Where Was Sherlock Filmed?

The Short Answer

Sherlock was mainly filmed in Cardiff, Wales, at Upper Boat Studios near Pontypridd, where the interiors of 221B Baker Street were built. Key exterior shots were done in London, including 187 North Gower Street, which stands in for Baker Street, and St Bartholomew's Hospital. Bristol and Cardiff locations also doubled for London scenes across the four series aired between 2010 and 2017.

The BBC's Sherlock, which ran from 2010 to 2017, is set in contemporary London, but a large share of the filming happened far from the capital. Production was based in Wales, and studio sets did the heavy lifting for scenes that look like central London flats, laboratories and museums.

For travellers, the good news is that many of the most recognizable locations are publicly visible. The exterior of Sherlock and John's home is a real London street corner, and the cafe beneath it serves breakfast to fans every day.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
187 North Gower Street	London	Exterior of 221B Baker Street	Outside only
St Bartholomew's Hospital	London	Hospital scenes, including rooftop in The Reichenbach Fall	Free to see
National Museum Cardiff	Cardiff	Museum and gallery interiors doubling for London sites	Free to see
Cardiff Castle	Cardiff	Crown jewels scene in The Reichenbach Fall	Ticketed
St Mary Magdalene Church	Bristol	John and Mary wedding in The Sign of Three	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

5 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

This quiet residential street in central London plays the part of 221B Baker Street in every exterior shot. Producers chose it over the real Baker Street because of traffic and the existing Sherlock Holmes signage there. The façade is unchanged and instantly recognizable. The street itself is viewable at any time, and Speedy's cafe downstairs is public and popular with fans after a surge in customers following broadcast.

The historic hospital in the City of London supplied hospital scenes across the series, most famously the rooftop confrontation in The Reichenbach Fall. The building is open to visitors and easy to reach, though the rooftop itself is not accessible to the public. Walking the grounds gives a clear sense of the exterior shots, and the surrounding Smithfield area rewards a longer wander.

Interior museum and gallery scenes were shot here, with the Welsh museum doubling for various London sites. It is a public museum, so fans can walk through the same halls that appear on screen. Checking opening hours before a visit is advised. As one of Cardiff's major attractions, it pairs naturally with the city's other Sherlock locations when tracing the production back to its Welsh base.

The castle in central Cardiff stood in for the Tower of London in the crown jewels theft scene in The Reichenbach Fall. It is ticketed to enter, with some rooms restricted, but the grounds and much of the interior are open to the public. The castle sits a short distance from National Museum Cardiff, making the two an easy pairing for a Sherlock day in the city where most of the series was made.

This Bristol church hosted the wedding of John and Mary in The Sign of Three. It sits in the University of Bristol area and is generally public, though access can be limited depending on the day. Bristol locations doubled for London in multiple episodes, including weddings and pools, so the city holds several connections for dedicated fans despite rarely appearing on screen as itself.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

Sherlock is set in contemporary London, but it was primarily filmed in Cardiff studios and surrounding Welsh locations, with London used for exteriors that needed authenticity. Bristol also stood in for London repeatedly. The result is a show that looks thoroughly London while owing most of its footage to Wales and the west of England.

The Studio Side

Upper Boat Studios near Pontypridd served as the production base, where the interiors of 221B Baker Street were built on sound stages. Doctor Who was also filmed there. The studios are not open to visitors, so fans hoping to stand in Sherlock's living room will have to settle for the exterior on North Gower Street instead.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Guided tours cover both the BBC series and the traditional Sherlock Holmes canon, mostly on foot or by black taxi in London. All four options below hold perfect five star ratings from past guests.

Private Walking Tour in London

Sherlock Holmes Private Walking Tour in London

5.0 out of 5 · 26 reviews

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Very Small Group Walking Tour

Sherlock Holmes BBC Series and Traditional Locations - A Very Small Group Tour

A very small group format with 17 five star reviews, the most reviewed option here for travellers who like company without crowds.

5.0 out of 5 · 17 reviews

PriceLive on listingCheck availability

Private Guide, BBC and Canon

Sherlock Holmes Private Guided Tour - BBC Series & Traditional Locations

A private guided tour spanning both BBC series locations and traditional Holmes sites, with seven five star reviews behind it.

5.0 out of 5 · 7 reviews

From$128Check availability

Private Black Taxi, 3 Hours

Private London 3 hour Sherlock Locations Tour by Black Taxi

A private three hour black taxi tour covering Sherlock sites across London at $363.64 for the vehicle, ideal for covering ground quickly.

5.0 out of 5 · 5 reviews

From$364Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you visit the real 221B Baker Street from Sherlock?

The exterior is 187 North Gower Street in London, a quiet residential street you can walk at any time. The interiors were built at Upper Boat Studios in Wales and never existed at that address. Speedy's cafe below the flat is public and popular with fans.

Why was Sherlock filmed in Cardiff?

Production was based at Upper Boat Studios near Pontypridd, where Doctor Who was also filmed. Interiors were built there, and Welsh locations such as National Museum Cardiff and Cardiff Castle doubled for London sites.

Is Speedy's cafe real?

Yes. Speedy's sits beneath the flat's exterior at 187 North Gower Street and saw a surge in customers after the show aired. It is open to the public.

Can you go up the rooftop from The Reichenbach Fall?

No. The rooftop scenes were filmed at St Bartholomew's Hospital, which is open to visitors, but the rooftop itself is not accessible.

Where was the wedding in The Sign of Three filmed?

The wedding of John and Mary was filmed at St Mary Magdalene Church in Bristol. The church is generally public but may have limited access, and it sits in the University of Bristol area.

Are there guided tours of Sherlock locations?

Yes. Several London tours cover both the BBC series and traditional Holmes locations, including private walking tours and a private three hour black taxi option. All listed options carry five star ratings.

Cardiff made most of Sherlock, but London gives fans the pictures they remember best, from the North Gower Street doorway to the hospital rooftop no visitor can actually climb. A walking or taxi tour covers the London sites efficiently, and Cardiff Castle plus the National Museum Cardiff make a rewarding detour for anyone tracing the series to its Welsh heart.

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