New London station confuses Beatles' fans looking for Abbey Road
New London station confounds Beatle pilgrims on a mission to find that famous pedestrian crossing
It has to be the most famous pedestrian crossing in the world, immortalised by the Beatles on the cover of their Abbey Road album in 1969.
Situated just outside the north London EMI studios, the crossing enjoys listed status for its "cultural and historical importance" and draws thousands of tourists every year.
But a growing number of visitors hoping to take photos of themselves recreating the enigmatic, single-file crossing by the famous foursome are finding themselves in a very different part of London - thanks to a railway station.
Since the station was built last year and named after another Abbey Road at least 16km away from its more famous namesake in posh St John's Wood, tourists have been descending on the distinctly less glamorous east London neighbourhood of West Ham.
Instead of the leafy mansions and prim tree-lined streets one might expect of one of the most expensive postcodes in Britain, visitors are met with a train depot and a series of industrial parks.
"There are always loads of tourists here," said 68-year-old local resident Jack Walker. "They get here, look around, wonder where the crossing is, find out it's on the other side of London, and head back to the station."