If you’re a Beatles fan visiting London, there are obviously some attractions you’ll want to see. Of course, some are quite obvious and really need no introduction. However, there are many other hidden gems that are important spots in the history of the legendary band from Liverpool. A great way to see many top Beatles attractions in London is an affordable walking tour. However, you can always see Fab Four places you only read about all on your own. Here’s a quick look at just 1o of the best Beatles attractions in London.
Abbey Road Crossing
3 Abbey Road
London NW8 9AY, UK
www.abbeyroad.com/
Is there any other crosswalk more famous than the one in front of Abbey Road Studios? That’s hard to answer, since Tokyo’s Shibuya Crossing is by far the world’s busiest intersection. However, Beatles fans worldwide will argue that nothing can compare to their beloved zebra crossing. In fact, it’s likely the first London attraction that you’ll want to visit as a Beatles fan. Also known as the Beatles Crossing, you can find this iconic setting in the St. John’s Wood section of London. Don’t forget to visit the Graffiti Wall and the Abbey Road Shop.
Related: Famous Music Locations in London
Asher Family Home
57 Wimpole St.
London W1G 8yW, UK
One of the most popular attractions of the many available London Beatles tours is the Asher family home. In case you need more detail, this is where Paul McCartney lived with his girlfriend Jane Asher and her parents Richard and Margaret. It was here that Sir Paul and John Lennon wrote “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, the Fab Four’s first No. 1 hit in the U.S. If that’s not enough, the music and lyrics to “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yesterday” were made here. If you decide to visit on your own, you might want to first stop by Marylebone Station (more on this later). Both the Asher home on Wimpole and this historic train station are in the same namesake neighborhood.
Beatles Rooftop Concert
3 Savile Row
London W1S 3PB, UK
Next to Abbey Road Crossing, this iconic building may just be the second stop of your London Beatles tour. For one, this was location of Apple Corps headquarters, the band’s own multimedia company, which included Apple Records. However, the building’s rooftop is important as the location of the band’s final public performance in January 1969. The rest, as they say is history. By September 1969, John Lennon left the band and the following year the band officially broke up. If you go, take notice of the Blue Plaque on second floor of the building that marks this momentous occasion. Savile Row is just a .3-mile walk from Piccadilly Circus.
London Beatles Store
231-233 Baker St.
London NW1 6XE, UK
+44 20 7935 4464
www.beatlesstorelondon.co.uk
In London, there is no better place to purchase Fab Four merchandise and memorabilia than the Beatles Store. In fact, the store is said to stock the world’s largest range of Beatles gifts, including clothing, souvenirs and collectibles. The London Beatles Store is just a short walk from the Baker Street subway station. Also of particular interest is the Sherlock Holmes Museum, just a few doors down at 221b Baker Street. Incidentally, the original Apple Boutique once stood a few blocks away at 94 Baker Street. Today, there is a Blue Plaque that signifies its importance in music history.
Madame Tussauds London
Yet another London attraction you may wish to visit is the world-famous Madame Tussauds wax museum. In fact, it was the original Beatles wax figures from this museum that appear on the cover of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Madame Tussauds is also very close to the Baker Street subway station.
Related: Top Beatles Attractions in Liverpool, England
London Palladium Theatre
8 Argyll St.
London W1F 7TF, UK
www.lwtheatres.co.uk
A prominent venue that dates to 1910, the London Palladium is known as the world’s most famous variety theater. But for Beatles fans, it was an October 1963 concert that inspired the media to come up with the term “Beatlemania”. On that October evening, the band was on a TV variety show known as Tonight at the London Palladium. After that performance, the Beatles were likely the most popular band in the UK. This iconic music and entertainment venue is about a quarter mile from the Oxford Circus tube station.
Marylebone Train Station
Melcombe Place
London NW1 6JJ, UL
For Harry Potter fans, the train station to visit is King’s Cross and Platform 9 ¾. However, for Beatles fans, London’s most important train station is Marylebone. That’s because in the opening scenes of “A Hard Day’s Night” you can see the Beatles running to catch their train at the station. However, that depot was meant to be Lime Street station, in the band’s hometown of Liverpool. Nevertheless, who can forget John, George and Ringo running from their fans before meeting Paul and his grandfather onboard the train.
Paul McCartney Home
7 Cavendish Ave.
London NW8 9JG, UK
Just a short walk from Abbey Road is the home Paul McCartney bought for £40,000 in April, 1965. A three-story Regency townhouse, some of the Beatles most famous songs were written here at McCartney’s top level music room. In detail, “Penny Lane” “Hello Goodbye” and “Hey Jude” were all largely composed here. Today, Sir Paul resides here when he’s in London, despite the frequent tours that pass by. Nevertheless, if you do visit, please be mindful and respectful of not only this home, but the neighbors as well. This is regardless of whether it’s a top Beatles in London attraction or not.
Ringo Starr Former Home
34 Montagu Square
London W1H 2LJ, UK
Around the same time that Paul McCartney lived on Wimpole Street, Ringo leased a home on Montagu Square. As a matter of fact, this was the first home for newlyweds Ringo and his wife Maureen Tigrett. However, it wasn’t just the Starrs who lived here during the 1960s. Indeed, Paul McCartney lived here briefly, as did Jimi Hendrix. That’s to say nothing of the fact that this was the first London residence of John Lennon and Yoko Ono. As a matter of fact, this was where John and Yoko struck a pose for their “Two Virgins” album cover. In 2010 Yoko Ono made an appearance to unveil the new Blue Plaque of her late husband.
Trident Studios
17 St. Anne’s Court
London W1F 0BQ, UK
At the time it was operating, Trident Studios was one of the most important recording studios in London. For instance, Elton John’s “Your Song” was made here, as was David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”. That’s not to mention Queen’s first three albums and Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain”. Of course, there’s also a very important Beatles connection here. Indeed, this is where “Hey Jude” was recorded, along with portions of the Beatles “White Album”. Although Trident Studios is long gone, you can see the Blue Plaque to mark the spot where Ziggy Stardust was made. That in itself is a London attraction.
Related: Historic Music Venues in Los Angeles
Where Paul Met Linda
Bag O’Nails
9 Kingly St.
London W1B 5PH, UK
During the Swinging Sixties, one of the most popular live music venues in London was Bag O’Nails. Just one block from fashionable Carnaby Street, Bag O’Nails was a favorite hangout for Paul McCartney, who would come here to dine after recording sessions. What’s more, Jimi Hendrix made his second appearance here in January 1967, with John Lennon, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger and others in attendance. However, it was during a Georgie Fame concert in May 1967 that Paul first met future wife Linda Eastman. That evening, Sir Paul introduced himself to Linda, who was on assignment to photograph prominent musicians. After an evening out, the two saw each other again at Brian Epstein’s home to promote “Sgt. Pepper”.
Related: Top Attractions to see in London, England
About the Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across over 20 CBS websites, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.