Sherlock Holmes Statue

Close up of Sherlock Holmes’ face with pipe in hand honeytea (Atlas Obscura User)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born on May 22, 1859, and would go on to create the most iconic characters in literature: Sherlock Holmes. This statue, located close to Doyle’s birthplace, was unveiled on June 24, 1991, and built to commemorate the author and his work.

In the statue, Sherlock Holmes stands tall, with a pensive look on his face and an iconic curved pipe in hand. He appears to be midstride from his position above the column bearing the plaque dedicated to his author. Beneath this, his name is carved into stone. Though the detective is fictional, the design choice is consistent with many statues of real people around Edinburgh—fitting for a character with such life and longevity.

This statue was stowed away on and off for many years during tram construction and repairs to the disappointment of many fans but it has since been reinstated. The statue was unveiled again on September 13, 2023, by a relative of Doyle and inventor of the Sherlock Holmes tartan in a grand, long-awaited return fitting of the detective.

What would a monument to the creator of one of the world’s greatest sleuths be without a little bit of a mystery? For those in the know, combined with an adventurous spirit worthy of the immortalized detective, one can view a set of various-sized animal prints embedded in the metal platform. Could these indicate the presence of the titular beast from one of the author’s most well-known novels? Or are they representative of the city’s mascot to the author’s birthplace? To quote the private investigator, “the game is afoot”!

Know Before You Go

Some have noted this location as difficult to find or requiring some ‘detective sleuthing’ of one’s own but hopefully these steps will make the search more "elementary."

You will find the Sherlock Holmes statue standing in a small garden area within the heart of many roads and bike paths between the Dreaming Spires giraffe statues and the Conan Doyle Pub.

If coming from the side with St. Paul's and St. George's Church, cross over to the Conan Doyle pub then turn left to reach the statue. If coming from St. James Centre, head towards Omni-Centre and be prepared to turn left then right to reach the statue.

Please be aware of the bike paths (some blend in with the sidewalk but are indicated by white lines) and be mindful of all traffic when walking to this location.

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