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Beatles Childhood Homes

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Beatles Childhood Homes - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Beatles Childhood Homes

A combined tour of 'Mendips' and 20 Forthlin Road, Liverpool

"It’s a wonderful idea that The Salvation Army is going to cultivate youngsters in the precious soil of Strawberry Field."

Mendips & 20 Forthlin Road Tours

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20 Forthlin Road

Liverpool L24 1YP

United Kingdom

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Beatles fans! You must make Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road stops on your Beatlemania tour of Liverpool. Mendips is the childhood home of John Lennon - more accurately it was his Aunt Mimi's home - where he spent most of his life, not to mention many Beatles songs were written here and the bond between the boys thickened. Sam goes for 20 Forthlin Road except it was Paul McCartney's childhood home. Paul's home is quaint from the outside but both homes are easily distinguishable with plaques clearly stating what they are. It's easy to find parking if you'd just like to snap some shots yourself from the outside. When I was at Mendips, cars honked at me while I posed for a thousand and two pics (John is my pseudo boyfriend)! I waved back to the honkers and my friend yelled at me to stop waving back to them. :P 'But but but,' I told him, 'They're just fellow Beatles fans showing some appreciation for my appreciation of the goodness that is John Lennon so I must some my gratitude right back to them.' Beatles fans unite! Both homes are part of the National Trust and you can book to go through them.I love how cherished the Beatles are and that these childhood homes have been kept so true to form.(See Sarah-Jane's review for full details & pix). Tours last approximately 2 hrs 30 mins including transfer time with them picking up & dropping you off. The price is £21 now if you aren't a national trust member. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'm going back to England before the year is up...And if I do, back to these homes I'm going for the scheduled tour!

See all photos from Sarah S. for Mendips & 20 Forthlin Road Tours

Total awesome, epic and once in a lifetime experience! If you are a fan you'll love these tours. Going inside these homes is just an awesome experience. If you are a fan and can you must go!

I took this tour with my son, Jon, in April of 2013. I think the smile from that day is still on my face. I was 15 when The Beatles landed at Kennedy. And I was one of the lucky ones who was there when it happened on that magical Friday afternoon on February 7th, 1964. I was there along with 3,000 or so other Beatles-besotted fans who knew in their heart of hearts that this was no flash in the pan... these guys were going to be with us forever... for the music and far beyond that. And they are. And they always will be. Seeing Mendips (John's home with his Aunt Mimi) and Forthlin Road (The McCartney household) should be at the very top of every Beatle fan's Bucket list. There is a rich history you can feel. Truly it cannot be denied. ...To visit John's bedroom ... to look out that leaded glass window as he did thousands of times... to think of all the songs he wrote sitting there on his bed looking out that window... it was a privilege for my own eyes. And in the vestibule, where John and Paul would practice because of the acoustics... my God, when you think ... "They were in here, like I'm in here!!!!" And they sang She Loves You in there for the very first time... and I Want to Hold your Hand....Little Richard songs too... and Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Elvis... We were all asked if we wanted to sing in the vestibule... and I guess there were 10 of us on that particular tour, and no one said yes... but me. The rest of them, including my son, Jon, walked up the staircase to the 2nd floor and I was left alone in the vestibule. I sang softly, but I sang. It was pure joy. As we left for the van when the tour had ended, I was asked if I would like to lock up the front door. I smiled and said, Yes! But before I locked up, I took one more step inside of the vestibule, and looked into that lovely interior once again and whispered, "Thank you. Thank you for everything." ...And I meant that with all of my heart.

The view from John's bedroom at Mendips.

Lucky me locking up Mendips for the day.

If you've always wanted to walk in the footsteps of Lennon and McCartney, you'll be pleased to know that there's a tour that allows you to wander around the childhood homes of the songwriting duo. Faithfully restored by the National Trust, Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road look like average, unassuming houses from the outside. Inside however, they are pure fifties with the same simple furniture that graced Lennon's Aunt Mimi's house and Macca's family home whilst they were growing up. We're talking wooden beds and side cabinets, free-standing cookers and minimal decor. Naturally, you aren't allowed to kick off your shoes and lie down on the beds. As you wander round however, you're encouraged to imagine Lennon and McCartney eating in the kitchen, listening to the radio in the lounge and rehearsing and writing early songs like 'I Saw Her Standing There'. There are odd photos and personal possessions dotted around but really, the appeal of this tour is visiting a historic place where the seeds for something magical were sewn. Whilst the Magical Mystery Tour caters for large groups, the National Trust tours are for only 14 people. Tickets are a pricey £16.80 for adults and £3.15 for children with radical reductions for National Trust members. Transport is provided with morning pick-ups from Jury's Inn Hotel in Liverpool and afternoon pick-ups from Speke Hall. Tourists should note however, that no filming or photography is allowed in either house. Paperback Writer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm75uPIDTVU&feature=related

See all photos from Sarah-Jane B. for Mendips & 20 Forthlin Road Tours

I think I can say that most people have come across Mendip and 20 Forthlin Road. The National Trust have a combined escorted tour of Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road , the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From March to end of October, morning tours depart from Liverpool city centre, afternoon tours depart from Speke Hall. A joint ticket for 20 Forthlin Road and Mendips costs £16.80 for adults, and £3.15 for a child. If you are a member then an adult tickets costs £7.90. With my NT membership I took the tour and really enjoyed going back in time and trying to experience what it would have all been like. I liked the original early Beatles memorabilia and the audio tour which included Michael and Paul reminiscing.

Picture from http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-20forthlinroadallerton

I did the Mendips & 20 Forthlin Road Tour when I was in Liverpool, England on 5/13/2015. Liverpool is always associated with the Beatles and this tour gives you an insight as to why. On this combined escorted National Trust tour I was able to view the childhood homes of Paul McCartney and John Lennon. My tour (in connection with the cruise ship Royal Princess) started at 20 Fortlin Road where Paul McCartney lived and then concluded with a visit to Mendips, the home of John Lennon. I enjoyed both and believe that even after all these years they give you an insight into their beginnings. Plus, I took photos.

Thought I'd already covered all the Beatles tourist attractions? Meh, I can always fit in more! This little attraction takes in a combined escorted tour of 20 Forthlin Road, the childhood home of Paul McCartney, and Mendips, where little Johnny Lennon came of age. You can completely relive the young lives of the two foremost Beatles right here. Stand right where Lennon and McCartney composed some of their earliest hits; wander through the kitchen where Lennon's Aunt Mimi cooked his dinner for him; hang out where the Beatles met, wrote and rehearsed lots of their earlier songs. There are some things to be aware of. While this is an amazing trip down memory lane and a must-see for any diehard Beatles fan, the downsides include the fact that there's no WC at Mendips, you have to get there by minibus only and they're very strict - any recording equipment, cameras and even handbags have to be left at the entrance to both houses. Admission is also only by guided tour. Still, if you can deal with those harsh rules it's an amazing experience, rather akin to walking around Howarth's home of the Brontes. If you're going to do something amazing and Beatley just once, do this!

