London is one of the most visited cities in the world, and while it remains a fascinating destination for tourists, it’s especially an inspiration for writers. This is because many great writers were historically based in London or at least dwelled here to find some stimulation for their work.
There have also been numerous fictional characters that called London home, and while Mr. Bean, Oliver Twist, and Del Boy are memorable figures, there are two Londoners that have remained beloved and can be found franchised across a whole host of different media.
Sherlock Holmes
London’s greatest fictional character has to be the great detective and possibly the world’s first superhero. The fictional detective concocted by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle first appeared in 1887’s A Study in Scarlet and remains relevant today through a number of derived works.
While the novels remain popular, most people are more familiar with the TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch or the movies with Robert Downey Jr. in the titular role. Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. are just two of the countless thespians to take on the role, as Holmes is the most portrayed literary human character in film and television history.
Sherlock Holmes also has his own series of adventure video games developed by Frogwares. The popular game franchise is based on Doyle’s short stories and gamers are able to use abductive reasoning alongside Watson’s able assistance to solve a series of puzzles. Another Sherlock-themed game can be found at Paddy Power slot games where established developers Playtech have come up with Sherlock Mystery. This twist on the classic casino slot presents a classic London backdrop and enables you to tax your brain to discover some loot.
For those that wish to discover Sherlock in the real world, a visit to London is a must. Most people will know that Holmes and Watson resided in Baker Street and a visit to this renowned location will reveal many hotels, museums, and statues featuring the eminent sleuth. If you are planning a pilgrimage to Baker Street there’s plenty to view and play to get you in the mood and make sure you read our guide on what else this famous street has to offer. You could also head to Euston Square, which is featured as Baker Street in the TV show Sherlock or you could take a trip to Charing Cross and find a huge amount of memorabilia in The Sherlock Holmes pub.
James Bond
The fictional British Secret Service agent and double-O was created in 1953 by London-born Ian Fleming. Although Fleming did much of his writing from his winter home in Jamaica and, as DW points out, Bond’s place of origin may be in doubt, there is no denying that London is his home.
The original Fleming books remain popular, but James Bond lives on in literature with acclaimed writers Jeffery Deaver, Sebastian Faulks, and Anthony Horowitz among others to try their hand at writing in the Fleming style. With Anthony Horowitz’s third official James Bond novel, With a Mind to Kill, due to be released in May this year, Bond remains a profitable literary figure.
While we are all aware of the movies and many of us have an opinion about who should be the next actor to play 007, as listed by Screen Rant, Bond also has a long history of video game titles. GoldenEye 007 remains the standout for many gamers, but that could change soon. Game developers IO Interactive are working on a highly anticipated origin game with the working title Project 007. As IO Interactive has previously found success and acclaim with the Hitman series, many are waiting with bated breath for this one.
For those that simply want to follow in the footsteps of James Bond from the movies, there are a host of locations you can visit for a 007 experience. Recent examples include the National Gallery’s Room 34, which provided the location for Bond to first encounter Q in 2012’s Skyfall and the Thames supplied thrilling surroundings for both Daniel Craig and Pierce Brosnan boat chases in Spectre and The World is Not Enough. To view Bond’s place of work, the SIS Building or MI6 Building is the actual headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service and is located at 85 Albert Embankment on the bank of the River Thames beside Vauxhall Bridge.
These are two exceedingly popular fictional characters that were created long ago but are still culturally significant figures in a whole host of different media today. London is what connects these two renowned professionals and there are numerous places to visit to get the Sherlock or Bond experience.