The Sixties - the era of Swinging London - saw it spawn rock legends like the Stones, Kinks and the Who. The Seventies witnessed the outbreak of punk. The Eighties saw a new generation of British bands conquer the world. And the Nineties saw Britpop battles like Blur and Oasis battle it out for Britain’s pop crown. Now British rock bands like Coldplay are again conquering the world. So what better time to tread in the footsteps of rock’s legends in our Soho walking tour?


1. London Palladium, Argyll St

In the 1960s the London Palladium, originally a famous music hall, played host to Sunday Night at the Palladium, a TV programme showcasing the best of British showbiz talent. In October, 1963, the Beatles topped the bill one night. 15 million people watched - and Beatlemania was born.

2. Magistrates Court, Gt Marlborough St

Around the corner is the site of the one-time Marylebone Magistrates Court - a compulsory West End haunt for any self-respecting bad-boy rocker. In the 1960s, Mick Jagger received a fine there for possessing cannabis. Not to be outdone, Johnny Rotten also paid a courtesy call in 1977 - and was fined £40 for drug possession.

3. Carnaby St

Synonymous with the Swinging Sixties, this is where London’s new rock star elite took to buying their frilly shirts and crushed velvet suits. The era was immortalised in the classic Sixties Kinks song, Dedicated Follower of Fashion.

4. Bag ‘O Nails, 8 Kingly St

Back in the 60s, the Bag ‘O Nails, a trendy hangout for the new rock gods. It was here that John McVie (of Fleetwood Mac) proposed to Christine Perfect (also of Fleetwood Mac). It was also where Paul McCartney first set eyes upon upon his future wife Linda Eastman. ‘I saw this blonde and I fancied her,’ he later recalled.

5. Heddon Street

The street where David Bowie posed with his guitar for the cover of the The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, the 1972 album that would finally made the Brixton-born wannabe a star.

6. Berwick Street

In 1995, the high tide of Britpop, Oasis shot the cover of their biggest-selling album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory, in Soho’s Berwick St, which is famous for its street market. Noel Gallagher later said he thought the cover was ‘shit’ Still, it went on to sell 10 million copies, making the band rich beyond their dreams.

7. The Marquee, Wardour St

The site of the legendary Marquee - a cramped, sweaty club that’s played host to a who’s who’s of British rock. (Mezzo now stands on the site). The venue started life in Oxford St before moving to Wardour St in 1964 - where Rod Stewart and the Yardbirds took to the stage on the opening night. Resident Sixties bands included The Who and Pink Floyd before they found fame - while a young artist called David Bowie tried out new material for family and friends on a Sunday afternoons. In 1976 it staged Britain’s first punk rock festival where performers included Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was also where the Pistols shot their promo film for God Save the Queen - the anti-monarchist anthem they thoughtfully released during the Queen’s 1977 Silver Jubilee.

8. La Chasse, 100 Wardour St

Just down the road was La Chasse, a private drinking club where prog rock kings Yes formed in 1968.

9. 2is Coffee Bar, Old Compton St

The site of the legendary Fifties milk bar, The 2is, this was the place to be seen if you were a wannabe rock’n’roller. Among the early British ‘pop’ stars who got their big break after being spotted playing here were Tommy Steele, Adam Faith and Cliff Richard.

10. Old Compton St / Dean Street

Thirty years ago a mouthy, wannabe pop star from Dublin embarked on a short-lived career as a hot dog salesman on the corner of these two streets. He later made his mark with the poppy new wave outfit the Boomtown Rats before finding worldwide fame as the driving force behind Live Aid and Live 8. His name? Bob Geldof, of course.

11. Ronnie’s Scott’s, Frith St

The jazz club where the Who gave their first public performance of their legendary rock opera Tommy in May 1969. A year later, in September 1970, it was the scene of Jimi Hendrix’s final public performance. Two days later he was found dead following a drugs overdose.

12. Angelucci’s, Frith St

Just over the road is Angelucci’s (23b) where Mark Knopfler stepped out in the first line of the Dire Straits song Wild West End.

13. St Martin’s College of Art, Charing Cross Rd

St Martins College of Art, where Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock was a student, played host to the Pistols debut first gig, on November 6, 1975. The horrified social secretary pulled the plug after five numbers. It’s also where Pulp star Jarvis Cocker dated a sculpture student who told him she’d always wanted to “sleep with common people like you” - the inspiration for the band’s 1995 hit ‘Common People’.

14. Denmark Street

Once London’s Tin Pan Alley, Denmark St used to be home to music biz publishers, agents and hustlers. It was also the site of a recording studio, Regent Sound Studios, where Elton John recorded numerous cover songs for Woolworth's own label before finding fame.. It’s now famous for its guitar shops, patronised by the likes of Paul McCartney and Noel Gallagher.

15. McCartney Publishing Ltd, Soho Square

Our final stop is Soho Square, home to Sir Paul McCartney’s company, MPL, Music Publishing Ltd. The company had a £20m turnover last year which helps explain why the ex-Beatles is the 50th richest man in the Britain, worth a cool £800m. Nice money if you can get it...

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