Sherlock Holmes partners with VisitBritain for tourism campaign

The website launched on Tuesday and locations touted include 221B Baker Street in London, where Holmes and his sidekick, Watson (Jude Law) lived and is now home to the Sherlock Holmes Museum, as well as some that star in the movie such as St. Paul’s Cathedral. Indeed, the film which hits cinemas over the Christmas period is rife with real London locales (The Houses of Parliament, Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich) and others outside the capital including Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent.

Guy Ritchie has long been associated with London, having based previous movies such as RocknRolla, Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch there and the love affair certainly shows no signs of diminishing. Instead, he’s now enlisted Hollywood A-lister, Robert Downey Jr. “Sherlock Holmes has great pride in being English," says the star. "London is an incredibly fascinating city and the centre of the world at the time our film takes place. Holmes knows every inch of it and feels it’s his city. It was great fun filming throughout Britain.”

Talking up the collaboration, VisitBritain’s marketing director, Laurence Bresh continues: “Today, VisitBritain increasingly uses the UK’s world-renowned film and literary heritage – as well as music, fashion and culture – to raise awareness of the appeals of Britain and its destinations. Sherlock Holmes is known around the world as one of Britain’s most iconic characters. Our partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures is a great way of helping people discover the secrets of our destinations and entice them into having a fantastic adventure here.”

In addition to the website, VisitBritain will also offer trips to Britain with a Holmes spin, encouraging tourists to enjoy a taste of Blighty and get in the mood for the movie mystery.

To find out more, hit the VisitBritain website here.

[via Journey etc]