The Beatles and Abbey Road

Abbey Road Studios - St. John`s Wood, London, NW8 - since the Beatles lived in London for much of the 1960`s it is hardly surprising that the capital is riddled with Beatle associations. The prime Beatles landmark is, of course, the Abbey Road zebra crossing featured on the album cover, located near the EMI studios, where the group recorded most of their albums.

To get there, walk up Grove End Road, which runs along the west side of Lord`s cricket ground, until you come to the junction where it turns into Abbey Rd. Do not forget to bring your friends, cameras and to sign your name on the wall in front of the studios (everybody else does it, and you are perfectly safe to do it). Map

The Beatles

One other nearby curiosity, which existed for only a brief time, was the Apple Boutique, opened by the Beatles at 94 Baker St in December 1967 as a "beautiful place where you could buy beautiful things".

The psychedelic murals that covered the entire building were whitewashed over after a lawsuit by the neighbours, and eight months later the Beatles caused even more controversy when they gave the shop`s entire stock away free in the closing down sale.

The other main Beatles location is the old Apple headquarters in Savile Row, where the 1969 rooftop concert took place. The offices and recording studios were open from 1968 until the building`s near physical collapse in 1972. The Beatles gave their last live gig on the roof here, which was captured on film - `Let it Be`.

Abbey Road Studios