15 Places to Discover the Beatles in London

15 Places to Discover the Beatles in London

*Originally published by Molli in 2019 and Updated by Vanessa R in October 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R in September 2023

The Beatles may by one of the most well-known and influential bands that exist, and in my opinion, for good reason! Their music has transcended generations and continues to be a source of entertainment today!

The band may have been founded in their hometown of Liverpool, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find traces of their lives in London! In fact, once the band was formed, the group headed to where the action was in the British capital.

Keep reading to learn more about 9 places to discover the Beatles in London!

1. The British Library

The interior of the British Library by Andrew Dunn – WikiCommons

I know what you all are thinking…heading to a library to discover The Beatles?! Yes, you read that right!

The British Library has an amazing collection of memorabilia, including birthday cards, lyrics quickly written on napkins, and the full lyrics to songs such as “Help” and “Yesterday.” There are also 3 manuscripts written by John Lennon which include the lyrics to “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

There are also old photos (including ones with original Beatles members Pete Best and Stuart Sutcliffe), letters and postcards.

Overall a visit to the British Library will give you some insight on how The Beatles wrote their songs, and it’s a pretty special feeling to see the original lyrics to some of the most famous songs in the world. Plus, it’s free entry! Don’t miss other important pieces at the British Library as well, including the Magna Carta and a musical diary written by Mozart.

Practical Information:

Entry fee: free

Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30am-8pm, Friday 9:30am-6pm, Saturday 9:30am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm

Address: 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, United Kingdom

Tube station: King’s Cross St. Pancras / Euston / Euston Square

2. Abbey Road (and Studios)

Abbey Road by Rudy and Peter Skitterians – Flickr

I’m sure most of you have seen the album cover for The Beatle’s album Abbey Road. It just may be the most famous crosswalk in the world, in my opinion! Abbey Road was The Beatle’s 11th album. Tracks include “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” (my personal favorite) and “Here Comes the Sun.”

In order to capture the image for the cover, the London police blocked off the road for just 10 minutes. The Beatles’ photographer, Ian Macmillan, stood on a stepladder and took only 6 photos! Ultimately, Paul McCartney chose the photo that would cover the album.

Today, you can still visit the crosswalk and take an Abbey Road picture of your own. Just watch out for oncoming traffic.

While you’re in the area, stop by the Abbey Road Studios building. It’s the studio where the album was recorded in 1969, and it’s actually the last album that features all 4 band members! In fact, most of The Beatle’s albums were recorded here over the course of their career.

On the gate of the studio you’ll find graffiti honoring the band, filled with song lyrics and words of love left by fans.

Practical Information:

Abbey Road crosswalk:

Address: St. John’s Wood, London

Tube station: St. John’s Wood Station. The best way to get to Abbey Road from the tube station is to head west on Grove End Road as soon as you exit the station (there is one exit). When you reach Abbey Road simply take a right and you’ll find yourself at the famous crosswalk!

Abbey Road Studios:

Address: 3 Abbey Rd, St John’s Wood, London NW8 9AY, United Kingdom

Tube station: Follow the same directions as above to reach the studio.

3. 7 Cavendish Avenue

Paul McCartney’s home at 7 Cavendish Avenue, London – WikiCommons

Paul McCartney bought the house at 7 Cavendish Avenue in 1963. It’s location was perfect: just a few blocks away from Abbey Road Studios.

He bought the house from a doctor named Desmond O’Neill for £40,000, and moved into the house about a year after he bought it. He was required to add a large gate and an intercom system for security, however the home was quickly discovered by Beatle’s fans! It wasn’t rare to find groups of them hanging around the gate, hoping for a glance of the rockstar and his fellow band members.

McCartney still stays in the house whenever he is in London. He sticks to his roots, and I really respect that!

Practical Information:

Address: 7 Cavendish Ave, St John’s Wood, London NW8 9JG, UK

Tube station: St. John’s Wood Station

4. Marylebone Station

Marylebone Station – WikiCommons

Did you know that The Beatles starred in 5 different films? I knew this because my dad is a huge Beatles fan, but most people are surprised to hear it! Marylebone Station was the location of the opening scene for the band’s first feature length film, “A Hard Day’s Night.”

You’ll notice in the clip that George Harrison falls as the band is running away from a group of screaming fans. His fall was completely unintentional, but the cameras didn’t stop rolling so he had to improvise. Harrison ripped his suit, and the scene was included in the final version of the film!

Practical Information:

Address: Marylebone, London NW1 6QH, United Kingdom

Tube station: Marylebone Station

5. 34 Montagu Square

The blue plaque outside 34 Montagu Square by Basher Eyre – geograph.org.uk

Ringo Starr rented out the basement and ground floor apartments in this 5 story townhouse at 34 Montagu Square. Starr himself stayed their only briefly, but he rented out the apartments to McCartney, John Lennon and his girlfriend Yoko Ono, Jimi Hendrix and his various girlfriends. McCartney in particular recorded several songs at the apartment.

