When it comes to the history of rock and roll, one could argue that London has more monumental rock and roll landmarks than anywhere else in the world. From famous clubs such as the Rainbow, Marquee and Roxy to the neighborhoods of Soho, Muswell Hill and Camden Town, London is a great place to catch a glimpse of rock and roll’s past.
Cross Abbey Road
It may come as no surprise that some of the most important sites in London’s rock history focus on the Beatles. Highlights include Apple headquarters, EMI Studios and the famous Abbey Road where you can have your picture taken as you walk across one of the most well known crosswalks (er, zebra crossings) in the world.
London Calling
If you’re a fan of The Clash, like I am, then be sure to head over to west London where you’ll find a number of different points of interest including Acton Town Hall where Joe Strummer and Mick Jones appeared on stage together for the final time.
We Don’t Need No Education
Pink Floyd’s Britannia Row Studios, located on Britannia Row in the London borough of Islington, was originally built by Pink Floyd. This is where parts of The Wall were recorded, namely the hauntingly famous school chorus from the song “Another Brick in the Wall.”
Live in London
The Cart & Horses Pub in Stratford, east London, is where Iron Maiden made its live debut in 1977 before gaining a residency as the house band at The Ruskin Arms in Manor Park. They also filmed “Live in London” at the Rainbow in 1980.
Crosstown Traffic
Jimi Hendrix moved in to the top floor apartment of 23 Brook Street, located in the Mayfair section of London, in 1968.
This post originally appeared on the Brilliant Tips Travel Blog.
For more London rock history and memorabilia, check out the interactive British Music Experience at London’s O2.
IMAGES VIA: MasterMan, stevecadman, Kheiligh, secretlondon123, Yandle
Abbey Road.. iconic! We even recreated that walk in a scene we did for a play in KL. Pulled it off too;) Very cool post Rich;)
Have you seen the live Abbey Road web cam?? I love it. Watch during the day and you often see people recreating the famous Beatles walk
http://www.abbeyroad.com/visit/
Although Hendrix did live at 23 Brook Street I don’t think this is where he was when he died. I’m no expert but I thought he was in Notting Hill (Samarkand Hotel, 22 Lansdowne Crescent.) At the recent Hendrix exhibition at Brook Street there was a map of the all the places he lived in London and he certainly moved around. I think he was at Brook Street in 1968 and stayed for less than a year but died in 1970 so I do think he was living somewhere else by then.
@laura – hmmm… i read his biography years ago, but you may be right. i’ll have to dig a bit deeper. the hendrix exhibition at 23 brook st looked very interesting… was it just temporary?
Laura is nearly 100% correct. Hendrix died at Monica’s flat in Nottinghill. He did, however, own the Brook Street flat at the time of his death. Despite this he was booked in at the Cumberland Hotel, Marble Arch, on this visit to London.
thank you bruce and laura for clearing that up… just made the update.
I love everything about London, except the high cost of living there!!!
What, no Kinks sites? Waterloo Bridge at sunset and the Clissold Arms in Muswell Hill (across the street from the Davies brothers’ childhood home) are two good places.
Thanks. Great Info
Also worth noting: the Dublin Castle pub in Camden, on Parkway. It’s where Coldplay played their firt official gig.
Jimi Hendrix is alive!
Rock and roll can never!
No doubt london is one of the place that has more monumental rock and roll landmarks and its history explained above proved that.Its really very beautiful post thanks rich whitaker for giving such dtailed information about london rock music.
The Intrepid Fox formerly of Wardour Street Soho, now at St Giles High Street Soho/Bloomsbury, was/is a favoured drinking place of Rock Stars. Rod Stewart had an altercation there with Mick Jagger about Ron Wood moving to the Stones. The Intrepid Fox still supports live acts upstairs and is run/owned by Patrick and January Begent. It is one of the last pubs in London to be dedicated to Metal and Alternative music. A Friday night there is a mind blast of note. They open until the early hours nightly. The artwork of the pub is of the Goth genre and is quite something to see. Drinks are very reasonably priced and the bar staff are highly efficient dedicated exponents of Goth, Metal and Rock.