Tour One: Stoke Newington Area
 

Probably Marc’s most famous address is his childhood home at 25, Stoke Newington Common, where a brown plaque now adorns the wall. This is a short walk from Stoke Newington station (B.R) as is Northwold Road where Marc went to Primary school. Hackney Hospital, where it all began is located in Homerton High Street which is close to Homerton British Rail station. There are just so many places around this area that have some slight Bolan significance that it’s almost impossible to list them all. However, you can get to the very heart of Stoke Newington by a #73 bus from Oxford Street and get to see all around the Hackney area and lots of Marc’s childhood haunts.

 

Tour Two: Fulham / Earls Court Area.
 

Two houses in the same road begin the tour of this area. #81 and 108 Lexham Gardens both have strong Bolan connections. Allen Warren and Marc shared a flat at #81 in the early 60’s and later Tyrannosaurus Rex rehearsed their material at 108, then Tony Visconti’s home. This road is close to Earls Court station (District and Piccadilly lines). Just two stops down on the district line by Fulham Broadway tube is 25 Holmead Road, the three story house Marc and Gloria rented in 1975. Also of interest within this area is 32, Kinnoul Road as Marcs mum, Phyllis, was living at this address when she first met Sid. This road is a bit difficult to get to, but the nearest tube is Barons Court and that’s also on the District and Piccadilly lines.

 

Tour Three: Maida Vale / Ladboke Grove Area.
 

Three places of great Bolan interest here! Firstly, Alexander Street in Westbourne Park was home to the offices of Blackhill Enterprises, where June and Marc met for the first time. Its in-between a couple of tube stations: Royal Oak (Hammersmith and City) and Bayswater ( District and Circle). Although more difficult to get to, Royal Oak is probably the better bet as it’s close to Westbourne Park Villas., a road which leads into Westbourne Park Road. (Alexander Street is a turning off this road).

Also on the Hammersmith and City line is Ladbroke Grove Station. The exit leads you into Ladboke Grove itself, 57 Blenheim Crescent and the coldwater attic flat that became Marc and June’s first home. From Blenheim Crescent Marc and June moved to Clarendon Gardens in Maida Vale. Warwick Avenue is the nearest stop on the tube (Bakerloo line) and then its only a short walk away down Clifton Gardens turning into Randolph Road. Clarendon Gardens is on the left. Although Warwick Avenue and Royal Oak are on different tube lines, in fact they are only 2 stops apart, if you change at Paddington.

 

Tour Four: The BIG One / West End.
 

It must be said that nearly every place listed in this section no longer exists in it’s original (Bolan ) context. Firstly, lets start with everything that can be found near Oxford Street. Tube stations Marble |Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road cut down the length of Oxford Street. The high security rented flat at 47 Bilton Towers, Great Cumberland Place that Marc and June moved into is just behind Marble Arch. On the right hand side further down Oxford Street between Bond Street and Oxford Circus stations is New Bond Street. About half way down is #69 – Marcs old suite of offices. Keep going down this road and at the far end is Bruton Place. The Bryan Morrison agency who handled Tyrannosaurus Rex in the late 60’s used to be based at #16. Lupus Publishing, who were responsible for ‘The Warlock of Love’ were also based at this address then, along with one of the very first Tyranno Rex fan clubs. Incidently, Bruton Place leads directly into Berkeley Square, where Marc spent his final evening at Morton’s on Sept 15/16th 1977. Back up into Oxford Street and the next stop is Berwick Street, where Marcs mum had her fruit and veg stall. This is past Oxford Circus on the right hand side. At the top of Oxford Street, close to Tottenham Court Road is Dean Street where Marc made some of his very earliest recordings at #47 – The Maximum Sound Studios. Here Marc became one of the first people to use these studios when he recorded ‘Blowin in the Wind' and 'The Road I’m On' (Gloria) in January 1965. Turning right into Charing Cross Road, you may want to have a look down Old Compton Street, which is about halfway down on the right. The famous 2i’s coffee bar was here, a place often frequented by Marc as a teenager. A little further away, but still in close proximity to these areas are a couple of other sites of Bolan interest.

The photo session for the Unicorn album cover took place at 2 Park Square Mews, ( jims note: Pete Sanders old house :-) just off Upper Harley Street. The street is within walking distance from Oxford Circus turning left up into Regent Street, through Langham Place which leads onto Portland Place. A semi circular road called Park Crescent cuts across the top of Portland Place and if you go left up this road, Park Square Mews is almost directly ahead of you.

16 Doughty Street, of Grays Inn Road where the T-Rex offices temporarily moved to in 1972 is in-between Russell Square (Piccadilly line) and Chancery Lane (two stops down from Tottenham Court Road on the Circle line). From Russell Square, Guildford Street cuts into Doughty Street and the Chancery Lane station is on Gray’s Inn Road itself. Turn up Roger Street on the left for Doughty Street.

The Apple Studio’s, where some of Born to Boogie was filmed is on Abbey Road, near Lord’s Cricket Ground. You can get to it by bus as a 139 from Golders Green Bus Station goes right by the studio’s.

At the top of Abbey Road is West End Lane. West Hamstead tube station (Jubilee line) is in West End Lane and the first turning on the left upon leaving the station is Broadhurst Gardens. It was here at Decca’s West Hampstead studios on 14th September 1965 that Marc recorded ‘The Wizard’ and ‘Beyond the Rising Sun’.

There are three places on this tour. One, sadly is Gypsy Lane. Very close to Barnes Rail Station (from Waterloo) Gipsy Lane joins up to Queens Ride on the Upper Richmond Road. The tree is usually highly decorated and easy to spot. Marc’s last home at 142 Upper Richmond Road West, is such a short drive from this place that it’s quite heartbreaking to realise just how close to home he was that night. The huge Victorian house is on a corner surrounded by a high brick wall. Marc’s parents house at the time, 9 Inglis House, Whitnell Way, Putney is a short distance from here. The nearest station is Putney British Rail and Whitnell Way is off Chartfield Avenue down Putney Hill.

Special thanks to ANN CHEESEWRIGHT on behalf of MAINMAN fanzine
for putting this BRILLIANT Bolan Tour together.
We really appreciate it.

Thank You.


  • London Land-Marc's
    Continue on your journey at this page with some pictures and info on the tube access lovely job Kate