The Beatles Liverpool Locations: Most Amazing Spots For Beatle Fans To Visit
For any Beatle fan, Liverpool is an absolute dream of a city to visit. It has become almost a pilgrimage for Beatles fans across the globe, with tons of Beatles Liverpool locations drawing them to the city.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am an enormous Beatles fan, which makes Liverpool one of my absolute favorite places to visit. I first visited when I was 17 and have visited regularly ever since.
I went back once again this week and realized I hadn’t written a post on the lads’ hometown yet. So, here is my guide to The Beatles Liverpool locations and the top things to do in Liverpool for Beatles fans.
If you’re a Beatle fan like me, here is the ultimate guide to the top 15 Beatles Liverpool locations.
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Why Do Beatle Fans Flock to Liverpool?
Liverpool is where the Beatle’s band members grew up. By visiting Liverpool, you can immerse yourself in the places they spent their time as young men. Here you can visit the places that inspired them, and walk in their footsteps – literally.
As any Beatlemaniac will know, the Beatles weren’t just known for their amazing musical talent. They were also known for being personable lads with a dry sense of humor and a quick wit.
Their upbringing in Liverpool had a big impact on their personalities. By visiting their hometown, you can also get a big insight into how the city’s culture formed who they were as people and as artists.
This is a city in which it’s easy to feel close to the band members and the music they produced. It is an absolute dream come true for Beatles fans. If you’re anything like me, once you get there, you’ll never want to leave.
1. The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club is my favorite place in Liverpool. The number of times I’ve nearly missed my train because I haven’t wanted to leave this place…
This is the place The Beatles played most in their career, with almost 300 performances taking place here over the space of 2 and a half years.
Today, it pays tribute to the Beatle’s early days in Liverpool. With photos of them on the walls and musicians playing their songs all day, every day, this is a Beatles fan’s dream come true. Especially on a Thursday or Saturday night when the Beatles tribute band plays!
The hard thing to convey is the atmosphere in the Cavern Club. It is as though you’ve taken a step back in time, with everyone there singing along to songs from yesteryear. People dance, sing, film, and chat over a pint. The feeling of being part of the wider Beatle community is really the greatest thing about the Cavern.
This is surely the #1 top spot when it comes to The Beatle’s Liverpool locations and a must-visit for any fan.
2. The Magical Mystery Tour
Have you ever wanted to take a trip on the actual Magical Mystery Tour bus? Well, now’s your chance.
Take a trip in a coach designed in the same way as the bus from the film; this tour takes you around the top Beatles destinations around the city. This is a quick and convenient way to visit many of the other spots on this list, including Penny Lane, Strawberry Fields, the Beatle’s childhood homes, and schools.
Not only that, but you also get the added bonus of a tour guide on the bus. They will provide information and share stories of the Beatles’ life in Liverpool, which adds to the experience.
Otherwise, you get to be driven around the sights of Liverpool whilst listening to some of the iconic songs that the Beatles wrote, many of which were inspired by the city.
This is one of the most comprehensive experiences you can have while in the Beatle’s hometown, and I recommend it to any Beatles fan.
3. The Beatles Story
The Beatle’s Story is an immersive experience that tells the story of the Beatle’s career from start to finish. Begin with the day that John met Paul and travel all the way through to the end of the Beatles and their subsequent solo careers.
In this experience, you get to see into the window of Hessey’s music shop, where the Beatles bought their first guitars, see recreations of the Mersey Beat office, NEMS, and Abbery Road Studios, as well as a true-to-life recreation of Matthew Street and the Cavern Club as it would have been in the early 60s.
You can also enter the Yellow Submarine itself and enjoy a lifesize version of the Sgt. Pepper’s cover.
Along with photographs, artifacts, and immersive experiences, you will also be provided with an audio guide to tell you stories of The Beatles and their story.
This should be a top spot in any of The Beatles’ Liverpool locations. This is probably the closest you can get to living through The Beatle’s journey as it happened without actually needing a time machine.
4. Strawberry Fields
The inspiration for the name of John Lennon’s song “Strawberry Fields Forever.” Previously a children’s home, apparently John used to sneak over the walls into the grounds here when he was younger.
Now, though, it is set up as a visitors’ center. There is a cafe, a shop, a John Lennon history exhibition, and a garden set up for prayer, meditation, and reflection.
The highlight for Beatles fans is the presence of the Imagine piano – the white piano on which John played his famous song for peace.
Here, you can take your photo in front of the original Strawberry Fields sign and gates, which have been signed by many fans over the years. This iconic part of music history is a must-see when it comes to The Beatles Liverpool locations.
