Behind the scenes at Abbey Road: The history of The Beatles' famous studio as it celebrates 80 years of music

As part of their year-long 80th anniversary celebrations, the iconic recording studios in London have been letting the public in for a series of talks

From Star Wars soundtracks to The Beatles, the historic Abbey Road studios has played a key role in some of the most influential music of all time.

Now, as part of their year-long 80th anniversary celebrations, the iconic recording studios in North London have been letting the public in for a series of talks.

The Gramophone Company bought the Georgian townhouse for £100,000 in 1929, before opening it as a state-of-the-art recording studio in November 1931.

Sir Edward Elgar conducted London Symphony Orchestra at the opening ceremony, and it was mainly used for classical recordings for the first few decades.

Inside Abbey Road Studio - London Symphony Orchestra recording in Studio 1 in 1993 — The London Symphony Orchestra recording in Studio 1 in 1993

A long list of classic movie soundtracks have also been recorded at Abbey Road over the years, including five Star Wars films starting with Empire Strikes Back, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and Raiders of The Lost Ark.

It was even used for propaganda recordings for the British Government during the Second World War, while the first British artist to record a No.1 hit single there was Eddie Calvert in 1954.

But ever since 1958, when Cliff Richard recorded first European rock'n'roll single "Move It" there, Abbey Road has been intertwined in rock music history.

The Beatles are unquestionably the act most associated with Abbey Road, with the band having recorded 90 per cent of their output there with legendary producer George Martin at the helm.

George Martin also known as The Fifth Beatle, circa 1960 — George Martin, the Fifth Beatle, recorded hundreds of hits and misses.

George Harrison (1943-2001) with his first wife Patti Boyd (1944-) at the Abbey Road Studios in 1966 — Backstage: George Harrison with his first wife Patti Boyd in 1966

Ringo Starr (L) Paul McCartney (centre left) George Harrison (centre right) and record producer George Martin (R)sit in the Abbey Road recording studios in 1995 — Still going strong: Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and George Martin in 1995

The band's first proper session in 1962 resulted in their first hit single Love Me Do while their final stint in 1969 saw them record their swansong album Abbey Road, named in tribute to the studio that had helped form their sound.

The album's sleeve provided Abbey Road's most famous moment in the spotlight, featuring the Fab Four walking in line over the zebra crossing outside the studio.

The zebra crossing has become a tourist honeypot with visitors looking to replicate the album cover scene themselves - so much so that English Heritage has given it listed status.

The Volkswagen Beetle parked next to the zebra crossing on the album sleeve belonged to one of the people living in a flat across from the recording studio.

Zebra crossing at Abbey Road studio in London 1994 — Not just any old zebra crossing: Outside Abbey Road in 1994

Margaret Thatcher walking across zebra crossing in Abbey Road made famous by the Beatles from the album cover of the same name. 1990 — Not for turning: Thatcher walks across the zebra crossing in 1990

A Beatles tribute band on August 8, 2009 for the 40th anniversary of the taking of one of the greatest images in rock and roll history — Tourist draw: A Beatles tribute band pose on August 8, 2009, the 40th anniversary of the iconic photo

Abbey Road, Beatles — The original: The Beatles on the zebra crossing - and that Beetle car

George Martin (Beatles producer) and Geoff Emerick (Beatles studio sound engineer from 1966-1970) - posed at mixing desk in Abbey Road Studios in 1995 — Where the Beatles magic happened: Producer George Martin and sound engineer Geoff Emerick in 1995

After the album came out, the number plate was stolen repeatedly from the car. In 1986, the car was sold at an auction for $23,000 and is currently on display at the Volkswagen museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

As well as revolutionising popular culture, the Beatles' time at Abbey Road saw the group help pioneer many new studio techniques, with such innovations as flanging (a delay effect) and eight-track recording appearing first on Fab Four records.

It's not all about the moptops, though: Pink Floyd's multi-million selling Dark Side of the Moon, Radiohead’s breakthrough album The Bends and Oasis’s height of Britpop long-player Be Here Now are among the other notable records to have been cut at the studio.