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BEATLES CHILDHOOD HOMES TOUR EXPERIENCE

£220 per taxi, in collaboration with the national trust, creating the perfect link to suit, up to 6 guests.

©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

THE PERFECT LINK TO DISCOVER THE CHILDHOOD HOMES OF THE BEATLES

We’ve teamed up with the history experts at The National Trust to bring you a tour experience of the lifetime!

Explore the interiors of both Mendips, John Lennon’s childhood home, and Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney’s childhood home.

Walk in the footsteps of legends and explore how John and Paul grew up here, practiced their music and wrote some of the first songs made famous by the Beatles.

Our childhood homes tour is the only tour linking you directly with the official The National Trust tour taking you inside these unique and atmospheric buildings. 

Step back in time and enter the worlds of John, Paul, George and Ringo! All you need is The National Trust Childhood Homes Tour tickets – we will look after the rest.

• Select your pick up / drop off locations
• Transfers creating the perfect link to experience The Beatles’ childhood homes
• Exterior visits to childhood homes of George Harrison & Ringo Starr
• Expert Beatles tour guide(s)
• Mendips during official National Trust tour*
• Forthlin Road during official National Trust tour*

*Entry to The National Trust Childhood Homes Tour is NOT inlcuded in your tour price. 

GET EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO GEORGE HARRISON'S FORMER HOME*

We have partnered with the owners of 25 Upton Green, George Harrison’s former childhood home, and we have been given exclusive access on Wednesdays in-line with our Childhood Homes tour! You are invited!*

• The place the Harrison’s lived from 1950-1962
• Spend time in each room and soak in the atmosphere
• Strum the guitar and feel the vibes
• Take pictures and enjoy the space
• Exclusive access to the property during our tour

Book both tours as a combo and receive 20% off the retail rate of the Fab 60 Minutes Tour. Follow the easy steps during the tour booking checkout.

*Access to Upton Green is only available on Wednesdays’ regular departure tour. All access is subject to availability and at owner’s discretion. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Beatles taxi tour
• Transfers linking you to The National Trust Beatles Childhood Homes tour*
• Local, knowledgeable tour guide
• Flexible pick-up points

* Tickets to the National Trust tour are not inlcuded and must be purchased prior to booking this tour.

• Entry to John Lennon's childhood home (operated by The National Trust)
• Entry to Paul McCartney's childhood home (operated by The National Trust)
• Food & drink
• Optional gratuities

WHAT TO BRING

• Consider layers of clothing
• Comfortable shoes

GOOD TO KNOW

• Tour is purchased excluding National Trust Childhood Homes tickets - we provide the perfect link there and back!
• Ensure you purchase National Trust tickets before booking this tour (tickets sell out quickly!).
• Select dates & on request
• National Trust visits form part of their public tour with up to 15 guests per group
• Health & safety accredited

Who will be on my tour?

We only run private tours. Every tour is run exclusively for you, your friends or family. No other guests/strangers will be included on your individual tour. You will only be accompanied by your driver guide.

How many people fit into a taxi?

Our taxi cabs can carry up to 6 guests. Some have less seats (5) but we can usually accommodate & make things work for our guests.

What's included in the price?

Included is a private tour with one of our specialist Beatles tour driver guides inside the comfort of a Hackney Carriage “Black Cab” taxi.

Are your tours & drivers insured?

Fab 4 Taxi Tours is fully insured & only employs fully insured taxi drivers. Additionally, most drivers have also completed the Liverpool Hackney Taxi Driver First Aid Course & Management of Potential Emergencies Workshop.

Should I tip my driver guide?

If you’ve had a great experience and you feel your driver guide deserves a gratuity it will be accepted with thanks.

Where can I share my pictures?

We love to see what you’ve been up to on our tours! You can share photos of your adventures on Instagram by using the hashtag #fab4taxitours. Not on Instagram? Email us your pictures or videos to  [email protected]

Are there fixed pick-up/drop-off points?

Usually we can pick up anywhere within Liverpool city centre (postcodes L1, L2, L3) or at any hotel, landmark or railway station in the city. You can add your pick-up location at booking. We also offer a door-to-door service from/to your home if you live locally. Speak to us about your requirements, we are happy to help.

Can I take my pet?

We offer pet-friendly tours but please speak to our office before booking by sending an email to [email protected] for more information. Guide dogs or hearing dogs are always allowed.

Can I be picked up at Liverpool John Lennon Airport or centrally within Liverpool?

Sure! Check out our “Meet Your Guide” section for central pick up locations (and airport pick ups!) on our hotel travel page info here .

Is my taxi guaranteed to be "black" and/or "traditional" as the old taxis are/were?

Our Black Cabs (Hackney Carriage cabs) come in different colours (of which the majority are black). As times move on and modern vehicles are introduced into the Hackney Carriage fleet options, we cannot guarantee a “traditional” or “black” taxi. You can, however, request a traditional taxi cab if you wish.

What is your cancellation/rescheduling policy?

We provide a flexible cancellation policy in that you can cancel or reschedule up to 24 hours before departure of your tour. Exceptions apply. Our full Terms & Conditions can be found here.

Do I require travel insurance?

We always advise you to take out travel insurance. For our multi-day tours, travel insurance is mandatory. We recommend All Clear Travel Insurance

Are there toilet breaks during your tours?

We are never far away from restrooms & we can usually accommodate you with an easy solution. Everywhere we stop for a longer period of time will have WC provided.

What should I wear?

We recommend you bring suitable clothing for changing weather and comfortable footwear for your tour. Bring layers. This is Britain and we do tend to have four seasons in one day.

What are the guides like?

In short, fab! Some of them love to tell the fascinating history of the Beatles as if they lived it themselves, others know hidden secrets of every Fab4, and every one of them wants to make you love their city as much as they do. They will keep you entertained on the journey with music and stories and give you plenty of time for photos & questions.

How can I provide feedback?

At Fab 4 Taxi Tours we love receiving your feedback! You can write to us direct, call us or use one of our many booking platforms to leave feedback such as Tripadvisor , Viator, Google or Get Your Guide .

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, we highly recommend in-advance bookings to avoid disappointment. The city can get very busy on e.g. cruise, match & conference days. 

Are the tours wheelchair accessible?

All our cabs are wheelchair accessible – check prior to booking so we can ensure you can enjoy the most comfortable experience. Please email our office. We are always happy to help.

Can you accommodate larger groups?

Yes! We love groups! We can accommodate any size group. At booking, let us know or speak to us and we will be able to arrange either a group of cabs or larger vehicles on request. We offer custom tours to create a bespoke experience for you and your party.

Who are Brit Music Tours & why are they associated with Fab 4 Taxi Tours?

