New York – John Lennon walk

John Lennon walk – Image of John Lennon, Photo supplied.

Start/Finish	Category	Distance	Estimated Walking Time
Corner of W 31st and 7th Ave/ The Dakota	Popular culture	5.9 km	1hr 30 min*

Summary

This hike explores the life of John Lennon, including some places of historical significance after he moved to New York city in 1971.

Public transport

Catch the metro to Penn Station.

Directions

Staring point – Madison Square Garden

This walk starts on the corner of 7th Avenue and W 31 St, outside Madison Square Garden. Madison Square Garden was the location of John Lennon’s final live performance on 28 November 1974 where he appeared as a guest at an Elton John concert. Just two months prior he had released the hit single ‘whatever gets you through the night’, which includes Elton John on piano.

From Madison Square Garden walk down W 31 st in a north westerly direction, then turn right up Ninth Avenue.  Walk down Ninth Ave until you reach W 48th St. Turn right down W 48th St, which is located in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood of New York.

At 353 W 48th St are residential buildings with commercial premises on the ground floor. However, it used to be the location of the Hit Factory recording studios, where Lennon is said to have been the night he was killed.

From the old Hit Factory continue down 48th st until you reach Madison Ave. Turn left up Madison Ave and left again along East 55th St. At 2 East 55th St is the St Regis Hotel.  When John Lennon first moved to new York he lived at the St Regis Hotel, in the Midtown Manhattan neighbourhood. In his room he recorded a demo of Happy Xmas (War Is Over) released in 1971.

From the St Regis Hotel turn right down 5th Ave heading towards Central Park. From the Grand Army Plaza, enter the park and walk up East Drive in a northerly direction. Take the path that crosses over the Mall. Continue heading up the Mall in a northerly direction.

Head west along Terrace Drive and then continue north though Strawberry fields, a memorial to John Lennon and his work with the Beatles.   

John Lennon Memorial, Central Park

Image: John Lennon Memorial, Strawberry Fields, Central Park

Finish – The Dakota

From here head out of the park to the entrance of the Dakota apartments where the walk ends. The Dakota is of course famous for the death of John Lennon who was shot and killed outside his residence on the evening of 8 December 1980. John Lennon was only 40 years old when he died.

To get home you can catch the subway from West 72 St, which is not far from the Dakota.

John Lennon walk – GPX file

Access to the GPX file for this walk is available here.  

Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google Maps can be found here.

John Lennon walk – Map

Start –  Penn Station

1. Maddison Square Garden
2. The Hit Factory – 353 west 48th st
3. St Regis
4. Strawberry Fields
5. The Dakota

Finish – The Dakota