5. Penny Lane
Another song-related location, this time taken from Paul McCartney’s song “Penny Lane”.
This is a location that has many links to the lads’ lives growing up in Liverpool. This is where the boys would catch the bus into town, school each other’s houses, and gigs. Not only that, but George Harrisons’ father even worked as a conductor at the nearby station.
Here, you can also see the many locations mentioned in the song, including the barbers, the bank, and the shelter in the middle of the roundabout. You’ll have to go up the road for the fire station, though!
With so many direct references to this location in one song and such a central part of the Beatle’s life in Liverpool, this is another one of the must-visit Beatles Liverpool locations for fans. Make sure to have your photo taken in front of the Penny Lane street sign, too!
6. John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s Childhood Homes
This is, of course, a truly unique and intimate insight into the two lads’ lives in Liverpool.
At Mendips on Menlove Avenue, you can see where John lived with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George. It has been restored to its original 1950s appearance, allowing visitors an insight into John’s life here – including the posters he liked to put on his bedroom walls!
At 20 Forthlin Road, you can see where Paul McCartney lived with his father, Jim, brother, Mike, and mother, Mary, before she died. This house is particularly significant, as over 100 Beatles songs were composed here by Lennon and McCartney, including Love Me Do, I Saw Her Standing There and When I’m Sixty Four. It is also done up in the original style of the time, just as John’s is, with many photos of the boys in the house displayed in the front room.
7. Mathew Street Shops
Mathew Street is home to many other locations on this list, including the Cavern Club, The Grapes, and the Beatle’s Museum, as well as a John Lennon statue. It is basically one big Beatles tribute.
However, on Mathew Street, you will also find multiple shops selling Beatles merchandise, and it is, without a doubt, the top spot to get your Beatles memorabilia. With hundreds of t-shirts, jumpers, books, badges, and guitar straps on display, alongside more specialized items of memorabilia, this is like a treasure trove for Beatles fans.
Make sure you visit the shops so you can take home at least one souvenir from your trip with you. On my first trip, I bought 2 Beatles T-shirts, some badges, and a plushie of Paul McCartney. I may have been the happiest 17-year-old in the world!
8. The Beatles Museum
Also located on Mathew Street and opened by Pete Best’s half-brother, The Beatles museum has on display over 300 artifacts from the Beatles’ history.
Displayed over 3 different floors, the museum holds artifacts such as guitars, clothes, furniture, and even the gifts that the lads received from Elvis when they met him in America.
A visit to this museum means a real insight into the Beatle’s career and the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the items linked closely to their lives. This Mathew Street addition definitely makes for another one of the great Beatles Liverpool locations.
9. The Beatles Statue
Located down by the Albert Dock, The Beatle’s Statue is the most selfied spot in all of Liverpool!
This statue presents a larger-than-life cast of the Fab Four striding out together along the waterfront.
Donated by the Cavern Club or the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ final performance in Liverpool at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, this is definitely a top spot for any fan visiting The Beatles Liverpool locations.
Make sure to pop down here and get your photograph taken with the statue, perhaps on your way to The Beatles Story, which is only over the other side of the dock.
10. St Peter’s Church
This is one of the most important locations in the Beatles history. Located in Woolton, just up the road from John’s childhood home, is St Peter’s Church. This is known for being the place where John first met Paul.
Specifically, John was playing in the church hall across the road with The Quarrymen at the Walton Village Fete, and Paul saw them play. They were then introduced by their mutual friend Ivan Vaughn, and the rest is history.
Not only can you explore the place where John and Paul first met here, but this is also the location of a gravestone featuring the name Eleanor Rigby.
Paul apparently has no recollection of this, meaning the name is either a coincidence or managed to burrow its way into his subconscious when he used to hang around the church grounds with John. Either way, this is another place to find one of those classic Beatles song references.
11. The Grapes
The Grapes is another must-visit spot on Mathew Street – truly the Beatles Liverpool Location that keeps on giving.
This 200-year-old pub was a favorite hangout of the Beatles during their time in Liverpool. They would come here to have a pint after playing the Cavern for two reasons.
The first was simply due to the fact that the Cavern didn’t sell alcohol at the time. The second is, due to being a licensed pub, it was for adults only. This meant that they could find a reprieve from the young teenage fans who would watch them play at the Cavern.
It’s still a popular pub, appealing to creative types with a regular showing of live music. Make sure you take note of the photo of the Beatles hanging over their regular table.
12. The Jacaranda
The Jacaranda is another location in Liverpool linked to The Beatles’ early days playing music.