Brit Music Tours Ltd is the parent company of Fab 4 Taxi Tours – we share the same values and quality standards and are fully customer orientated to deliver the best our regions can offer. You can find out more about Brit Music Tours

The details for Brit Music Tours Ltd are as follows:

Brit Music Tours Limited 152-160 City Road London EC1V 2NX

Comp. Reg. 12359451

Images produced by The National Trust are ©National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

PURCHASE YOUR NATIONAL TRUST TICKETS BEFORE BOOKING THIS TOUR

Before booking this specific tour, we recommend you purchase the official National Trust Beatles Childhood Homes tickets to avoid disappointment on the day.

Tickets sell out very fast and we cannot guarantee entry to Mendips of Forthlin Road properties if you do not have tickets to The National Trust sites.

Once done, simply book below using our booking calendar and select the time suitable for The National Trust tickets you have purchased and – just like that – you have secured your private tour taking you to the National Trust Childhood Homes as well as benefitting from the below:

CHOOSE YOUR CONVENIENT PICK UP LOACTION

On-time guarantee to national trust property, see george's & ringo's childhood homes, choose your perfect tour pickup.

Don’t worry, a city centre pick up is included in your tour cost . If you are based further afield, we have created a simple price list below which will be added to your tour rate at booking. A rates below are based on one-way travel:

L1, L2, L3 postcodes (e.g. city centre hotels):  included in your tour L4 – L36 postcodes: £18.00 Liverpool John Lennon Airport: £30.00 Wirral: £45.00 Ormskirk (L37) & Formby (L39): £40.00 Southport & Chester: £55.00 Manchester (incl. Manchester Airport): £100.00

ARRIVING ON A CRUISE?

If you are visiting Liverpool by cruise ship, please add “Liverpool Cruise Terminal” as your pick up location to include these added benefits:

FULLY CONVENIENT TOUR PICK UP LOACTION

Get picked up directly inside Liverpool Cruise Terminal.

RETURN TO SHIP ON-TIME GUARANTEE

We're promise to return you to your ship on time.

FULL REFUND IF SHIP SKIPS PORT

Receive a full refund should your ship skips port.

We add £30 per cab for pick ups within Liverpool Cruise Terminal. See our full terms & conditions for details.

• Transfers linking to the official National Trust Beatles Childhood Homes
• National Trust Mendips: John Lennon's childhood home
• National Trust Forthlin Road: Paul McCartney's childhood home
• George Harrison's childhood home exterior visit
• Ringo Starr's childhood home exterior visit
• Hidden gems along the route
• Personal, engaging driver guide
• 1-6 guests £220 per cab (excl. any National Trust tickets)

You should purchase your National Trust Beatles Childhood Homes tickets BEFORE booking this tour to avoid disappointment.

The National Trust visit forms part of their public tour of the homes with up to 15 guests participating.

We do not enter or guarantee entry to George Harrison’s or Ringo Starr’s childhood homes on this tour.

LOOKING FOR FURTHER DATES?

Our Childhood Homes tours (with tickets included) are in extremely high demand. This means that there is limited availability across the year. 

To register your interest for dates outside our regular departure tour dates, please contact us using the form below.

RELATED LIVERPOOL BEATLES TOURS

BEATLES EARLY YEARS TOUR OF LIVERPOOL

• Explore the early years of The Beatles, their rise to stardom and hear about some significant people who formed their lives. Focus lies on Liverpool's Georgian Quarter & Knowledge Quarter in the city centre. You can combine this with our Classic tour.

CLASSIC BEATLES TOUR BY PRIVATE CAB

• Discover some of the best stories & insights of the Fab 4 on this privately-led 3-hour Beatles tour of Liverpool – the original and most popular of our Liverpool Beatles tours. Want to delve deeper? Take a look at the Classic Beatles PLUS tour.

ULTIMATE BEATLES INCL. BEATLES STORY AND CAVERN

• Combine our Classic with the Early Years tours and add in some extra Beatles magic! Your tour includes a walk along Mathew Street, a visit to the famous Cavern Club filled with live music as well as entry to the Beatles Story on the Historic Waterfront!

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20 Forthlin Road

History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation.

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Accommodation

The house has been sympathetically restored to look as it would have done during the late 1950s and early 1960s when Sir Paul and his family resided here.

A special exhibition area displays family photographs taken by Paul McCartney's brother Michael.

Please note: Due to the size of the house and its popularity among visitors, admission is by guided tour only. There is no access on foot or by vehicle. The only way to visit 20 Forthlin Road is by mini-bus tour which also takes in Mendips , the home of Beatles co-founder John Lennon. Please see the National Trust website for details.

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From the Cavern Club to childhood homes and the inspiration for ‘Strawberry Fields,’ this is a guide to the must-see sites in The Beatles’ Liverpool.

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Even as recently as the 80s, visitors to Liverpool could have been forgiven for not realizing they were in the birthplace of The Beatles . Things changed when, in 1984, a dedicated museum to the group – Beatle City – opened on Seel Street, in the city center. That museum boasted the greatest collection of Beatles memorabilia ever brought together – the prize exhibit was the original Magical Mystery Tour bus, restored to its psychedelic glory, which offered tours of the former Fabs’ family homes, and various other places of interest in and around the city. But that museum was plagued by financial difficulties and so closed its doors for the last time after less than two years.

What Beatle City had demonstrated, however, was that there was an appetite for Beatles tourism – a fact not lost on the people behind the then-burgeoning Cavern City Tours enterprise, who have been behind most major Beatle-related projects in the city for 35 years. Today, some 800,000 people a year are reported to visit sites such as the historic Cavern Quarter, home to an increasing number of Beatle-themed hang-outs. The Beatles’ legacy is reported to be worth over £80 million to Liverpool’s economy, and is said to support more than 2,300 jobs.

A guide to The Beatles’ Liverpool

Where to stay in liverpool.

So if you’re planning a visit, the first issue is: where to stay? There are a number of cracking Beatle-themed accommodation options, from the exclusive Yellow Submarine (actually a rather swanky houseboat with a price tag to match) in the city’s Albert Dock, to the luxurious – and rather more affordable – Beatles-themed Hard Day’s Night Hotel (the Lennon suite comes complete with white piano – imagine!), just around the corner from the legendary Cavern Club in the city center. Beatle-themed rooms can also be had for the night at the Penny Lane Hotel, among many other options.

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That The Beatles came from Liverpool is not insignificant in their development. Indeed, it’s unlikely they could have come from anywhere else in the country. Liverpool, especially in the years when The Beatles were born and raised there, was dominated by its docks and the associated companies for whom the route to the world offered opportunity, such as the insurance firms in and around the Liver Buildings, not to mention the acres of warehouses, and the distribution network that traded their goods.

In the 50s, the Merchant Navy offered employment and adventure to a generation of young men growing up in a post-war climate of austerity and unemployment. These men who worked in the “merch” became known as Cunard Yanks, after the liners aboard which they ferried back and forth to New York. America seemed like a Technicolor marvel compared to the dreary reality of the hard life they experienced at home, and they sought to bring as much of that vibrancy back with them. From fridge freezers to Wrangler jeans, they loaded up with whatever they could afford and carry.

