I knew I had found Abbey Road Studios when I saw a number of people standing in line across a zebra crossing, waiting to be photographed. This being the quiet London district of St John’s Wood, there weren’t many irate drivers honking away in frustration.

The Beatles’ eleventh album Abbey Road was the band’s tribute to the iconic studio. The cover photo features (left to right) George Harrison, a barefoot Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon crossing the street in front of the building. It has become one of the world’s most recognisable images. Here is a postage stamp replica of the album cover.

So, I presumed locals had long grown used to the unusual sight. I was there for the same seemingly inane reason: I wanted to write my name on the outer wall, and leave a message for four Englishmen named John, Paul, George and Ringo.

From a Georgian townhouse built in the 1830s, this building was converted into flats and then acquired by the Gramophone Company (later renamed EMI) a 100 years later, before it was converted into a studio.