Liverpool will always be synonymous with the Beatles however just after they shot to fame in 1963 they left their native Liverpool and headed to the nation’s capital London. Within a relatively small area, you can walk in the footsteps of the Beatles, from the flats where they lived, the places they worked and played and even the studios of Decca records who famously turned them down. Not the best de
So whether you’re an obsessed Beatles fan or just someone interested in music and 60’s pop culture a Beatles tour around ‘swinging’ London is definitely worth doing. As well as the Beatles connection you’ll get to visit places that most other tourists would simply miss, including a pub or two!
So let’s get started with one of the most famous Beatles locations in London.
Abbey Road, NW8
The zebra crossing on Abbey Road is probably the most famous Beatles location in London where tourists try to recreate the famous Album cover while irritated motorists beep their horns. Don’t worry too much about the cars as any taxi driver or local motorist knows to avoid the area if they can. So go ahead and take that photograph and cross barefoot if you want, just like Paul McCartney, or is he really dead?
Abbey Road remains one of the most famous recording studios in the world and as well as the Beatles, many other famous bands and film scores have been recorded here including Pink Floyd, Coldplay and John Williams. You are encouraged to write on their graffiti wall and visit the Abbey Road shop.
Less than 2 miles north from Abbey Road is another notable Beatles location, the former Decca Records Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, NW6. After an audition at the studios on 1 January 1962, Decca rejected them, stating, “the Beatles have no future in show business”.
Marylebone Station
If you’ve seen the 1964 film A Hard Day’s Night then you’ll recognise Marylebone station from the opening scene where the Beatles are running away from the screaming teen fans. In the film, it is meant to be in Liverpool.
From Marylebone station, it is only a short distance to a number of other important Beatles locations.
The Apple Boutique, Baker Street
On the corner of Baker Street and Paddington Street, a blue plaque with the names of John Lennon and George Harrison marks the location of the short-lived Apple Boutique. It opened in December 1967 but lost money at an alarming rate and closed after only 8 months on 31st July 1968.
The Former EMI House, Manchester Square
Only a few minutes from Baker Street is Manchester Square and at number 20 stood EMI House. The staircase of the original building is the famous backdrop for the Please Please Me album and the Blue album (although it was intended for the unreleased Get Back album).
During the redevelopment of the site, the original staircase was saved and moved to EMI’s new offices in Hammersmith.
If you want to visit the homes where the Beatles lived you can walk from Manchester Square to 57 Wimpole Street. This was where Paul McCartney lived with Jane Asher and where he wrote Yesterday.
John & Yoko’s Flat, Montagu Square
The first flat where the Beatles lived together was at 57 Green Street, W1. They shared the top floor flat over the Autumn of 1963.
Ringo leased a flat at 34 Montagu Square but only stayed there for a few months. More famously John & Yoko moved in and the building does have a blue commemorative plaque. It was where they were living when they were busted for drugs in October 1968.
Other addresses with Beatles connections are 24 Chapel Street, SW1. This was the home of Brian Epstein and where he was found dead in August 1967 at the age of 32. Tucked behind the house, you can find the Horse & Groom pub. It is where the Beatles and Brian Epstein used to drink and have band meetings.
Not far from Abbey Road is 7 Cavendish Avenue, NW8 the home of Paul McCartney since he bought it in April 1965 for £4000.
The Beatles’ Rooftop Concert
Finally, we get to the end of the Beatles story at 3 Saville Row in London’s Mayfair. This was the headquarters of Apple Corps but significantly the rooftop was the location of the last public performance of the Beatles on 30 January 1969.
As mentioned, even if you are not a massive Beatles fan a tour of these locations takes you to some interesting parts of London which are not on the usual tourist trail. If you are a fan, you’ll have a great time walking in the footsteps of the Fab Four. We stayed in the Park Grand London Hyde Park Hotel which was only a mile from John and Yoko’s Montagu Square flat.
