The massive metropolis of Greater London is the capital city of England and the largest conurbation in the United Kingdom. London is an incredibly popular place to visit and this is due, in part, to the great many important tourist attractions and historically important landmarks to be found there. A quick look at a map of London will show you how densely it is packed with world class tourist attractions which range from the most modern to the truly ancient and historic. Many of the greatest buildings are, in some way, associated with the Queen of England and the Royal Family but there are also a great many institutions and traditions which go back centuries which add to the immense appeal of this incredibly unique city.
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.
One of the most readily recognizable streets in London, viewed from a particular angle is Abbey Road. This view is the one on the cover of the Beatles album, Abbey Road. John, Paul, George and Ringo are pictured strolling across the black and white striped pedestrian crossing.
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 said to be in the photograph.
The famed album acquired its name after the London street where it was recorded. The EMI studios were where the Beatles recorded a lot of their songs, which George Martin produced. The studios changed their name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970 when the band finished recording an album which later proved to be their last recording together.
The Beatles have just as many fans worldwide now as they did during their heyday. Every year, a lot of fans make the trek to London to visit Abbey Road. Like their idols they wait to have their photographs taken striding across the pedestrian crossing. At times the fans have to wait a while until traffic disperses.
The trendy residential area of St. John’s Wood is home to Abbey Road Studios. Situated within the converted Georgian townhouse are a more than one recording studio. The space is also extended with more building out back in the garden. The house next door is also the property of EMI, which is used to ensconce artists whilst they are working in the studios. Some do not stay very long and other stay there for quite a while. The Beatles remained quite a long time at Abbey Road, whilst recording one of their best ever albums. They remained a total of one hundred and twenty nine days in 1967, and the album they worked on was Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
When planning a visit to the Uk, Abbey Road is often found amongst the lists of landmarks to visit. So whilst on holiday here you might like to have your photograph taken at the world famous studios or emulate the Beatles and have your photograph taken whilst walking across the road.
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 large 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 Internet 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.