Why is Abbey Road famous?
Abbey Road is famous because of the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road, whose cover shows the band walking across a zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios in London. The crossing has become a tourist attraction.
Abbey Road Studios, in St John's Wood, north London, is where the Beatles recorded most of their music. The studio was originally called EMI Studios and was renamed after the album's success.
The famous photograph was taken by Iain Macmillan on 8 August 1969. It shows John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney and George Harrison crossing the road in single file.
A tourist attraction
Fans from around the world visit the crossing to recreate the photo. This can disrupt traffic on the busy road, and drivers are used to people stopping on the crossing.
In 2010, the zebra crossing was given listed status because of its cultural and historical importance, a rare honor for a road crossing.
Abbey Road Studios has also been used by artists such as Pink Floyd, Adele and Oasis, and for film soundtracks, including Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. A webcam shows the crossing live online.