Baker Street
Welcome to Baker Street, a bustling road that lies right outside the heart of London. It is a part of the Marylebone district which is located in the City of Westminster. This charming street was named after William Baker, the man who initiated its construction in the 18th century. These gorgeous Georgian terraces were originally built for affluent families, but as London grew so did the variety of tenants that came to live in the area (Colin). Over time, Baker Street has transitioned from an upper class neighborhood to a combination of residential and business spaces. In The Romance of a Shop, this change can be seen through the establishment of the Lormier sister’s photography shop in 20 B, the chemists below them, and Frank’s studio across the road in Upper Baker Street (Levy).
You’ll find that getting around the city is quite achievable thanks to the Baker Street Tube Station which has been running since 1863 (Oganga). It’s the world’s oldest underground station! A unique, affordable, and convenient ride over to the river allows you to visit some of London’s most renowned landmarks such as Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. Other popular sites you may want to save for later are the British Museum, Buckingham Palace, and some of the lovely parks in the area, all of which are just a short trip away. If you wish to learn about the station’s fascinating history, but would like to skip the traveling part, there are plenty of guided tours offered that would be perfect for you!
Luckily here on Baker Street you don’t have to look far to find other amazing attractions that are well worth your while. Conan Doyle’s fictional detective Sherlock Holmes is what Baker Street is most often associated with (Sue). While the address did not exist when his novel was released in 1887, 221 B Baker Street now exists due to the road’s expansion and is home to “The Sherlock Holmes Museum.” Relating to The Romance of a Shop, Doyles’ characters lived in Upper Baker Street from the 1880’s to the early 1900’s, meaning that they resided here at the same time as the Lormier sisters.
Aside from being home to one of the world’s most exceptional detectives, Baker Street also contains Madame Tussauds’ first wax museum and the once standing Baker Street Bazaar. The wax museum was first opened in 1835 and was originally located on Baker Street. Today it resides on Marylebone Road, just a brisk walk away. Here you can find wax figures of many famous individuals as well as the Chamber of Horrors. While it was torn down, the Baker Street Bazaar was a famous collection of hidden buildings tucked between Blandford Street and Dorset Street, just west of Baker Street (Survey of London).
Because Baker Street sits in such close proximity to so many incredible London attractions, you may consider it to be the heart and soul of this great British city!
Works Cited
Baker Street Station (1890) . 1890. Marylebone Road.
Colin. Guide to Baker Street: History, Architecture, Business and Tourism – London Office Buzz. 22 Oct. 2012, www.londonofficespace.com/buzz/baker-street-guide/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Levy, Amy. The Romance of a Shop. The Algonquin Press, 1889.
Oganga, Jeff. “Baker Street Is the World’s Oldest Underground Station (Here’s What to See There).” TheTravel, 4 Nov. 2022, www.thetravel.com/is-baker-street-the-oldest-underground-station-in-the….
Pennell, Joseph. Baker Street . Squire, J.C. A London Reverie, MacMillan and Co., Limited, 1928, No. VI., 1908, Baker Street .
Sue. “Baker Street: More than Just Holmes - London for Free.” London for Free, 16 Apr. 2020, www.londonforfree.net/baker-street-more-than-just-holmes/. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.
“The Baker Street Bazaar | UCL the Survey of London.” Blogs.ucl.ac.uk, blogs.ucl.ac.uk/survey-of-london/2019/06/14/the-baker-street-bazaar/.
23-31 Baker Street in 1957. 1957. Baker Street.