In 2010, Ono installed a blue plaque on the front of the building, commemorating it as a “building of historical interest.”

Practical Information:

Address: 34 Montagu Square, Marylebone, London W1H 2LJ, UK

Tube station: Edgware Road Station

6. 94 Baker Street

The Apple Boutique building today. If you look closely you can see a blue historical plaque commemorating the building by Emanuel Berglund – Flickr

In 1967, The Beatles (under the name of their short lived corporation, Apple Corps) opened a boutique called The Apple Boutique. The project was a brief one, and the shop was only open 8 months. It turned into a money pit for the band, and they lost £200,000 in the process (around £3,407,000 today!).

When the boutique opened, McCartney said that is was “a beautiful place where beautiful people can buy beautiful things.” The band had grand plans for the shop, and hoped to open multiple locations.

“A beautiful place where beautiful people can buy beautiful things.”

They hired a design collective named The Fool to design the boutique, and this included a massive psychedelic mural to decorate the exterior. The band, however, neglected to get permission from the city council, and after just 6 months it was painted over.

All in all, the shop was open from December 1967 to July 1968.

Practical Information:

Address: 94 Baker St, Marylebone, London W1U 6FZ, UK

Tube station: Baker Street Station

7. London Palladium Theatre

The London Palladium Theatre by Mrs Ellacott – WikiCommons

Have you ever heard of the term “Beatlemania?” It is the term that was coined for the hysteria The Beatle’s inspired in their fans. Symptoms of Beatlemania included screaming, jumping up and down and breaking down into sobs when the band played, were seen in the streets and or were seen just plain old living and breathing. Look up some videos on YouTube if you want to see the mania for yourselves!

The term Beatlemania was created after an October 1963 show at the London Palladium Theatre! The band was playing at the famous Sunday Night at the London Palladium show, and the newspaper the Daily Mail coined the term when they wrote about the state of the fans at the show.

In addition, the Palladium is a beautiful building!

Practical Information:

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm

Address: 8 Argyll St, Soho, London W1F 7TF, United Kingdom

Tube station: Oxford Circus Underground

8. The Prince of Wales Theatre

The Prince of Wales Theatre by mrsvickyaltaie – needpix

In 1963, The Beatles played at the Royal Variety Show. Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon were present!

To open the song “Twist and Shout,” Lennon famously told the audience,

“We need a bit of help with the next number. Those of you in the cheaper seats clap your hands… the rest of you, just rattle your jewellery.”

It was a bold comment to make in the presence of British royalty, and cemented the devil may care reputation of the band.

Practical Information:

Address: Coventry St, London W1D 6AS, United Kingdom

Tube station: Piccadilly Circus

9. 3 Savile Row

Savile Row by Poirier2000 – WikiCommons

Since The Beatles enjoyed so much success, it’s hard to believe that the band was active for just 10 years! But, due to tensions between the band members, the group split up in 1970.

The band performed their last public show at 3 Savile Row on January 30, 1969. The Beatles’ Apple Corps had offices in the building, and the show was performed on the roof.

As the show went on, the police were called due to noise complaints. As the group was packing up to go, Lennon famously said,

“I would like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we’ve passed the audition.”

Practical Information:

Address: 3 Savile Row, Mayfair, London W1S 3PB, UK

Tube station: Piccadilly Circus

10. The Beatles Story

The Beatles Story is the ideal method to satisfy your craving before returning to London if you’re making a day trip to Liverpool as part of your Beatles pilgrimage and are short on time.

View 38 black and white photographs by photographer Paul Berriff that were taken between 1963 and 1964, the height of Beatlemania, at the museum along the Liverpool Waterfront’s Albert Dock. You may also learn about the Fab Four’s lives, music, and history.

Practical Information

Address: Britannia Vaults, Royal Albert Dock, Liverpool L3 4AD, United Kingdom

Tube station: St. John’s Wood (Liverpool)

11. The Magical Mystery Tour

The Magical Mystery Tour, a two-hour guided bus ride through the streets of Liverpool and through Fab Four history, is a fantastic alternative if you just have a short amount of time in Liverpool but want to experience all the Beatles fervor. View Ringo Starr’s childhood house, St. Peter’s Church Hall—where John and Paul first met—John Lennon’s childhood home, as well as the boys’ educational institutions like the Art College and the Liverpool Institute.

You can also pause for pictures in Strawberry Field, outside Paul McCartney’s childhood house, outside George Harrison’s birthplace, and beside the Penny Lane sign. The tour concludes with a visit to the storied Cavern Club, where your ticket also includes access to an evening performance.

Practical Information

Address: Anchor Courtyard, Albert Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 4AS

Tube station:  Royal Albert DLR Station stop

12. The EMI House

The stairway that was featured on the covers of various Beatles albums, notably the Blue Album and the Red Album, is a part of this property.

