar and it seemed like a fun lively time but I was famished and instead made my way upstairs to the restaurant. The restaurant (and the building in total) is an interesting mix of just enough kitsch and Holmes paraphernalia mixed with the feeling of a down home pub to be inviting. I really felt comfortable in the building and could see myself visiting the pub regularly if I lived nearby. Unfortunately - the food was only so-so at best. The green beans tasted like they were frozen and steamed in a microwave, the beef in the beef and mushroom pie also didn't taste particularly home cooked. There was a decent beer selection - you can absolutely find something for all appetites - but there wasn't an endless supply of beers on tap either. The service was adequate but not particularly prompt. We waited a long time for our check (I think the waitresses were perhaps between shifts) and eventually had to ask for it after waiting for ten or twenty minutes. It's an interesting place but next time I visit I'll be sure to stay downstairs in the lively bar area. read more

This pub holds a special place in my heart because I found it by accident the first time I was in London, and a year later I was able to find it again. In terms of food and drink, it's not terribly different from any other pub in the city. Your classics are all there: fish and chips, bangers and mash, roast beef, savory pies, yorkshire pudding. It's good and reasonably priced (dinner can be kind of expensive, but the lunch board is less dear), but again, you'll get the same basic board nearly anywhere in the city. The main reason to go is the ambience and the slight sense of kitsch. It's close enough to the Strand to be accessible, but far enough out of the way so that you don't see too many tourists. The upstairs restaurant has a display of Holmes' parlor, and it's a real treat to see at Christmas. The pub itself has a friendly, cozy and warm atmosphere. So if you want something to eat but the places right on Trafalgar Square are packed, duck down Northumberland (it could be confused for a pedestrian alley) and pop in. read more

This place has the best guiness and steak pie!!! I'm not a normal drinker of guiness, but their guiness is so fresh, creamy, tasty - add on the steak pie - the best night of my life! Overall place is a little small, but I really liked the 2nd floor seating area and the special decorated room (if you're lucky you may get to sit next to it). read more

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Great food and atmosphere. Conveniently located near the station. Best part is the small outdoor seating area in the summer. Worth a stop if you're in the area. read more

The fish and chips were awesome, the waitress was very professional, friendly, and knew exactly how to help me and my friend choose the right dishes that we really enjoyed. At the beginning, we sat outside, and it was a bit cold, but the waitress noticed, and just magically made a place appear for us inside, without us even trying. When I am in London again, I will definitely pay it more than one visit. read more

My family and I would frequent this place because our hotel was just around the corner. The bar is great and a good place for a chat. However, the restaurant was disappointing. We were seated, thought of our orders, and guess what? The waiter never came back, not even to offer us water after seating us down. We waited around 20 minutes so I guess after that we had to go up to them to be noticed like....where's the service y'all? There was barely any customers there. We just walked out, waiter didn't seem to care, and tried to find another restaurant down the street. Just stay in the bar area. read more

We chose the Sherlock Holmes because it's literally across the street from our home base hotel so we saw it a bunch and finally broke down one day... and it was alright. Nothing superbly exciting at all. Service was lacking... one guy running the entire upstairs restaurant when we visited during lunch hours, seemed a little flustered and came off as "too busy" to seat us or really give us much of a time of day. Made getting the bill a little slow as well. Food is alright! Not the worst, not the best. I had the fish and chips, which was... good! I really can't say anything bad. Just... good. Nondescriptly good. My husband had lamb, which was a huge portion that came with mash and veg (probably frozen or pre-prepared, kind of bland), and he enjoyed the meat well enough. All in all... definitely not the worst place you could stop. The Sherlock Holmes "study" is pretty much exactly as you see it on their website. If you are a fan just looking for jollies, I'm not sure if it's worth the experience. But if you're just looking for a mediocre yet potentially convenient meal, this place is A-OK. read more

Not much as far as all the pubs in the UK but the name and famous detective associated with it but was still a kick to search for it and geek out about stopping by. It was in a fairly quiet spot compared to the circus going on up the street in Trafalgar's Square. I went on a Friday going a little in the afternoon and it wasn't at all too crowded. I got a couple pints of Guinness, some nuts and plopped my arse down in the bar area to people watch. It was a bit dingy but that could have been due to the very low lighting but the little hints of the mythical sleuths adventures scattered the walls where pleasant to view. I had no clue there was a dinning area upstairs. The bartenders where moderately helpful but was thinking they would have been rather nicer seeing that most of the visitors where foreigners, but I'm American so who cares. read more

Food was very good. I had some kind of steak pie and Sherlock Holmes beer. As a Holmes fan, not much here (was expecting the menu to be themed or something), but a nice little pub that's relaxed. Staff are a little stand-offish and seemed annoyed, probably by frequent tourists. Prices are decent. Good place for a quick bite to eat before starting your day exploring London! read more

I really don't understand the negative reviews on this place. Our server and the rest of the staff was very friendly. Good service is definitely a hard commodity to come by in England. We sat outside and they checked up on us every 15-20 minutes to see if we needed anything else. I had by far the best fish and chips I have ever had. Although I am not from the UK we know fish and chips. I had my cousin with me who was from the UK and he even said that in all his years this was the best fish and chips that he has ever had. pretty cool view from the outside patio too. read more

I pass this pub every day on the way to/from work. From the outside, Sherlock Holmes is warm and inviting. Clad in black paint and gold lettering and with ample crowds dotting the adjoining alley, it looks like a place a friendly-enough place. Once inside though, the service is egregiously slow and unfriendly, and the beer (including the namesakes) are just okay. I won't be back. It's not horrible, but there are just too many better places in London. read more

This place is terrible. First, the wait was ridiculous. When finally got seated and began to order, they were out of half the meals. You think that the waitress would make us aware of this when she seated us. Instead we waste our time in deciding what we want, just to have her tell us they were out. Finally we ordered, it took 30 minutes to get our food, with the exception of one meal that was not served until everyone else at the table was done. When the waitress finally brought it, she informed us that they were out of one of the sides. Lastly, the bread that was served was ridiculously stretchy and hard. You could not even cut it with a knife. The waitress did not seem to be apologetic in any way for the delay. Save your time and money, don't eat at the restaurant. I will say that the bar does make good drinks. As long as you stay at the bar and avoid the restaurant, you will be fine. read more