On a rainy Saturday morning in London, what should you do? Brave the cold and continue your Beatles pilgrimage to 3 Saville Row. That is what I decided to do, and once standing in front of the ex Apple Corps, the rain didn’t seem to matter anymore. As the Beatles would say: ‘Rain / I don’t mind / Shine / The weather’s fine.’
I arrived at London Euston, and made my way to the underground station to begin my journey to the rooftop. There were delays and strikes when I went so there might be alternative routes in the future – and I am not very familiar with the London underground – but this was how I got there. I boarded the Victoria line Southbound to Brixton and exited the tube at Green Park. From there it was about a 10 minute walk (in the pouring rain) with the trusted help of Google maps – postcode for reference: W1S 3PB.
When following the directions, the buildings slowly started to morph into the recognisable dark brick that is so familiar with the rooftop, so we knew we were getting closer. Turning the corner onto Saville Row, there stood the iconic building, standing tall, with its towering history. Apple Studios was in the basement of the Apple Corps headquarters – 3 Saville Row – and is now labelled as an Abercrombie & Fitch store. However, I did read that they have since relocated but still own the building. Apart from the original exterior and the recognisable blue plaque that litters significant buildings throughout London, there are no longer any hints of Apple. Understandably, times change and contextual preservation is typically foregone and it is only with our contemporary hindsight that re-visitations allow for the English Heritage commemorations. As seen with this specific sight, as it was in 2019, on the 50th anniversary of the rooftop performance that 3 Saville Row was adorned with the recognition. It would have been nice for the building to still have the gold Apple sign, but I think that is just a personal wish; as the building is iconic in its own right.
While standing at the foot of the steps that lead to many years of beloved creations, you can’t help but feel a sense of awe that you are standing in the very spot that the Beatles and their intimates would have stood. I felt like the two ‘Apple Scruffs’ that were interviewed during the ‘Get Back’ project, waiting the arrival of the Fab Four. I spent quite a bit of time mentally transporting myself to 1969, willing the arrival of the band and hearing the first few chords echo down the street of Saville Row. You can only imagine the sheer delight and shock of witnessing this: their last performance on a cold January day. Looking up to the roof, there would be minimal chance of actually seeing the band play. The building is much taller in person, compared to what the camera angles depict when recording the performance.
Looking through the railings, you can see the basement entrance, however, the windows are opaque so any hope of catching a glimpse of the original studio is impossible. Fortunately, Peter Jackson’s documentary supplements your imagination and you can really picture all those moments throughout the ‘Get Back’ project. Access into the building through the main door is also denied now that Abercrombie & Fitch have closed, and access to the rooftop had been politely declined by staff when the store was accessible to the public, under health and safety concerns; echoing the risky sentiment contextually shared by Apple Corps when the Beatles made their way up to the roof with all their heavy equipment. I do hold some optimistic hope for the future that someone of some company will see the fantastic opportunity of opening up the roof for fans to see, but in the meantime, I will continue to consume Peter Jackson’s documentary and pretend that it is still 1969.
If you have any spare time in London, this is a must see sight for any Beatles fan. If you are like me and want to visit as many Beatles landmarks as physically possible, then this is well worth the visit – you could always coincide the trip with Abbey Road Studios, take your chance on spotting Macca at MPL, and visit the Fab Four’s London homes including John Lennon’s in Marylebone. There are so many Beatles sights, typically identified with the blue plaques, to see throughout London to complete your Beatles pilgrimage. If you would like more recommendations of Beatles sights in London and how to see them, then I would recommend checking out London Beatles Walks and Tours with Richard Porter.
You can find my previous blog post from 2021 detailing my trip to Liverpool here, where I visited many of the historic Beatles sites. I will keep revising and updating this blog post the more I visit Liverpool, as it truly is the best place to be for Beatles fans.
Thank you for reading!
Meg
For The Literature 