<P> The north - western end of Abbey Road begins in Kilburn, at the junction with Quex Road and West End Lane . The road was once a track leading to Kilburn Priory and its associated Abbey Farm, and was developed in the early 19th century . It continues south - east for roughly a mile, crossing Belsize Road, Boundary Road, and Marlborough Place, ending at the junction of Grove End Road and Garden Road . </P> <P> The Abbey National Building Society (now Santander UK) was founded in 1874 as The Abbey Road & St John's Wood Permanent Benefit Building Society in a Baptist church on Abbey Road . </P> <P> EMI's Abbey Road Studios are located at the south - eastern end, at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood . The Beatles and many other famous popular music performers have recorded at this studio, and The Beatles named their last studio LP after this street . The album's cover photograph shows the four group members walking across the zebra crossing just outside the studio entrance . As a result of its association with The Beatles, since 1969 this part of Abbey Road has been featured on the London tourism circuit . In December 2010 the crossing was given Grade II Listed Building status by English Heritage despite its age not being contemporary to that era . </P> <P> The zebra crossing featured on the Beatles cover, as well as the crossing directly north of it, have become popular photo - opportunity areas, despite the road still being a busy thoroughfare for traffic . The Beatles album cover has been parodied many times over the years on the crossing . </P>

Where did the beatles take the abbey road picture