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Ticket to ride: London's Beatle haunts...
The Beatles in classic black and white
Your Online guide to Beatling around the capital...
spacer Yes, The Beatles famously hailed from Liverpool - but they lived, recorded and partied in London. We show you how and where in words and pictures...

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SEE ALSO
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More of London's visual arts scene in our Galleries section
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FACT FILE
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John Lennon started his first band, The Quarry Men, in 1957 at the age of 16

In July of the same year Paul McCartney met John and was soon invited to join the band

George Harrison joined the line-up in February 1958, aged just 15

Original drummer Pete Best left the band in August 1962, months after EMI first signed them

Best was replaced, much to the dismay of hardcore fans, by Ringo Starr

The Beatles' first single Love Me Do was released on October 15 1962 and reached number 17 in the British charts

The band's first number One hit was their next single, Please Please Me in January 1963

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LINKS
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London Beatles Walks

Beatles News

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Brought together by their common love of rock n roll, The Beatles' first foray to London was as relative unknowns.

The Beatles

And, as well as being unknown in London, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr didn’t know their way around the capital either.

So much so, their first gig in "London" was actually in Aldershot, Hampshire.

According to London Beatles' Walks Guide, Richard Porter, The Beatles played that first gig for free to an audience of just 18 people!

So where was the group's first proper London gig?

With Richard's help we can reveal it took place soon after their Hampshire excursion...at the little-known Blue Gardinia, in Soho.

Abbey Road Studios

But at the outset of his Beatles Magical Mystery Tour, Richard - who is also the president of the London Beatles Fanclub - points out that the club no longer exists.

It was an illegal drinking den which was closed down after only a matter of weeks. And even its former owner can’t recall the exact location...

Despite this, the capital has much to offer Beatles fans.

Come with us now on a virtual tour of the Fab Four's London haunts - with a final stop at the famous Abbey Road Studios.

See more
in our Online Gallery let's go

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