Top 5 Beatles Tours and Day Trips in London

Although the band got their start in their hometown of Liverpool, that doesn't mean you can't find traces of their lives in London. In fact, once the band was formed, they headed to the British capital, where the action was, so there are many places you can visit and photograph like a true fan.

In this article, I'll tell you all about the Beatles-related excursions and tours you can do during your stay in London that you're sure to love. There's plenty to choose from, including walking tours, trips to Liverpool and, of course, the classic free tours and walks on your own. I'd also like to take this opportunity to recommend the post on what to see and do in London, so you can make a list of the best plans for your trip.

Shall we get started?

If you're looking for a great themed outing based around your musical idols, this tour might be perfect for you, as it combines the band's most iconic locations with drinks in 70s bars and a very special guide.

You'll be able to appreciate the English capital as if you were one of the legendary members of The Beatles, and you'll also learn about the band's history and many interesting facts that you probably didn't know.

What will I see on this tour?

The tour will start at Marble Arch to discover what John Lennon's house was like in the Marylebone neighbourhood.

I recommend looking for souvenirs and unique gifts at Apple Records to remember their musical work forever. You'll find hundreds of products, from T-shirts, pins, key rings and decorative items!
The tour will also take you to Paul McCartney's former home, where you can imagine how the band members lived, their first steps and rise to fame and world history.

You're probably a fan of the famous Abbey Road album and will want to recreate the iconic scene on the cover. You can cross the street like a real Beatle, and if you go in summer, you can even do it barefoot like Paul did. Are you up for it?

The tour also includes a walk through Paddington Street Garden and a drink in a bar reminiscent of the 1960s so you can feel like you've travelled back in time.

Details of interest

• Price: this experience can cost up to £200, but as there are many companies offering similar tours, prices may vary.
• Duration: the entire tour lasts approximately three (3) hours from the meeting point with the guide to the end of the tour.
• Means of transport: the tour is mostly on foot, as you will be able to go from one neighbourhood to another without having to travel far, but you are always asked to bring a metro card as some journeys are made by public transport.

Abbey Road

If you want to see all the most famous Beatles sites on an incredible guided tour, you'll love this tour.

You'll be guided by an expert to all the key locations in London that were part of the famous rock band's history. You'll see where they recorded, played and met the people who helped shape their lives and careers.

What will I see on this tour?

The tour will also take you to lesser-known places, such as the house where John Lennon lived with his wife Yoko Ono and where the lyrics and music for "Yesterday" were written You'll also see Ringo's home and the Marylebone registry office.

You'll visit the site of the famous rooftop concert, the band's former venue, and learn lots of valuable information to get a feel for the real Beatlemania.

Thinking about Abbey Road? You'll pass by and can take a photo on the legendary street. Yeah!

Interesting details

• Price: the tour costs approximately £19
• Duration: in a total of two and a half hours (2:30), you will be able to see all the places of interest related to the Fab Four.
• Transport: you will walk from one place to another, but you may need a tube ticket.

Although, as I mentioned earlier, the Beatles emerged in their native Liverpool, it was in London where they began to dazzle the masses and where the undisputed and most influential rock phenomenon in history was born.

They took their first steps to stardom at the famous Cavern Club, and it was at Abbey Road Studios where their artistic career began.

This tour will take you to all the places I mentioned earlier, while an expert guide will tell you all about the career of the Fab Four.

This tour is your chance to discover the places associated with the four fabulous musicians. The pubs, clubs, theatres, recording studios, filming locations and houses will all come together on a tour filled with memories of The Beatles that will simply make you long for yesterday.

What will I see on this tour?

• The birthplace of Beatlemania

We start at the London Palladium where, after their appearance on Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium on Sunday 13 October 1963, the whole of England sat down and realised that this new group was going to be simply wonderful.
It was time for the world to fall at their feet! And so it did.

• ** The place where Paul met Linda**

You can take a nostalgic stroll down Carnaby Street, the epicentre of 1960s London swing, to see the club that was once a haunt of the Beatles after late-night recording sessions and where Paul McCartney met Linda Eastman on 15 May 1967.

• Great Oxford Street

The tour then winds its way along Oxford Street, lined with fashion and luxury shops, to the former offices of the Beatles' Apple Corps company.