This club was owned by The Beatles’ first manager, Alan Williams. It became a central hub for the Mersey Beat sound at the time, hosting artists such as Gerry & The Pacemakers, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, and, of course, The Beatles.
In fact, The Beatles didn’t only play gigs here but also convinced Alan Williams to allow them to rehearse in the basement downstairs in exchange for decorating the venue for him. To this day, the restored mural designed by the lads can still be observed. It is also linked to the songwriting of the Beatles, most notably through the composition of One After 909, which took place here.
Nowadays, it still functions as a bar, a live music venue, and a record store. It focuses on featuring up-and-coming artists, great for those who like to stay up to date as well as appreciate the classics.
13. Blue Angel
If you’re more of a clubbing person than a pubbing person then the Blue Angel is a great spot for you to visit whilst still getting to explore more of the Beatles Liverpool Locations.
This was another club owned by Beatles’ early manager Alan Williams in the 60s. They regularly played here, as well as being the spot where Pete Best’s audition took place. This is also where the Beatles audition for their first tour outside England for Johnny Gentle.
Not only is this club linked to The Beatles but many other musicians too, making it a great place to visit for any music lover. With artists such as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and local legend Cilla Black having played here, this spot is choc full of music history.
14. The Casbah Coffee Club
The club owned by Pete Bests mother was a favourite hangout of the Beatles. Having said that, while they were more closely linked to the Cavern, the Casbah felt more like their club. This is a spot that was very close to the members’ hearts.
Another club featuring the musicians’ artistic skills, the boys agreed to help paint the club before it opened. To this day, you can still observe their elaborate artworks on the walls.
You can also see a silhouette of John on the wall painted by his then-girlfriend Cynthia Powell – soon to become Cynthia Lennon!
This club is a fantastic place to get an insight into the lives of the Beatles at the very start of their music journey, and the connections they had to friends and family along the way.
15. A Hard Day’s Night Hotel
There is likely no better place to play for a Beatles fan than the Hard Day’s Night Hotel. Just around the corner from Mathew Street, this hotel is a real treat for any Beatles fan to behold.
With statues of the Beatles on the outside walls, this hotel is a home for everything to do with the band. You can book to stay in a suite inspired by your favorite Beatle, or you can enjoy the decor inspired by the trends of the time.
For those who aren’t staying in the hotel, you can bob into the restaurant/bar and try the Beatle themed menu – such as a delicious John Lennon-ade!
This hotel, despite all it’s references and gimmicks, still maintains a sense of luxury and gandeur – perfect for a hotel in tribute to the greatest band in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What venues did the Beatles play at in Liverpool?
The Beatles played many venues in Liverpool, many of which are now closed. However, there are a number which you are still able to visit in the city. These include The Cavern Club, The Casbah Coffee Club, The Jacaranda, The Blue Angel, Liverpool Town Hall, and then Liverpool Empire Theatre,
Are there two Beatles museums in Liverpool?
Yes, there are two Beatles Museums in Liverpool. One is The Beatles Story. This immersive experience takes you through The Beatles’ career journey, from their meeting to the present day. The second, The Beatles Museum, is a three-story collection of Beatle’s artifacts and memorabilia.
What street in Liverpool was made famous by the Beatles?
Mathew Street, home to the Cavern Club, was made famous by The Beatles. This is due to the band’s many appearances at famous clubs. Today, it exists as a big Beatles tribute, with Beatle-themed pubs, shops, and the Beatles Museum.
How many times did the Beatles play in Liverpool?
The Beatles played in the Cavern Club alone almost 300 times. While we don’t have a full record of how many times the Beatles played at venues across Liverpool, it is likely up to 500 or even more!
Where did McCartney live in Liverpool?
While Paul McCartney lived in many houses across Liverpool, his most famous home is at 20 Forthlin Road in Allerton. Here, he wrote a number of Beatles songs, including Love Me Do and I Saw Her Standing There. Today, you can visit the house through a tour with the National Trust.
Visit The Beatles LiverPool Locations For A Fab Day Out
As you can see, there is never any lack of things to do for a Beatles fan in Liverpool.
From clubs to childhood homes to hotels to the actual Magical Mystery Tour, there’s never a moment of boredom here.
As a big Beatles fan myself, I can confirm that visiting this city is basically a dream come true for any fan. And that’s a promise – From Me To You!
So, I hope you have a great time exploring the legacy of the band and its members.
If you want to explore more things to do in Liverpool to get a sense of the city outside of The Beatles, check out my post on the Top Things To Do In Liverpool.
Thank you so much for reading, and happy twisting and shouting!
Ta-ta for now! x
