Post by Dr Winston on Aug 1, 2007 10:59:46 GMT 1
The Beatles London Tour
HYDE PARK CORNER
The Hard Rock Cafe at 150 Old Park Lane has a vault beneath its shop which contains many items of rock memorabilia. Free tours are provided. You can see John Lennon's original handwritten lyrics to 'Imagine' and 'Instant Karma' and the glasses and jacket which he wore during a Beatles concert in New York City. There is also a gold disc which was presented to the group after their album Lonely Hearts Club Band had achieved sales worth 1 million dollars in the US. Within the Hard Rock Cafe's restaurant you can see the drum kit used by Ringo Starr before he joined the Beatles.
Brian Epstein ran a couple of music / record shops in Liverpool before becoming the manager of the Beatles in December 1961. He negotiated their record contract with EMI, and replaced the drummer Pete Best with Ringo Starr. He also managed other Liverpool artists including Gerry & The Pacemakers and Cilla Black. He died in August 1967 from a drugs overdose while living in his London home at 24 Chapel Street.
ST JOHN'S WOOD
Beatles Coffee Shop (formerly known as Abbey Road Cafe) is located at the exit of St John's Wood station:
www.beatlescoffeeshop.com Beatles items are sold inside.
At the end of Grove End Road and you can see the modern street sign for Abbey Road (this is usually covered in graffiti)
At the entrance to Abbey Road is a zebra crossing. This was featured on the cover of the Beatles album "Abbey Road". The two white-painted columns beside the pavement are the entrance to EMI's Abbey Road Studios. If you tell your family or friends when you arrive, they can watch you on the live webcam:
www.abbeyroad.com/virtual_visit/webcam
Note that in the UK, cars must stop if a pedestrian starts to cross a zebra crossing, so don't stand directly in front of it unless you are about to cross.
Most of the songs of the Beatles were recorded at the Abbey Road studios (at 3 Abbey Road). Many Beatles fans write messages on the wall outside (it is regularly repainted, but photographs are taken first).
Paul McCartney bought a home not far from Abbey Road at 7 Cavendish Avenue in 1966 - fans used to sleep outside, hoping to see him.
BAKER STREET
You can visit the London Beatles Store at 231 Baker Street
This contains a wide variety of Beatles souvenirs.
On Marylebone Road is Madame Tussaud's. This tourist attraction includes waxwork models of many famous people, including the Beatles, as well as many interactive exhibits. If you want to visit, you should book online in advance to avoid the queues:
www.madame-tussauds.co.uk
At the beginning of the film "A Hard Day's Night" you can see the Beatles running down Boston Place and into Marylebone Station.
At 94 Baker Street (close to the intersection with Paddington Street; map) there is a plaque to John Lennon on the wall. This is the place where the Apple Boutique was opened. It was painted in bright psychedelic colours, and at the time many of the nearby shops complained about it. The store was not successful and was closed soon afterwards - the stock was given away free instead of being sold.
Ringo Starr leased the ground floor / basement flat at 34 Montagu Square in 1965. He moved out after getting married, and allowed friends to stay there. In July 1968 John Lennon and Yoko Ono moved in, but in October that year the flat was raided by the police and John and Yoko were charged with possession of cannabis. Ringo was then forced to give up the lease to the flat.
TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD
Paul McCartney's music publishing company - MPL Communications (http://www.mplcommunications.com) - is in Soho Square. Paul sometimes comes here for business meetings.
PICCADILLY CIRCUS
John and Yoko first met at an art gallery in Mason's Yard - this is still an art gallery, although the name has changed.
The Beatles performed on the roof of the former location of the Apple record company at 3 Savile Row in January 1969. This was their last ever live performance, featured in the film "Let It Be".