• The rock band's last public performance

It was in the recording studios, then located in the basement of this magnificent Georgian house, that much of the final recordings for their film Let It Be were filmed. It was also from the roof of the building, in that same film, on 30 January 1969, that the Beatles gave their last public performance and brought traffic to a standstill.

Interesting details

• Price: This tour can cost up to around £37, but remember that you can search online among many companies offering different rates and this number may vary.
• Duration: The average duration of the tour is four (4) hours
• Means of transport: It is advisable to bring your own Oyster card or similar because you will take the underground, but most of the tour will be on foot.

You will leave London early in the morning for the train station assigned to you on the tour to reach the city of Liverpool, north of London.

Once there, you will learn about the history of the city where the Beatles were born and visit The Beatles Story, an incredible activity designed exclusively for rock fans.

On the tour, you'll enjoy the views from the top of the Magical Mystery Tour bus and discover all the places that give meaning to the band's history.

What will I see on this tour?

• Penny Lane and the Cavern Club, where you can stop for a drink in the famous concert hall and soak up all the energy of the place.
• Tate Liverpool and Merseyside Maritime Museum
• The Beatles Story, the world's largest permanent exhibition dedicated exclusively to the life and times of The Beatles. Located in the Fab Four's hometown of Liverpool, in the impressive Albert Dock, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Details of interest

• Price: the price of the attraction is approximately £190.
• Duration: as the tour involves travelling to and from another city, it is a full-day excursion and takes around 13.5 hours.
• Transport: to get to Liverpool, you will need to take the train and then a tourist bus in the city.

On this free tour, you'll enjoy the main places related to The Beatles in London so you can follow in the footsteps of the Fab Four.

You'll see:

• Abbey Road, the most famous pedestrian crossing in the world:
  Abbey Road was the eleventh studio album recorded by The Beatles in 1969 at EMI Studios in north London on Abbey Road. The London police blocked the road for 10 minutes, long enough for photographer Ian Macmillan to climb a ladder and capture the iconic image.
  As I was saying, it is surely one of the most famous pedestrian crossings in the world. It's great for taking photos, although it can cause some annoyance to local drivers.

• Abbey Road Studios:

This is the studio where the album was recorded in 1969, and it is actually the last album to feature all four members of the band. In fact, most of The Beatles' albums were recorded there throughout their career.
Abbey Road Studios is still a working studio and is sometimes open to the public for guided tours and lectures. At the studio door, you'll find graffiti in honour of the band, covered with song lyrics and words of love left by fans.

• London Palladium Theatre:

The London Palladium Theatre is where The Beatles played on 13 October 1963. Their appearance on Sunday night at the London Palladium caused a huge stir and the Daily Mail newspaper coined the term 'Beatlemania' for the reaction of the fans.

Their last public performance took place on the roof of the building where their offices were located. On 30 January 1969, they performed on the rooftop and the police were called due to noise complaints.

The free tour will take you to many places of interest and promises guaranteed fun.

Details of interest

• Price: Free tours usually ask for a donation at the end of the tour to contribute to the person in charge of conducting them.
• Duration: The tour lasts approximately two hours and thirty minutes (2:30) on foot.
• Means of transport: On foot

As you can see, there are many tours and excursions dedicated to visiting the most iconic places of the famous band and discovering all the secrets and anecdotes that surrounded their growth and worldwide fame.

You can book all excursions and tours online. Remember that different companies have different cancellation policies, including weather policies, as some attractions operate as normal on rainy days while others may be rescheduled.

The answer is yes! Not only can you, but it's highly recommended to take a guided tour that visits some lesser-known places that will take you on a tour of beautiful London and teach you more about the band's history.

Here are some examples of what you can discover:

• A Hard Day's Night was the Beatles' first feature film and was released in 1964. It was filmed in and around London. A British musical comedy film that begins with John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr running towards the train station followed by a crowd of fans. This location is Boston Place on the east side of Marylebone station in London NW1.

• The scene where the boys escape through a fire exit can be found at the rear of the Hammersmith Odeon in W6.

• The second film starring The Beatles was Help. A 1965 British adventure and musical comedy film. The story sees the boys struggle to record their new album while trying to protect Ringo from a sinister cult and a pair of mad scientists who are obsessed with trying to get one of his rings.

The filming locations for the children's home in the film can be found at 5, 7, 9 and 11 Ailsa Avenue in Twickenham, Greater London, TW1 1NF. The jewellery shops where Ringo tries to remove the ring can be found at 165-169 New Bond Street, W1.