So you are on your way to London and you want to visit some of the best places, but don’t want to be the average kind of tourist? Several visitors from the USA in particular are turning the clock back 100 years and following in the footsteps of the world’s most famous detective – Sherlock Holmes. Holmes historian Alistair Duncan came up with the brilliant idea of basing a guide around the places that appear in Holmes stories, but that were also dear to the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

‘Close To Holmes’ takes us around the main locations and includes some of my particular favourites as well. The British Museum was featured in several stories and was a particular favourite of Conan Doyle’s. Alistair combines a light and friendly commentary with pictures from the late 1800s and the modern day.

Regent Street c1880

“Reading it, we feel that we’re in the company of a knowledgeable, enthusiastic and witty friend. The book is both valuable and a pleasure to read. As much a historical and literary exploration as a travel guide” The Sherlock Holmes Society of London

There are several of London’s oldest hotels in the book including the Savoy and The Langham along with very famous streets such as Pall Mall, Charing Cross Road, The Strand and of course the home of Sherlock Holmes himself Baker Street.

Also worth a visit are Covent Garden and Scotland Yard that have their own chapters in the book.

There is a growing Facebook group of those that have used the book as a guide with their own comments and pictures – Close To Holmes Photo Stories.

For those lucky people with an Amazon Kindle the book has been recently launched on Kindle and its the perfect way to take the guide with you – Close To Holmes on Kindle.

Close To Holmes