Colin Hall, curator of Mendips, John Lennon’s childhood home, believes that it is impossible to separate Liverpool and the Beatles. “Dare I say it, they are up there with Shakespeare as cultural icons that draw people to the U.K., thus to Liverpool. They are a whole industry, an integral part of anyone’s visit.”
John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's Childhood Homes
Lennon lived in Mendips with his Aunt Mimi from 1945 to 1963. In John’s narrow bedroom, he and Paul listened to records, picked out tunes and started composing their own songs. “Please Please Me” and “I Call Your Name” got their starts at Mendips. It was the beginning of an extraordinary music partnership.
The Beatles often rehearsed at McCartney's childhood home at 20 Forthlin Road. John Halliday, its caretaker who has an uncanny resemblance to Paul, mentioned that visitors sometimes kiss the kitchen floor because all the Beatles “have walked on it.” Immediately, a young Spaniard celebrating his 30th birthday in Liverpool put his lips to the tile.
Both Lennon's Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road, Sir Paul McCartney’s childhood home, are National Trust Properties. They are open from late February through November. Tours should be booked in advance through the U.K.'S National Trust.
Following the Beatles History in Liverpool
The Guinness Book of Records proclaims Liverpool the pop music center of the world. Mathew Street remains the heart that pop music center, with the legendary Cavern Club as its soul. From 1961 to 1963 the Beatles played here 292 times. The Cavern was demolished in 1973. In 1991 it was rebuilt as closely to the original as possible, using bricks saved from the old Cavern. The stone steps still lead down to a small stage at the end of a cramped, vaulted room. There’s live music nightly.
Across Mathew Street, the Cavern Pub has abundant Beatles memorabilia and items from other bands and stars, such as The Rolling Stones, The Who and Jimi Hendrix, who played at the Cavern Club.
Mathew Street’s shocking pink “Wall of Hits” commemorates the 54 Number One chart hits by Liverpool bands and artists since 1952. Seventeen of those are Beatles songs. A statue of John Lennon slouches against the “Wall of Fame,” where bricks have etched names of the 1,801 bands that played in the Cavern between 1957 and 1973.
Scenes, videos, memorabilia and music at The Beatles Story engagingly demonstrate how those four lads from Liverpool so swiftly rose from a hometown Skiffle group to a worldwide music phenomenon. Visitors hear Sir Paul McCartney telling how he first met John Lennon at a village fete, they listen to Sir George Martin's comments on his favorite Beatles' song and they gaze at the wall-size album cover of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," a montage of 57 photos and nine wax models.
Bubbles drifting from an exhibit focused on the "Yellow Submarine" and fish swimming beyond its portholes bring giggles. The final exhibit often brings tears. It’s a re-creation of John and Yoko’s “White Room,” with Lennon’s poignant song of hope, “Imagine,” playing in the background. New exhibits cover the solo careers of Lennon, McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The Beatles Story is on Albert Dock on the River Mersey.
Hop aboard a brightly color bus for the Magical Mystery Tour past Beatles-related landmarks, such as their childhood homes, Strawberry Field and Penny Lane. The tour departs from Albert Dock.
Shopping for Beatles Souvenirs
The Beatles Shop on Mathew Street sells any bit of Beatles memorabilia imaginable: a ceramic Magical Mystery Tour bus, lunchboxes, jigsaw puzzles and some rare vinyl albums.
The Beatles Superstore is next to the Hard Day's Night Hotel. It sells officially licensed Apple products and items ranging from posters to a unique t-shirt showing the Beatles at their last performance in the Cavern Club. The shop also stocks the widest range of official John Lennon licensed products anywhere in the world.
Hard Day's Night Hotel
From basement to rooftop, the four-star Hard Day’s Night Hotel on Mathew Street, next to the Cavern, is Beatles-themed. Each floor is dedicated to a phase in the Beatles’ lives, and each guestroom will has a painting of one of the Fab Four. A white piano is the centerpiece of the Lennon Suite. Blown up McCartney-related newspaper headlines and photos cover one wall of the McCartney Suite.
Incredibly, the Beatles' worldwide fame, the enduring appeal of their music and their immeasurable impact on the international rock and roll scene came from less than eight years of recording.
Exploring Liverpool's Cultural Attractions
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