Sherlock Holmes exhibition to open in London

The Museum of London on Tuesday announced it will hold an exhibition of the most popular fictional detective Sherlock Holmes in October this year.

From Oct 17, 2014 to April 12, 2015, fans of Sherlock Holmes from all over the world will have a chance to see a lot of rare collections related to "the man who never lived, and will never die," among which are loans from other countries and will be shown in Britain for the first time.

Alex Werner, curator of Sherlock Holmes at the museum said: "The exhibition will be the largest of its kind for over 60 years."

Among the collections of Victorian and Edwardian eras, as well as some Sherlock Holmes materials from across the globe, a rare oil painting of the author, Arthur Conan Doyle, will debut in London.

The portrait was painted by Sidney Paget in 1897, who was the illustrator of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories in The Strand magazine. Some other original illustrations for the stories in the magazine drawn by the artist will also be shown during the exhibition for the first time in the country.

The original manuscript of The Adventure of the Empty House will be showcased in the museum.

A series of paintings, drawings, illustrations and photographs of London, created by artists during the period of Conan Doyle was writing the stories, could lead visitors retrace the scenes in the stories at that time, such as Piccadilly Circus, Westminster Bridge and the Regent Street.

"Peeling back the layers of Sherlock Holmes, we will reveal the roots of this global icon who has continued to enthrall audiences for over 125 years. It is fitting that it be hosted here, in the city which shaped the stories and created such a rich source for its success," Werner said.

Besides some old objects, modern elements such as the costume from the recent television series starring Benedict Cumberbatch will go on display, including his famous Belstaff coat and the Derek Rose camel dressing gown.

Considering there are quite a lot of non-English speaking audiences, the museum is planning to translate some sections into foreign languages, according to Werner.

It is said that the last major temporary exhibition about Sherlock Holmes was staged during the 1951 Festival of Britain.