Perhaps cheapest and easiest of all were the early rhythm’n’blues and rock’n’roll records that soundtracked their high times in the Big Apple. These records would then infiltrate the culture back in Liverpool, where a beat boom was born based on the sweet sounds from across the sea. Skiffle groups, such as John Lennon ’s Quarrymen, migrated quickly to rock’n’roll, at first meeting resistance from the likes of Cavern Club owner Ray McFall, who would pass notes up to the formative Beatles, reminding them that his best of cellars was a jazz club.

But before long, McFall, like the rest of Liverpool’s club owners, embraced this new music. Only through their unique access to the brightest new records from the US did groups such as The Beatles, Gerry And The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer And The Dakotas and The Searchers evolve the sound that came to take the world by storm as Merseybeat.

Starting your Beatles tour

It’s at these same docks, today revitalized as Liverpool’s historic quarter, that you should probably begin your journey through these places that had their moments. Some have changed, some have gone – and some remain.

Your first stop will be The Beatles Story, an award-winning museum on the Albert Dock that houses a replica Cavern Club, a number of original instruments, artworks, and other memorabilia. The museum often features fascinating temporary exhibitions, so is worth repeat visits.

The Beatles Story is also handily located to begin your tour of Beatle sites, thanks to the two-hour Magical Mystery Tour run by Cavern City Tours. The multicolored bus, decorated in Magical Mystery Tour livery, regularly departs from the Albert Dock (the ticket office is just along the road from The Beatles Story), finishing its tour at the Cavern Club. Your ticket includes entry to the Cavern that evening, so be sure to hold onto it. The tour stops at various spots around the city, such as Penny Lane, Strawberry Field (note the singular) and some of The Beatles ’ childhood homes, and is a good way to get yourself oriented in the city. But for the serious fan, you’re going to want to head back out on your own to see the various sites and spots in your own time – and without the crowds that come on a bus.

In and around the city center

And, of course, there are plenty of Beatle sites to be seen in and around the city center, so if you have a couple of hours, why not familiarise yourself with the city, get to know the place that gave rise to The Fab Four, and see some of the lesser-known haunts while you’re at it? There are a number of guided Beatles walking tours, or, if you’ve feeling adventurous, head out on your own. And where better to start than the world-famous Cavern Club on Mathew Street?

Once more of a back alley than a lively nightspot, Mathew Street was home to the original Cavern Club, until the building was demolished in the early 70s. One of the most legendary live music venues in history, the Cavern was considered home turf by The Beatles, who played regular lunchtime and evening shows there. It was here that they attracted their first fanatical following, and where they were discovered by local record-shop proprietor Brian Epstein in 1961.

Today, Mathew Street is a hive of activity and a real nightspot, with live music in the rebuilt Cavern Club, as well as Sgt Pepper’s, the Rubber Soul bar and the Cavern Pub, among other places. For a more reflective pint, try The Grapes pub, where the fledgling Fab Four would hang out between sets at the Cavern.

At the opposite end of Mathew Street to the Hard Day’s Night Hotel, just after The Beatles Shop, is Stanley Street, where Frank Hessy’s music shop used to be. In 2017, the late Ken Dodd unveiled a blue plaque to the shop, which sold instruments to all the Merseybeat groups – including the Beatles.

Hang a right down Stanley Street and you’ll get to Whitechapel, where the Epstein family’s NEMS shop was located at No. 12. You’ve already retraced the steps that the young Brian Epstein took that day he first ventured out to find out who these Beatles were that he kept hearing about. Take a left onto Church Street – you’ll pass Leigh Street, where, at the first-floor in Reece’s, John and Cynthia Lennon held their wedding reception; Brian Epstein picked up the bill.

At the end of the road, cross and continue up Bold Street until you get to Slater Street. At No.23 is the Jacaranda, where John and his art-school pal Stuart Sutcliffe used to hang out. The bar’s then-manager, Allan Williams, used to book the proto-Beatles to play in the basement, eventually becoming their manager. It was Williams who made contacts in Hamburg and got the group gigs there.

Turn left onto Seel Street – once home to the Beatle City museum – and near the end of the street you’ll see the Blue Angel at 108, another of Allan Williams’ old clubs. In 1960, as The Silver Beatles, the group auditioned here for the pop impresario Larry Parnes, and were promptly booked as backing band for Johnny Gentle on a series of dates in Scotland – the Liverpool band’s first taste of life on the road. The Blue Angel was known as the after-hours hang-out for local and touring musicians in town, and the Beatles would socialize here after they hit the big time until their move to London.

Turn left onto Berry Street and take a right past the bombed-out church (the offices of Bill Harry’s Mersey Beat paper were at nearby 81a Renshaw Street), turn right onto Rodney Street, and continue until you get to the Anglican Cathedral, where Paul failed an audition as a choirboy, but returned triumphant in 1991 with the premier of his Liverpool Oratorio.

Upper Duke Street will take you to Hope Street. On one corner is the entrance to Gambier Terrace, where John and Stu shared a flat at No.3. Head up Hope Street, away from the Anglican Cathedral and in the direction of the more modern Catholic Cathedral. On the corner of Mount Street is the original site of Liverpool College Of Art (now based on Hope Street), where John and Stu studied. Next door is Paul and George’s former school, the Liverpool Institute, which today houses the Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts (LIPA), co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney , who still takes a very active interest in the school.

On the left as you continue up Hope Street is the narrow Rice Street, down which you’ll find the legendary Liverpool pub Ye Cracke, a favorite of the art school students, including John Lennon and his pals. Across Hope Street is Falkner Street, where Brian Epstein had a flat at No.36, which he lent to the newlywed John and Cynthia as their first home together.

Continue up Hope Street and you can’t miss the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, one of Liverpool’s most attractive pubs, boasting a Grade II listed men’s toilet, no less. This was another of John’s favourite places – he is said to have replied to a question about the price of fame by saying it was “Not being able to buy a pint at the Phil.”

At the top of Hope Street is the Catholic Cathedral, and it was at the former maternity hospital across the road on Oxford Street that, during a bombing raid on October 9, 1940, Julia Lennon gave birth to a son, who she patriotically named John Winston.

Further afield

You can return to the city center by heading down Mount Pleasant (John and Cynthia were married in the former register office at No.64). But to explore some of the more suburban Beatle sites, it’s probably best to give your by-now aching feet a break.

However you choose to get around, there are plenty of places to visit, depending on how deep you want to go with your Beatle obsession. To begin with, Paul and John’s childhood homes, at 20 Forthlin Road and Mendips, 251 Menlove Avenue, respectively, are both now under the care of the National Trust. The Trust offers a guided tour of both homes, which have been renovated to match as closely as possible what they would have looked like when the fab two lived there in the 50s. It’s worth bearing in mind that you have to book these tours before you go, and they can get booked up pretty far in advance; if you just turn up at the houses, you won’t get in.

