Abbey Road

Abbey Road street sign covered with fan graffiti

The Beatles iconic album cover

The setting has become so iconic that reenactments of the Beatles' crossing are a common tourist activity.

Abbey Road, 2007.

Abbey Road is a thoroughfare located in the borough of Camden and the City of Westminster in London running roughly northwest to southeast through St. John's Wood, near Lord's Cricket Ground.

The north-western end of Abbey Road, NW8, begins at the intersection of Quex Road and West End Lane; it continues south-east for several kilometers, crossing Belsize Road, Boundary Road, Blenheim Terrace and Marlborough Place, ending at the intersection of Grove End Road and Garden Road.

Its main fame is due to the fact that EMI's Abbey Road Studios are located at the south-eastern end, at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, because The Beatles and many other famous popular music performers have recorded at this studio, and because The Beatles named their final 1969 studio LP Abbey Road after the studio. The album's famous cover photograph shows the four group members walking across the zebra crossing located just outside the studio entrance. As a result of its association with The Beatles, since 1970 this section of Abbey Road has been featured on the London tourism circuit.

The crossing featured on the Beatles cover, as well as the crossing directly north of it have become popular photo-opportunity areas. The iconic Beatles album cover has been parodied many times over the years on the crossing.

The brick wall Abbey Road street sign pictured on the back of the Abbey Road album was demolished in the 1970's. The tin street sign (pictured above) on the corner of Grove End Road and Abbey Road was recently removed as well. The street sign is now mounted high on the building on the corner, to save the local council the expense of cleaning and replacing the sign, which was frequently stolen.

The zebra crossing 2007

Abbey Road and Grove End Road 2007

External links

• Abbey Road London, Quicktime VR
• Abbey Road webcam
• Look at Abbey Road live
• Satellite View of Crosswalk / Zebra crossing

Coordinates: 51°31′59.3″N, 0°10′42.6″W

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