If you’re an avid backpacker, but aren’t too sure where to head to next, then you should definitely consider a trip to London. Not only is this city home to enviable accents, the royal family, and many tourist attractions, but it is also the backdrop for a wide array of album covers throughout recent decades. Here’s a look at the three most iconic album cover locations in London you need to see while you’re there.
23 Heddon Street
Location of David Bowie’s album, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Revered by everyone from Kanye West to Paul McCartney, David Bowie is arguably one of the most daring, innovative, and successful musical acts that this world has seen. One of his most infamous album covers is The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, shot right outside 23 Heddon Street, just west of Carnaby Street. Although the K.West sign is no longer there, avid fans will instantly recognize the unique brick pattern and clamor to recreate Ziggy’s bad alien-boy pose.
To get here, take the Underground to Piccadilly Circus Station and then it’s just a quick six-minute walk to 23 Heddon St.
Abbey Road, NW8
Location of The Beatles’ album, Abbey Road
Image via Flickr by Shane Global Language Centres
The Beatles’ Abbey Road album cover is definitely one of the most recognizable covers of all time. No trip to London is complete without a trip to Abbey Road to recreate your own version of The Beatles’ stroll across this London street. The painted street lines have differed a bit from those depicted on the cover, but everything else has stayed relatively the same. A few souvenir shops have popped up near Abbey Road, since tourists and die-hard Beatles’ fans alike tend to frequent the spot daily.
To get here, take the Underground to St. John’s Wood Station and then walk around seven minutes until you stumble upon this famed cross-section.
Battersea Power Station
Location of Pink Floyd’s album, Animals
Pink Floyd decided to make the cover of their album, Animals, a shot of one of the most unusual looking buildings in London, the Battersea Power Station. The four, white, tall chimneys placed on each corner of this massive building have made it easy to spot, and thanks to the work of Pink Floyd, this abandoned power station has become one of the most iconic buildings in London.
To get the best view, travel to the spot where Savona Street meets Battersea Park Road. To get there, take the Underground to Vauxhall Station and then either walk the one-mile to the vantage point or take the 344 bus to Riverlight Quay.
No matter where you’ve traveled, you’ve never been to a city like London. Explore everything this city has to offer and check out where some of your favorite album cover locations while you’re there for a memorable experience and a few envy-inducing Instagram posts. So, what are you waiting for? Go find the next flight out and book your London hotel today. It’s guaranteed — it’ll be the trip of a lifetime.