Not far from Mendips is St Peter’s Church, Woolton, where Paul first met John, whose group, The Quarrymen, was providing entertainment for the young folk attending the church’s garden fete. A curio in the church’s grounds is a gravestone listing one Eleanor Rigby, who died in 1939. Paul’s recollections of how he came about the song’s title involve taking a shine to the name Rigby on a Bristol wine merchant’s shopfront; regardless, that her name should adorn a grave in the very grounds where the two met is at the very least an interesting quirk of synchronicity.

From Mendips, Strawberry Field is the next logical stop. The inspiration for The Beatles’ revolutionary 1966 composition was his childhood memories of hopping over the wall of this former children’s home and getting lost in his imagination in the grounds. Aside from the compulsory photo at the famous red gates, however, there’s little here to keep you.

Continue your journey down Menlove Avenue, following in the well-heeled footsteps of Lennon and McCartney as you head towards the city center, and you’ll eventually come to the bus shelter in the middle of a roundabout at the junction with Penny Lane. The bank’s still there too, and where better to order a “four of fish” than at the local chippy?

In the suburbs, there are plenty more places to visit. George Harrison was born at 12 Arnold Grove, not far north of Penny Lane, while Ringo ’s childhood home, at 10 Admiral Grove, is a slight detour on your way back into the city center – as is his birthplace of 9 Madryn Street. Neither home has anything but photo opportunities to offer, though a visit does offer an insight into the sort of background they came from. One photo opportunity well worth looking out for, however, is The Empress pub at the end of Admiral Grove, which featured on the cover of Ringo’s 1970 solo album, Sentimental Journey .

There are countless former haunts, homes and hang-outs in and around Liverpool, and the tourist information office can help you track them down. But the last stop you shouldn’t miss is a trip to Casbah Coffee Club, formerly run by Mona Best, where The Beatles used to play, enlisting her son Pete on drums. Located at 8 Hayman’s Green, a secluded house in a leafy suburb, the Casbah today is maintained by the Best family as it was in the early 60s, and is open for tours and various events. Be sure to book your tour in advance, though.

When to visit?

For the serious Fabs fan, there is one time of year above all others to make the pilgrimage to the birthplace of The Beatles, and that is around August Bank Holiday, when Liverpool stages International Beatleweek. With live music the main focus, tribute bands and a whole host of special guests perform in venues around the city, and there are talks from people who were there (or thereabouts), as well as pretty much every manner of Beatle-related fun you could imagine, from a flea market to Ringo Bingo!

As with any city, part of the pleasure is in discovering places for yourself, and you’ll find a number of Beatles statues dotted around the place, including on Mathew Street and the Albert Docks. You’ll also find plenty of places happy to boast of their Beatles connections (however tenuous). The more tourist-friendly Beatle sights make for a great place to soak up the fab atmosphere, chat with other tourists and locals, and generally indulge in that shared passion – a love of Liverpool’s greatest export.

For the perfect soundtrack to your magical mystery tour, listen to the best of The Beatles on Apple Music and Spotify .

The must-see sights of The Beatles’ Liverpool

The beatles story.

Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock; http://www.beatlesstory.com/

John Lennon’s childhood home

Mendips, 251 Menlove Avenue; https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beatles-childhood-homes

Paul McCartney’s childhood home

20 Forthlin Road

George Harrison’s birthplace

12 Arnold Grove

Ringo Starr’s childhood home

10 Admiral Grove

St Peter’s Church

26 Church Road; http://www.stpeters-woolton.org.uk/

Strawberry Field

167 Beaconsfield Road; http://www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com/home

The Cavern Club

10 Mathew Street; https://www.cavernclub.org/

Casbah Coffee Club

8 Haymans Green; http://www.petebest.com/casbah-coffee-club.aspx

The Philharmonic Dining Rooms

36 Hope Street; https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/northwest/thephilharmonicdiningroomsliverpool

106-108 Seel Street

The Empress Pub

93 High Park Street

Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts

Mount Street; https://www.lipa.ac.uk/

Beatles Tours…

The magical mystery tour.

Anchor Courtyard, Atlantic Pavillion; https://www.cavernclub.org/the-magical-mystery-tour/

Beatles Walk

Canada Boulevard; https://www.beatleswalk.com

Fab Four Taxi Tour

http://fab4tours.co.uk/

Beatles-Themed Hotels…

Hard day’s night hotel.

Central Buildings, North John Street; http://www.harddaysnighthotel.com/

Yellow Submarine barge

Salthouse Dock; http://www.yellowsubliverpool.co.uk/boats.html

The Penny Lane Hotel

3-5 Smithdown Place; http://www.thepennylanehotel.com/

Further Information…

International beatleweek.

https://www.internationalbeatleweek.com

Visit Liverpool

https://www.visitliverpool.com/things-to-do/the-beatles

Oriana Roneh

July 14, 2021 at 10:25 pm

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LOOK: Inside the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney

The ECHO is given a guided tour of Mendips on Menlove Avenue, where John Lennon was raised, and 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton, the teenage home of Paul McCartney

• 11:28, 16 OCT 2014
• Updated 16:23, 12 NOV 2014

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Over 50 years after they first took the charts by storm, The Beatles are still as strong a draw as ever.

Millions of tourists flock to Liverpool each year, eager to take in the birthplace of the Fab Four and see where it all began, and there is no better way to immerse yourself in the history of pop's greatest band than with a tour of the childhood homes of John Lennon (Mendips on Menlove Avenue) and Paul McCartney (20 Forthlin Road in Allerton), operated by the National Trust.

Yoko Ono , John Lennon's widow, bought Mendips in 2002 when the previous owner died. She then donated the property to the National Trust, and asked them to "restore the house to what it once was, and tell John's story". 20 Forthlin Road has been within the ownership of the National Trust for 16 years.

Each home has been meticulously restored to the homes that Lennon and McCartney would recognise from their younger years, using photographs and eyewitness accounts to restore original fixtures and fittings, and source identical items of furniture.

Mendips belonged to John's aunt and uncle, Mimi and George. He moved in with them as a child after the breakdown of his parents' marriage. The McCartneys (Mary and Jim, Paul and his brother Mike) moved to 20 Forthlin Road from Speke in 1955.

As visitors are guided around the homes, locked in a 1960s timewarp, they are regaled with stories of Lennon and McCartney's childhoods, told passionately by husband and wife team Colin and Sylvia Hall, who are custodians of Mendips and Forthlin Road respectively.

There are amusing and heart-warming tales to be told inside these homes. Aunt Mimi would insist that all visitors enter the house through the back door to "save the carpets", and George would encourage John's reading by showing him copies of the Liverpool ECHO. At Forthlin Road, father Jim would plant lavender in the front garden, and use the plants in the ashtrays to negate the smell of cigarette smoke.

The foundations of what would go on to be The Beatles are also laid bare; John wrote Please Please Me in his Mendips bedroom, and he wrote I Saw Her Standing There with Paul at Forthlin Road. When he was 14, Paul sat at the family piano and composed the tune for what would eventually be When I'm 64.

