The world famous Abbey Road Studios is situated in a nineteenth century stately building. Nearby is the world’s most famous zebra crossing where the Beatles album cover for their ‘Abbey Road’ album was shot; people try to recreate the famous shot hundreds of times a daymuch to the frustration of local drivers!
The studio was built as a family home in 1830. EMI began recording on the premises in 1931when the majority of recordings were orchestral works. The Beatles first recorded at the studio in 1962a four track demowith battered equipment and instruments.
The facilities at Abbey Road Studios are now considered amongst the best in the world. Numerous movies scores like ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and ‘Braveheart’ have been recorded at the studios.
Sir Paul McCartney used to live around the corner from the studios and the Beatles recorded many of their greatest and musically elaborate songs there. ‘Help!’‘I want to hold your hand’ and ‘She loves you’ were all recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The building is actually home to four separate studios; the largest of which is able to hold a 100 piece orchestra and 120 person choir!
On the top floor is the Penthouse Studio which incorporates a restaurantlicensed bar and two private flats.
The Studios were opened to the public in the pastbut this is no longer the case. But for many Beatles fans the idea of visiting the area in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney lived and worked is an undeniably worthy journey.