The UK has a rich musical history and has produced some of the greatest acts of all time. Indeed, the Beatles, Elton John, and Queen all make it into the top five best-selling music acts ever.
For travellers who want to get a taste of the musical culture in the country, there are various hotspots that are worth visiting. London, Liverpool, and Manchester are three key areas that you need to experience.
London
London attracts around 30 million tourists every year, and not just for the variety of traditional famous landmarks. There are also some hugely important locations that have contributed to the history of music in the country.
Some of the best places to go to in the sprawling metropolis include Heddon Street and Abbey Road. Exploring the former is considered a pilgrimage for David Bowie fans, as this is where the late artist shot the cover of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. The latter is the spot where the Beatles’ recording studio used to be, where they laid down some of their most famous songs. It’s also the setting for the iconic artwork on the front of their album, Abbey Road. In the photo, the fab four are walking across a zebra crossing.
Musicians often feel inspired when journeying to these legendary places, and that’s why London also features a range of practice venues and studios that are open to the public. For instance, Pirate has a whopping nine locations dotted around the city. People can stop in and have a jam, or even lay down some tracks. These spots also serve as locations for musicians to meet up and share ideas.
Liverpool
There’s no doubt that the Beatles had a seismic influence on the music industry in the UK and inspired many of the acts that came after them. That’s why many people feel it’s important to go and get a feel of the city in which they grew into the world-famous band they became.
When you visit Liverpool, there are places all over the city that remind you of the Beatles. John, Paul, George, and Ringo are still revered as gods in the area, and the local people are extremely proud. It goes without saying that there are numerous landmarks that are well worth a visit. The Cavern Club is where the Beatles played a lot of their early gigs. There’s also The Beatles Story, which details the entire history of the band.
Manchester
Outside of London, Manchester has arguably produced the greatest number of significant music acts in the UK over the years. Some of the world’s most influential bands came from the North West, including the Fall, Joy Division, New Order, Happy Mondays, the Stone Roses, the Smiths, and Oasis.
The Salford Lads Club is seen as a hugely important spot for Smiths fans, as this is where the band posed for The Queen is Dead in 1986. It’s still a great spot for a modern photo in the Instagram era. Some other landmarks include Sifters Records and the Temple of Convenience.
A musical odyssey around the UK doesn’t have to stop at these cities. If you have more time, there are plenty of other places you can visit as well. For example, Cardiff is home to the Wales Millennium Centre, which is a great place for seeing live bands, and Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world.