But there were also stories of heartbreak. John's mother Julia was killed in a road accident in 1958, while Paul's beloved mother Mary died of breast cancer in 1956, aged just 47. Paul says that it was this unique bond with John that brought them closer together in their early years.

However, overall both John and Paul would say that their childhood homes were happy places, and there are many snapshots of those carefree times in the modern day Mendips and Forthlin Road homes.

5 things to look out for at Mendips:

• The blue plaque - You'll see the famous plaque on the front of Mendips, but you won't find one at 20 Forthlin Road. Why? Mendips custodian Colin Hall explains: "English Heritage only award blue plaques when the subject reaches 100 years old, or has been dead for 20 years. So we're grateful that Paul's house doesn't have one yet, and we wish John's house didn't."
• The green bicycle - Leaning on the wall at the side of the house is an emerald green Raleigh Lenton Mk 11. This is a replica of the bike John was bought by his Uncle George as a reward for passing his 11+ exams.
• The front porch - Visitors to Mendips are encouraged to stand in the porch and belt out their favourite Beatles hit as, according to Paul McCartney, it has a "great bathroom acoustic".
• The creaky floorboards - As you walk into John's old bedroom, you'll notice a noisy floorboard across the doorway. John would have to take great care when sneaking home from his late night gigs at the Cavern; one step on the creaky floorboard and he was at the mercy of Aunt Mimi. When Yoko Ono donated Mendips to the National Trust, she asked that the creaky floorboards were left just as they were.
• The dining room guestbook - Be sure to sign the guestbook at the end of your tour; Colin says that the books are regularly sent to Yoko Ono for her to read.

5 things to look out for at 20 Forthlin Road:

• The piano - Visitors are invited to play a tune on the piano during the tour, and some famous faces have taken up this offer, including Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry and Judy Collins.
• The egg trays - There's a stack of empty egg trays on the top of one of the kitchen cabinets. Jim used these for noise insulation, which was surely needed with Paul, John and George constantly rehearsing in the dining room.
• The back drainpipe - After Paul's mum died, his father would insist that the two boys were home on time for dinner; if not, they were locked out. When this inevitably happened, Paul and Mike would run round the back of the house, climb up the drainpipe, and through the bathroom window, which they always left on the latch for such an eventuality.
• The replica guitar - In the small front bedroom, which Paul moved into after his mother died, is a replica of his first guitar, which he still uses today during his gigs. The Zenith Model 17 acoustic guitar was bought on eBay, and the sender, rather fittingly, was from Hamburg, where the Beatles first toured in the early 60s.
• The commemorative plaque - 20 Forthlin Road may not be eligible for an English Heritage plaque, but when the house was turned over to the National Trust, Paul asked for just one thing to be included; something to remember his parents by. The simple wooden plaque above the front door reads: "In loving memory of Mum and Dad, Mary and Jim".

The National Trust operate tours to Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road, with around four tours a day departing from the Jury's Inn hotel in Kings Dock and Speke Hall. For more information, visit the National Trust website

• Think you know The Beatles? Take our Beatles lyrics quiz to see how well you know the Fab Four's songs
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The Beatles in Liverpool - Beatles Tours, Attractions, Landmarks, & More

T he Beatles all grew up in Liverpool , England & formed the legendary band there before finding worldwide fame. Needless to say, Liverpool is quite proud of their lads. You can celebrate The Beatles in Liverpool in many great places, including Beatles tours, museums, landmarks, bars, and more. Here are the best ways to follow in the footsteps of John, Paul, George, & Ringo when you visit the city.

Beatles Tours in Liverpool

There are a variety of Beatles tours in Liverpool to suit every schedule and every budget, with several options for under £20 per person (and even cheaper for kids). While it’s possible to visit the below Beatles landmarks on your own, they’re quite spread out around the city. A Liverpool Beatles tour will make seeing as many highlights as possible much easier, especially given how reasonably priced they are.

Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool

The Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool is a group tour bus that visits several key Beatles landmarks around the city. Over the course of 2 hours, you can see many of the prominent Liverpool Beatles sites while hearing a narrated tour that includes music to help you get into the mood.

The Magical Mystery Tour stops include Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, and the childhood homes of Paul McCartney & George Harrison. In addition to the stops, the Liverpool Beatles bus tour also passes by other highlights such as where John Lennon & Ringo Starr grew up, as well as places where the boys went to school, first met, and played gigs. The tour ends at the famous Cavern Club, whose owners operate the tour.

Book Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool tickets here

Liverpool Beatles Explorer Bus

The Liverpool Beatles Explorer Bus is another group tour option. This Beatles open-top bus tour is similar to the Magical Mystery Tour, but the open top level of the bus allows for better photos along the tour route (weather permitting, of course, it’s Liverpool after all). The tour also includes film & television location highlights such as Peaky Blinders.

Book Liverpool Beatles Explorer Bus tickets here

Liverpool City and Beatles Tour with Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket

The Liverpool City and Beatles Tour with Hop-On Hop-Off Ticket is a great way to take a Beatles tour in Liverpool while also getting to see more of the city’s top sights.

The first part of the ticket is a 90-minute Beatles tour, then you have access to the Hop-On Hop-Off bus red route for 24 hours (the route takes approximately 50 minutes to do a full loop). A free glass of bubbly at the Philharmonic Dining Rooms is also included. This tour is an especially great value for those who have limited time in Liverpool but still want to see as much as possible.

Book Liverpool City and Beatles Tour with Hop-On Hop-Off tickets here

Private Beatles Tours in Liverpool

The above Liverpool Beatles tours are all large group tours. While they do a comprehensive job of showing all of the top Beatles attractions in Liverpool, you are on a set schedule with limited time at each stop where everyone else is also trying to get their photos.

Take a private Beatles taxi tour instead to get a more personalized experience, plus more time at each stop. Beatles private tours last between 3 & 5 hours & are either in a taxi or a Mercedes . There are a few tour operators offering these private tours. One of the private taxi tours focuses on the childhood homes of the Beatles , including interior visits to Mendips, John Lennon’s childhood home, and Forthlin Road, Paul McCartney’s childhood home.

Book Private Beatles Tours in Liverpool here

Liverpool & The Beatles Day Tour from London

This London to Liverpool Beatles Tour is an excellent way for the Beatles-obsessed to still see Liverpool even if you don’t have the time to devote to staying in the city.

The tour includes return train tickets from London to Liverpool with reserved seating. It also includes the Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool and the Cavern Club, entry to The Beatles Story, and free time for exploring Liverpool.

Book London to Liverpool Beatles Tours here

Liverpool Beatles Tour Highlights & Other Beatles Activities & Landmarks in Liverpool

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes

There beneath the blue suburban skies

Penny Lane is a real street in Liverpool. The song references several businesses and people, painting a picture that you can still see today as you drive down it.