Though it has since moved, EMI Music’s headquarters were originally on this piece of land in Marylebone. They were there from 1960 to 1995. You may still go to look around, and even if it won’t be as immersive as going to Abbey Road, you’ll be getting closer to one of the important locations that shaped the band and its musical legend.

Practical Information

Address:20 Manchester Square

Tube station: Piccadilly Circus

13. Trident Studios

Trident Studios, which is located at 17 Anne Court in Soho, is where the band recorded several of the songs that appear on both The White Album and Abbey Road. It also had a significant role in George Harrison’s solo career because this is where he recorded his debut album, All Things Must Pass.

The Beatles’ recording studio is no longer standing, but the building it was located in has a history Blue Plaque on the exterior, making it a perfect place to take pictures while taking advantage of London hotel’s special offers and learning more about the places that shaped The Beatles.

Practical Information

Address:Unit 16, Albany Road Trading Estate, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 0AZ, UK

Tube station: Manchester Rd Broadway Avenue

14.The Apple Boutique

While the group was still constructing its headquarters at Saville Row, the Apple Corps brand was first hosted at The Apple Boutique. The band, which sold clothing and accessories, opted to decorate the façade with a big psychedelic mural, but this angered nearby businesses and homes and resulted in a hasty repainting.

Large crowds flocked to the store on opening night, but ultimately sales weren’t all that successful. Numerous products were stolen, and the business suffered greatly as a result of the careless management style. The band declared that all things were now free in an effort to get rid of the boutique, and once they had left, they permanently shuttered it.

Practical Information

Address:94 Baker St, London W1U 6FZ, United Kingdom

Tube station: Baker Street Underground Station

15. 57 Wimpole Street

In the history of The Beatles, this house has a crucial role to play. Jane Asher, Paul McCartney’s former lover, lived there with a large number of her family members.

McCartney couldn’t find anywhere else to live after arriving in London, so he ended up spending a lot of time in the attic. Some of the most well-known early Beatles songs, such as “Eleanor Rigby,” “Yesterday,” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” were written by McCartney while Asher’s mother was a music teacher in this setting.

A visit here is an opportunity to relive musical history and to see the place where a musical legend lived before the rest of the world realized how important they were.

Practical Information

Address: 57 Wimpole Street

Tube station:Marylebone Railway Station 

Conclusion

If you are a Beatles fan and are headed to London, save this article so that you know exactly where to go! There are plenty of places to see, and photos to be taken, so get your walking shoes and cameras ready.

If you want to learn more about The Beatles and other British personalities, why not join one of our walking tours? We have plenty of options to choose from, and our local guides really know their stuff. Click here to learn more and to make your booking!

The Beatles’ 5 Greatest Concerts

1. Arenatearten Theatre in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 30, 1963

The Beatles’ second studio album, With the Beatles, wasn’t ready for release until late 1963, and it was only their debut studio album, Please Please Me. But the band was witnessing a previously unheard-of rate of fan growth. They also were on the verge of being well-known all over the world when they were given the chance to perform live on the Swedish TV programme Drop In.

The Beatles apparently performed two additional songs following their original two tracks for their Drop-In performance, which was shot at the Arenatearten Theatre. The Beatles’ renditions of “She Loves You,” “Twist And Shout,” “I Saw Her Standing There,” and “Long Tall Sally” was a great show.

2. The Ed Sullivan Show in New York City, New York on February 9, 1964

The Beatles didn’t play in front of an American audience until 1964. For about 73 million viewers on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, the band performed a live set. It marked a turning point for The Beatles’ international success and a high point in Sullivan’s career. Even other musicians, such as Billy Joel, were inspired by that one show.

3. Shea Stadium in New York City, New York on August 15, 1965

Beatlemania was in full force by 1965. Also, with 55,600 people in attendance, The Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium had the biggest audience of their career up to that moment. And as you can anticipate, mayhem was pouring into the stadium. The crowd’s yells were deafening, and the security personnel at the arena were often kept occupied with supporters frantically attempting to get to the stage.

4. Festival Hall; Melbourne, Australia; June 17th, 1964

When the Beatles were touring, Ringo Starr was the one who was struggling. He built an important part of their sound at his drum kit, so he faced greater challenges than the other musicians in dealing with the raucous crowd. In place of teenyboppers, because Starr was battling tonsillitis during this trip, Jimmy Nicol filled in on drums.

He made a triumphant comeback with the two performances on this day, the second of which is particularly noteworthy. The drummer’s return had also obviously energised his bandmates. Only on this occasion in their career can one claim that the Beatles performed a stomping rendition of “Until There Was You,” with Starr pounding the toms and Lennon churning out rhythmic guitar notes. The welcome-back ceremony is performed by McCartney.

5. Apple Corps Headquarters’ Rooftop in London, England on January 30, 1969

One year before the band’s official breakup, the Beatles gave their real and last performance. The infamous rooftop performance was planned secretly and kept under wraps; it was recorded for the 1970 documentary Let It Be. Unquestionably, it marked the end of an era.