Beatles Museum to open on site of legendary rooftop concert in London

Image: The Beatles - with keyboardist Billy Preston - playing on rooftop of 3 Savile Row, courtesy of Apple Corps

The fabled rooftop where The Beatles played their last-ever concert is to become part of a new seven-floor museum dedicated to the band, reports the Museums Association.

Once the headquarters of Apple Corps, the building at 3 Savile Row in Mayfair, central London, housed the recording studio for the band’s 1970 album Let it Be.

Apple Corps Ltd, a multimedia company established by the band’s members in the 1968, has now re-acquired the building and announced plans to transform it into new ticketed visitor attraction.

The site will be the first museum in London to tell the story of the Fab Four and promises to give visitors access to seven floors of “never-seen-before archive, rotating exhibits, the recreated recording studio in the basement and the famous rooftop”.

The impromptu rooftop concert – since emulated by everyone from The Simpsons to U2 – was held on 30 January 1969 and saw the band play nine takes of five songs before the police intervened due to noise complaints. It was the final live public performance of the band’s career ahead of their split in 1970.

A statement said the acquisition by Apple Corps “completes a full circle moment as it returns to its most famous early headquarters”.

The conglomerate’s CEO, Tom Greene, said: “We’re thrilled to bring Apple Corps back to its spiritual home and give The Beatles fans something truly special.

“Every single day, fans are taking pictures of the outside of 3 Savile Row – but next year they can go in and explore all seven floors of the iconic building, including the rooftop where even the railings remain the same from that famous day in 1969.”

The two surviving members of The Beatles have welcomed the announcement.

“It was such a trip to get back to 3 Savile Row recently and have a look around,” said Paul McCartney. “There are so many special memories within the walls, not to mention the rooftop. The team have put together some really impressive plans and I’m excited for people to see it when it’s ready.” 

Ringo Starr described the development as “like coming home”.

The museum is due to open in 2027.