The Beatles Bus tours in Liverpool all stop for photos at the Penny Lane sign at the corner of Penny Lane and Greenbank Road. They then typically continue down Penny Lane towards Church Road and George Harrison’s Birthplace, pointing out landmarks from the song.

Strawberry Field

Let me take you down

‘Cause I’m going to strawberry fields

Nothing is real

And nothing to get hung about

Strawberry fields forever

Strawberry Field was a former Salvation Army children’s home just down the street from John Lennon’s childhood home. He played & attended events there when he was young. Lennon immortalized it in the song “Strawberry Fields Forever.”

Today, Beatles bus tours stop at the famed red gates of Strawberry Field for photos.

The Salvation Army still owns the property and has opened it to the public to showcase John Lennon’s life along with the work they do. Entry is not included with the big group tours (nor is there time allotted), so you’ll have to either go back on your own or ask about it when booking a private Beatles tour as mentioned above.

Book tickets for Strawberry Field Liverpool here

Hard Days Night Hotel Liverpool

If you’re looking for the hotel that best celebrates The Beatles in Liverpool, look no further than the Hard Days Night Hotel Liverpool. This Beatles-themed hotel opened in 2008 in a building that dates back to 1884. It’s located in the Cavern Quarter, right near the Cavern Club.

The hotel has 110 rooms, including two special suites dedicated to John Lennon & Paul McCartney. All of the hotel rooms are decorated with Beatles artwork. The hotel also includes a restaurant & cocktail bar, along with a lounge playing live music.

Even if you’re not staying at the Hard Days Night Hotel, be sure to spot the statues of the lads on the building’s exterior.

Book a stay at the Hard Days Night Hotel Liverpool here

Cavern Club

The Cavern Club in Liverpool is where The Beatles sprang to fame following their return from Hamburg. Between 1961 & 1963, the Fab Four played 292 shows at the Cavern Club. They then were so popular that they needed to move to bigger venues.

The original Cavern Club was in operation from 1957 to 1973. In addition to The Beatles, it hosted acts such as The Rolling Stones, Elton John, Black Sabbath, The Who, and Queen. Following its closure, the space was filled in with rubble. In 1980, the Cavern Club was reconstructed using bricks from the original club, along with a similar layout. While not the exact same space, it still encompasses 70% of the footprint of the original Liverpool Cavern Club, so it’s a pretty good re-creation.

Today, the Cavern Club is one of the most popular Beatles attractions in Liverpool. The club still hosts live music daily, including acoustic shows & Beatles tribute bands ( website ). Famous artists also pop in from time to time, including Paul McCartney. There is memorabilia everywhere that highlights not just The Beatles, but other acts from the Liverpool music scene and beyond. A back wall of the basement bar contains the signatures of many of the people who played there.

There’s a good reason why Beatles tours such as the Magical Mystery Tour end at the Cavern Club. It’s a nice place to sit & have a drink while listening to some live music as well as an important landmark in Beatles history.

Liverpool Beatles Museum

The Liverpool Beatles Museum is located just down Mathew Street from the Cavern Club. It’s one of two Beatles museums in Liverpool.

The museum includes over 1000 items of Beatles memorabilia. Each floor of the museum covers a different period of Beatles history. Highlights include musical instruments from each band member, personal items, unique interviews & other footage, and more.

Buy Liverpool Beatles Museum tickets here

The Beatles Story

The Beatles Story is another museum dedicated to the band. It’s located right near where the Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool buses depart from on the Royal Albert Dock.

It too contains plenty of Beatles memorabilia, including musical instruments and personal items from the band members. The Beatles Story also includes recreations of The Cavern Club & The Abbey Road Studios where The Beatles recorded in London. The audio guide tour is available in 12 different languages.

Buy The Beatles Story Liverpool tickets here

George Harrison’s Childhood Home

George Harrison’s Birthplace is located at 12 Arnold Grove. It was his childhood home until he was 6.

The small house is a popular stop along Beatles bus tour routes, though due to the nature of the small alleys & cul-de-sac, visitors must take a short walk to get there.

Harrison paid tribute to his birthplace via the pseudonym “Arnold Grove”, which he sometimes used in hotels & when performing with other artists. Similarly, Paul McCartney used the pseudonym “Paul Ramone.” This then inspired a legendary punk group to call themselves The Ramones.

Ringo Starr’s Childhood Home

Ringo Starr’s Childhood Home is located at 10 Admiral Grove. His birthplace, 9 Madryn Street, is right nearby.

Today, the Beatles bus tours generally pass through the neighborhood without stopping, though it’s possible to spot the houses he grew up in. A spectacular new mural can also be seen right across the street.

John Lennon’s Childhood Home

John Lennon’s Childhood Home at 251 Menlove Avenue is also referred to as Mendips. He moved into the home, which belonged to his Aunt Mimi, in 1946 when he was 5 years old & lived there until he was 22.

The home was privately owned until 2002 when Yoko Ono purchased the property & donated it to the National Trust. It was lovingly restored to its 1950s condition & opened to the public for tours.

Each year on October 9th (his birthday) the bedroom light of John Lennon’s Mendips home is left on overnight in tribute.

Paul McCartney’s Childhood Home

Paul McCartney’s Childhood Home at 20 Forthlin Road is also a National Trust site that is open for tours (generally as a combined tour with John Lennon’s Childhood Home, Mendips). McCartney lived in the home from when he was in secondary school until his early teens.

20 Forthlin Road is also referred to as “The Birthplace of The Beatles,” as the group often gathered at Paul McCartney’s house to write songs and rehearse.

Beatles tours such as the Magical Mystery Tour stop at the house for photos, though entry is not included.

In 2018, Paul McCartney did Carpool Karaoke with James Corden. They drove around Liverpool singing Beatles songs and visiting many of the places on this list, including Penny Lane & Paul’s Childhood Home.

St. Peters Church & the Graveyard of St. Peters (Grave of Eleanor Rigby)

Paul McCartney & John Lennon first met at an event at St. Peters Church in Woolton, Liverpool on July 6th, 1957. This fateful meeting would of course lead to the eventual creation of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, but the church also holds another spot in Beatles lore.

In the graveyard of St. Peters, there is the grave of a woman named Eleanor Rigby. Although Paul McCartney claims that it’s just a coincidence, he also said that it’s possible the name had stuck in his head. Whatever the case, it’s still another place for fans to check out while on a Beatles tour in Liverpool.

Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name

Nobody came

Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave

No one was saved

The Beatles Statue Liverpool

Even if you don’t have time to take a full Beatles tour, there’s another place where you can celebrate the iconic band while in central Liverpool, and it’s free to visit. The people who run the Magical Mystery Tour Liverpool and The Cavern Club wanted another public place where Beatles fans could congregate.

In 2015, a statue sculpted by Andy Edwards was added to the Liverpool waterfront. The Beatles Statue in Liverpool is located on Pier Head near the Royal Liver Building and the Museum of Liverpool . There is also a store called The Fab 4 Store and a cafe called The Fab 4 Cafe right nearby. The Fab 4 Cafe serves coffees with latte art with the Beatles’ faces on them.

