MONTAQU SQUARE
Also in Marylebone is 34 Montaqu Square. Ringo Starr took out a lease on a flat in this Regency building in 1965. He lived here for a short time after he married Maureen Cox. Ringo maintained the lease even after he purchased a house outside of London.
Paul McCartney subleased the flat from Ringo and converted it into a recording studio. Here, he recorded demos of a number of songs and worked on compositions such as “Eleanor Rigby.” After McCartney gave up the flat, Ringo subleased it to various other musicians including Jimi Hendrix. |
In 1968, John Lennon moved into the flat with Yoko Ono. It was here that they took the famous nude photograph that is on the cover of their experimental album “The Two Virgins.” It is also where John was arrested for hashish possession in a raid in which the drugs, according to John, were planted.
In 2010, one of the City of Westminster's blue markers was placed on the building indicating its historical interest. Number 34 is located near the north end of the square near the intersection with Montaqu Place. |
THE APPLE BOUTIQUE
In December 1967, the Beatles opened a store at 94 Baker Street. It was to be one of the first ventures of Apple Corps, the company the group had recently formed. The concept was very 1960s flower-power - - a place where “beautiful people can buy beautiful things” as Paul put it at the time. A giant psychedelic mural was painted on the exterior walls of the building to underscore its theme.
Unfortunately, this high-minded venture failed miserably. Light-fingered customers routinely “liberated” the shops goods (mostly clothing) and the venture also suffered from a lack of direction. The requisite permissions had not been obtained from the landlord or the government for the mural so it had to be painted over. As a result, the Beatles decided to close the shop in July 1968 with a massive giveaway of the remaining inventory. The 17th century building that housed the Apple Boutique was demolished in 1974 and a modern building now occupies the site. 94 Baker Street is at the corner of Baker Street and Paddington Street in Marylebone. |
WIMPOLE STREET
After coming to London, most of the Beatles soon bought houses in the suburbs surrounding the capital. Paul McCartney, the Beatle who remained single the longest, preferred to live in the city.
In late 1963, he took residence in the home of the parents' of his girlfriend actress Jane Asher. Here, he wrote several of the Beatles' biggest hits including “Yesterday” and “And I Love Her.” 57 Wimpole Street is a multi-story townhouse. It fits in unobtrusively with the other buildings on this prosperous neighborhood. Wimpole Street is in Marylebone northeast of Manchester Square. Number 57 is near the coner of Wimpole Street and New Cavendish Street. |
Cruise destination guide - England - London - Visiting the Beatles' London - page three