Hidden London: Abbey Road
The extraordinary city of Greater London is England’s capital city and the largest metropolis to be found in Europe. London is also one of the most popular places in Europe in which to take a short vacation or weekend break. Possibly the main reason for the city’s popularity with tourists is the incredible concentration of world class tourist attractions and unbeatably important historical buildings. Of course much of the historical appeal is closely associated with the British Royal Family and the many traditions and institutions in and around London.
Throughout the history of the United Kingdom it would seem that most of the important events have occurred in London. Obviously, with the King or Queen living in the city and the Houses of Parliament being there, most of the important political events happened in London. However the city also has played an important role in the cultural development of Great Britain and this was extremely apparent during the lively period which has become known as the “Swinging Sixties”. With important events such as the “Ally Pally Pothead Rally” taking place and the most famous bands basing themselves in the city, London has, for many decades, acted as the musical capital of England and the United Kingdom.
Abbey Road is one of the most famous streets in the world. This famous street in London is well known as the cover of a Beatles album, Abbey Road. The Beatles (John, Paul, George & Ringo) are photographed walking the road (on the pedestrian crossing). Paul McCartney is shown walking barefoot and John Lennon is wearing his white suit.
Many fans found the album cover distressing. It was rumoured that Paul McCartney had died in a car accident, and this photograph was proof. The clues that supported the rumour were, Paul had his eyes closed, was walking barefoot, he was smoking using his right hand when he was left handed and all the other members of the Beatles had their left feet forward but Paul had his right foot forward. These are only the most common clues stated to be in the photograph.
Abbey Road, the celebrated album was named after the street in London where the EMI Studios were situated (3 Abbey Road). With EMI Producer George Martin, the Beatles recorded most of their songs at these studios. The studios were renamed in 1970 to Abbey Road Studios. This was after the Beatles recorded their last ever album together.
Astonishingly, the Beatles are still as famous this day as they ever were. They have fans (old and new) from all over the world making the pilgrimage each year to Abbey Road, London. The fans have to be patient, and wait for the traffic to clear, before they have the ability to have their pics taken just like the Beatles did, walking across the black and white pedestrian crossing.
Abbey Road studios are housed in a massive Georgian townhouse in the reputable area of St John’s Wood, London. The house next door, which is used as a place to rest ones head, is also the property of EMI. Musicians use the home whilst they are recording or mastering their recordings in the studios next door. Some musicians only stay for a short while, unlike the fab four who spent 129 days at Abbey Road, in 1967, recording their immortal album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The world’s most famous recording studios, Abbey Road, are found alongside other UK landmarks in brochures etc. So when contemplating a visit to London one might wish to have a pic taken of oneself, either on the black and white crossing or just standing outside the infamous studio complex.
London has plenty of places to visit, Buckingham Palace, London Zoo and many other typical tourist attractions but the city of London also has a massive number of places to visit that are not so well known. These places are well worth the effort to discover them and this is done easily over the World wide web or by purchasing a quality guidebook to London. The next time you find yourself in the city you should take the time to visit one or two of these special places or maybe take in one of the organized tours that cover a vast range of topics besides the usual tours of landmarks.