Beatles Crossing at Abbey Road: Famous London Photo spot

The Fab Four, formed in Liverpool in 1960 (Drummer Ringo Starr joining in 1962), went on to become arguably the greatest and most influential band of all time. Today, their music is still immortalised by people of all ages and you can see why many who visit London make the journey up to Abbey Road, to feel like they are in the shadows of their musical legends.

Abbey Road was their last album they recorded together before the band members went their separate ways and featured hits like ‘Come Together’, ‘Oh Darling’ and my favourite…George Harrison’s masterpiece ‘Here Comes The Sun’.

So, if you are a big fan like myself, or just want to snap a shot for the gram, let’s get into the finer details of how you can make that happen.

How to get there

Abbey Road (the crossing and studios can easily be reached on foot from St John’s Wood (Jubilee Line) or Maida Vale (Bakerloo Line).

From St John’s Wood

Take the Jubilee line Northbound from Westminster or Green Park to St John’s Wood (8-10 minutes). Come out of the underground station, cross the street and head straight down Grove End Road (this is signposted at the traffic lights when leaving the station). Walk for a few minutes and you will come to a small intersection at Abbey Road. The studios and crossing will be on your right. This route is slightly quicker than coming from Maida Vale.

From Maida Vale

Take the Bakerloo line Northbound from Oxford Circus to Maida Vale (11 minutes). When you exit the station turn right and proceed down Elgin Avenue. At the end you will reach Abbey Road. Turn right and you will find the studios on your right and the crossing directly ahead of you (just before the intersection at Grove End Road. Basically, you are arriving coming from the other direction.

Tips to get the SHOT

If you are flying solo then this will be a little more tricky and you will need a tripod. I suggest when facing the crossing (with the studios in the background on the left) placing the camera and tripod on the footpath about 10 m back from the crossing on the left hand side of the road. Play around with the angle and zoom until you are satisfied. Set your timer when you have a break in cars and head across the crossing. Remember to walk tall and confident, taking long, purposeful strides. You will want to be walking from left to right in the photo (just like they did for the famous shot).

I would then place the camera in a similar spot on the other side of the road and take a few shots with the recording studios featuring more heavily in the background.

Or, alternatively, you could take your own hype girl and camera woman with you like I did (shoutout to my girl DACI- love ya!) to eliminate the need for a tripod. But, you gotta do what you gotta do if you are travelling solo 🙂

If you want to capture it in the most authentic way (staying true to the original Abbey Road Album cover from 1969) then you would need to position your friend in the middle of the street to get the best angle (front on) with you going across the crossing. This, however, is not advisable, as I mentioned previously it is a normal functioning road. If you manage to come up EARLY in the morning you may be able to get away with that, but not something I would actively and openly promote people to do. Be safe people, there are some things that are not worth it just to get a photo.

Oh, and if you want to be REALLY out there and authentic you could even put on a suit and take your shoes OFF… and walk in the footsteps (literally) of Paul McCartney.

Remember (as mentioned above) that this is a regular road with cars driving along regularly. You may need to be a little patient when trying to get your photos.

More Beatlemania

If you really want to cap things off then there are a few more things that are a MUST for any fan. If you have a couple of extra days spare or can work it in to your itinerary then head up to Liverpool (birthplace of the legendary BAND) to do THREE things:

1. Magical Mystery Tour: This is a two hour tour that takes in a range of famous Beatle related sites such as Penny Lane, Strawberry Field and the birthplaces of Paul, George and John. You will be entertained by your guide along the way and of course, get to bop along to classic Beatles hits. Tours cost around £20 GBP ($ 38 AUD) and usually run twice a day (11 am and 2 pm), ending at The Cavern Club. Your tour includes entry into The Cavern Club on the evening of your tour date so you can party and jam away to the music, soaking up the atmosphere. Information and options to book tickets can be found HERE.

2. Visit ‘The Beatles Story’. This is a wonderful museum set up at Albert Dock, right near the water in Liverpool. It houses an amazing collection of Beatles memorabilia, clothes, iconic items and is an amazing way for fans to honour them and learn about them. It has been there since the early 1990’s (and I had no idea when I went up there in 2014). I have definitely marked it for my next trip back to the UK. You can find out more on The Beatles Story Website linked HERE.

3. Have a drink at The Cavern Club (otherwise known as the most famous club in the world). This little ‘brick-walled’ club was where the band really made a name for itself and really helped to solidify their identify in the music industry. Today, it still exists a venue for live music, to grab a beer and learn about the rich musical history in Liverpool (with particular reference to The Beatles). There are now three venues (Cavern Club, Cavern Pub and Cavern Live Lounge). Visit all if you wish but if you want to really soak up the authentic Beatles experience then it is the Cavern Club that you will want to find yourself at.

More information and details can be found on the Cavern Club Website HERE.

Enjoy your trip to London and the UK, hopefully you manage to snap plenty of touristy shots. I’d love to hear from you about your own experiences with London photo spots. Drop me a line in the comments below 🙂