There are several subtle details on the statues that pay tribute to the lives of each of The Beatles.

Paul McCartney is carrying a camera, which shows his love for photography & film, as well as for his late wife, Linda.

John Lennon is holding two acorns taken from near the Dakota in New York City . In the 1960s, John Lennon & Yoko Ono sent acorns to world leaders in an effort to promote peace.

George Harrison is wearing a jacket belt with a Sanskrit mantra written on it. The mantra reads, “The Infinite Beyond Conception, we meditate upon that Light of Wisdom, which is the Supreme Wealth of the Gods. May it grant us to increase in our meditation.”

Ringo Starr is shown with the inscription “L8” on the sole of his shoe, a nod to the postcode he grew up in and one of his album titles.

In addition to this Beatles Statue in Liverpool, there are a few other Beatles-related statues scattered around the city centre, including one of John Lennon outside the Cavern Club, one of Beatles manager Brian Epstein near his family’s former record shop on Whitechapel, and one of Eleanor Rigby on Stanley Street.

Ye Cracke is a Liverpool pub where John Lennon drank and formed his first band.

Today, the pub wears its heart on its sleeve, and one gets the feeling that it hasn’t changed all that much since the days when John Lennon used to hang out there. It’s a cool spot for a pint with an excellent back garden.

Empire Theater

The Beatles played their last show in Liverpool at the Empire Theater on December 5th, 1965.

The theater ( website ) is still used today as a venue for concerts, plays, musicals, and other events.

Museum of Liverpool

The Museum of Liverpool has a large section devoted to Liverpool’s contributions to pop culture, with plenty about The Beatles, including The Beatles Experience video show. Entry is free.

As you can see, there are plenty of Beatles things to do in Liverpool. Book a Liverpool Beatles tour to see as much as possible!

Here are some other  great Liverpool tours & activities  &  other things to see & do in Liverpool .

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Liverpool, check out these Liverpool hotels .

The post The Beatles in Liverpool – Beatles Tours, Attractions, Landmarks, & More appeared first on Everybody Hates A Tourist .

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New BBC series goes inside National Trust-owned childhood home of Paul McCartney

11 months ago

By The Guide Liverpool

A new BBC series is opening the doors into 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool.

The childhood home of Paul McCartney will feature in episode three of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust this Friday, as it continues to follow the curators and conservators who breathe new life into the places and objects the charity cares for.

The six-part series explores the extraordinary work they do to look after National Trust venues and collections for future generations – and talks to staff, and volunteers, about their passion for the treasures they help maintain.

Peter Grant is one of four official tour guides at Forthlin Road in Allerton and says: “Each day I go in I pinch myself; this is where Paul McCartney spent his formative years, and from this very building came this incredible talent.

“John Lennon would sag off school and come round and they’d sit in the front room, the dining room as it was then, and rehearse and write.

“It’s not an understatement to say this is birthplace of the Beatles.”

The McCartney family lived there from 1956 until 1964, when Paul bought his father Jim a bungalow in Heswall.

The National Trust has owned it since 1995 and opened it to the public in 1997.

Former Echo journalist and Beatles correspondent Peter has been a tour guide at Forthlin Road and Mendips – John Lennon’s former home – since last year, and it’s clear it’s a job he loves.

“A lot of the neighbours are very proud of the fact that these houses are in their area. It’s a lovely atmosphere when you see the coach parties and the taxis pull up outside, but of course the people in the taxis and the coaches can’t come inside the house.”

Those who can are the National Trust tourists who board the buses at Speke Hall and South Parkway, with four buses making the pilgrimage every day when the house is open.

“When you think of the National Trust you often think of stately homes, Oliver Cromwell, and Henry VIII, and for the National Trust this was a departure, to do something so contemporary. At the time it had its critics, but now 12,000 people come to see it every year,” explains Peter.

“People come here – and it’s all ages – from all over the world, from America, Canada, and Argentina… some save all their lives to visit.

“It was John Birt, then head of the BBC and a Scouser himself, who saw the For Sale sign going up and thought that’s a house worth getting, for two reasons: one, it was where Lennon and McCartney started their song-writing partnership.

“And two, it’s a great example of post-war housing in Liverpool after the Blitz. That’s why the Trust took it on board because they love that social history side to the sites and buildings they have.”

Peter goes on: “The McCartneys moved in in 1956 and it was their seventh family home. Mary McCartney was a district nurse and a midwife, and this was a step up the ladder, Mary was always trying to improve their standard, to do what was best for her two lads and her husband. Jim McCartney was cotton salesman who was only on £8 a week, so money was tight.

“Sadly, Mary only spent a short time in the house because she died in 1956 from breast cancer. Jim was left to bring up two young boys on his own – Paul was 14 and Mike was 12 – so he asked the aunties and uncles to help out and they didn’t need to be asked twice. That’s the loving McCartney bond.

“I feel that as soon as you walk in, the first thing that hits you is the warmth. I know it sounds corny but when I first came in here I got a huge wave of love, and every day I go in I get that same feeling. There’s something magical about this very ordinary council house, where something spectacular happened.

“It’s in the wonderful, welcoming house of Forthlin Road that Jim McCartney let them rehearse; the Quarrymen, the embryonic Beatles, and then Paul and John. It’s in this dining room they wrote She Loves You, Love Me Do, and a song called In Spite of All the Danger, which Paul sang at Glastonbury and where he talked about his affection for this little council house in Liverpool.

“It makes me proud to come from Liverpool … and it always makes me smile when you get grandmothers and mothers coming in who say ‘I had that lino’, ‘I had carpet like that’ and they can relate to it. But they can’t believe how such a small council house could create the talent we had here. 

“Mike McCartney, whose photographs adorned the walls, said ‘it’s a house full of hope. We came here with nothing but look what we left with’. Paul was a fully-fledged Beatle when he left.”

In the series viewers get a closer look at the house in which National Trust experts have digitally recreated the brick-styled wallpaper from Sandersons that Mary so loved. For the first time the National Trust has opened up Jim and Mary’s bedroom

And in the toilet – the ‘bog’ – where Paul would go and practice to get the right sound, Peter says: “There used be graffiti on the walls. John Lennon would write something, Paul would add a poem, and they would have doodles. When they moved out of the house the aunties and uncles painted over it but, using X-ray cameras, National Trust experts have found some of the doodles, and so all will be revealed…”

Episode three, which focuses on 20 th century treasures, also examines portrait photographer Edward Chambré Hardman’s photo collection, which contains around 100,000 prints and negatives that need cataloguing and cleaning at The Hardman’s House in Liverpool, and the modern art by Anthony Twentyman in need of restoration at Dudmaston Hall in Shropshire.

Hidden Treasures of the National Trust: Friday, May 26 on BBC2 – 9pm.

For more on Paul McCartney click here .

Beatles news.

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