57 Wimpole Street (Paul McCartney's former residence), London

It鈥檚 the swinging London of 1963: Beatlemania is turning up to 11, and Paul McCartney moves into a posh townhouse at 57 Wimpole Street, courtesy of his girlfriend Jane Asher鈥檚 well-to-do family. Not a bad gig for a 21-year-old rock star. He was set up in the top-back room鈥攁 cozy, near-apartment setup with all the essentials: bed, chair, record player, and yes, a piano for those 3 a.m. strokes of genius.

And genius did strike. While dating the then-18-year-old Jane, Paul turned that upper room鈥攁nd the family鈥檚 music room downstairs鈥攊nto a creative goldmine. In fact, the melody for 鈥淵esterday鈥� reportedly came to him in a dream. He stumbled out of bed, hit the piano, and boom鈥攍egend was born. That song would go on to be the most covered track in recording history. Meanwhile, 鈥淚 Want to Hold Your Hand鈥�, their first U.S. number one, was born in the basement, where Mrs. Asher鈥檚 music room proved a pretty solid recording lab (with no screaming fans to interrupt).

But like all classic love ballads, this one hit a sour note. In 1968, Jane returned from an American tour to find Paul rehearsing a different kind of duet鈥攚ith another woman. The engagement ended, the headlines wrote themselves, and Paul soon moved on with photographer Linda Eastman, who would become his wife and partner through decades of music, love, and... animal rights campaigns.

And just a year after this romantic remix, The Beatles called it quits. Coincidence? Well, we鈥檒l let you decide.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: 57 Wimpole Street (Paul McCartney's former residence)
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Beatles London Walking Tour

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