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Beatles Liverpool Landmarks | Self-Guided Beatles Tour

Updated: January 25, 2023
 By Margaret

This post covers some of the most notable Beatles landmarks in Liverpool, including locations that influenced the band’s work, clubs where they played, pubs where they drank, and monuments erected in their honor.


TIP: The Beatles bus tours in Liverpool will take you to most of the sites on this list. 

You may also want to consider a free walking tour or a taxi tour if you’re looking for a more in-depth look at the history of this legendary rock band.


Fab Four Homes

Liverpool isn’t just the location where the Beatles got their start, it was also the city that John, Paul, and Ringo once called home when they were children. Visit the following sites to discover where they grew up and see the birthplace of George Harrison.


251 Menlove Avenue (John Lennon’s Childhood Home)

John Lennon moved into this house at the age of 5 and lived here until he was 22. He spent most of his childhood in this home, and today it is listed as a Grade II building as part of the National Trust.

Official tours of the childhood home of John Lennon are available pretty much year-round from Wednesday - Sunday.


20 Forthlin Road (Paul McCartney’s Childhood Home)

Paul McCartney moved into this house with his family in 1955. Like John Lennon’s home, it is now owned by the National Trust. This is where some of the first songs the band ever performed were written and rehearsed, which is why some consider it the birthplace of the Beatles.

You can take an official tour of Paul McCartney’s childhood home, and it’s offered from Wednesday - Sunday throughout the year.


10 Admiral Grove (Ringo Starr’s Childhood Home)

Ringo Starr lived in this house for 20 years before joining the Beatles and becoming a legend. Although he spent most of his childhood here, he was actually born just a few blocks away at 9 Madryn Street.


12 Arnold Grove (George Harrison’s Birthplace)

George Harrison was born and spent his early childhood living in this house. His family eventually moved to another location in 1950, but his earliest memories were created right here.


Influential Sites

The music of the Beatles was heavily influenced by several different sites in Liverpool. Find out where they got some of the ideas for the lyrical content of their songs at the attractions listed below.


Strawberry Fields

Referenced in their beloved song ‘Strawberry Fields Forever,’ this location was actually a Salvation Army children’s home when John Lennon was a young man living nearby. Lennon would sometimes attend garden parties at Strawberry Fields during the summer. 

Sadly, the original house has been demolished and replaced with a smaller children’s home, and the iconic red gate in front is just a replica of the original gate that was installed in 2011.


Penny Lane

Although this street did inspire the Beatles, you probably won’t find the modern experience in this area as creative and interesting as it was described in their song ‘Penny Lane.’

That said, it’s definitely worth a visit if only to see the location that influenced one of the most beloved rock songs of all time.


Sgt. Pepper’s Bistro

Even though the actual bistro that was once here has been shut down for a long time, this building is still fairly notable because it is on the site of the “shelter in the middle of a roundabout” described in ‘Penny Lane.’

At one time it was a tram stop at the centre of the junction of Penny Lane, Smithdown Road, and Allerton Road.


Eleanor Rigby’s Grave

This one is more of an unconfirmed theory than an actual proven influential site. Located at St. Peter’s Church, which is an important landmark in Beatles history for other reasons, this gravesite is thought to be the place where Eleanor Rigby was buried.

True enough, a woman named Eleanor Rigby was buried in this graveyard. You can find her name mentioned on the gravestone of John Rigby. What isn’t clear is whether or not this grave was an inspiration for the song.


Monuments

There are a number of different statues and sculptures in Liverpool that were raised in honour of the Beatles. Some focus on the group as a whole, others are specifically statues of just one member of the band. 

You’ll also find some monuments which reference either their popularity or one of their songs. Find out more about these sites in the section below.


Beatles Statues at Pier Head

These are some of the newest statues erected in honour of the Fab Four. Located just outside the British Music Experience and the Royal Liver Building, this monument is entirely free to visit and very photogenic.

This set of sculptures was given to the city of Liverpool by the Cavern Club, and they were designed by sculptor Andy Edwards.


Beatles Statues at John Lennon Airport

Since the airport is named after John Lennon, it shouldn’t be too surprising that they have a statue of the famed singer/songwriter. 

What you might not expect is that they also have a sculpture of the Yellow Submarine. This statue was originally designed for a Beatles-themed garden in Cammell Laird’s shipyard in 1984, but it was moved to the airport in 1995.


Eleanor Rigby Statue

Based on the titular character of the Beatles song ‘Eleanor Rigby,’ this statue sits alone on a stone bench with a plaque dedicated to “all the lonely people” behind her. 

The sculpture was designed and created by artist Tommy Steele in 1981.


John Lennon Peace Monument

Located just outside the ACC Liverpool, this sculpture is called Peace and Harmony, and it was designed to spread and promote the message of John Lennon.

Created by artist Lauren Voiers, the monument features imagery of a guitar, saxophone, and doves being released from unclasped hands.


Beatles Statues at The Cavern

If you’re planning to visit historic Beatles sites, chances are you’ll be making a stop at the Cavern Club. Before you step inside or move along to the next site, make sure to check out the statues nearby.

There is a statue of John Lennon right outside of the club. You’ll find another sculpture on the wall outside the club sitting under a sign which says “Beatle Street” above and “Four Lads Who Shook The World” below.


Clubs & Pubs

Since the Beatles got their start in Liverpool, you’ll find a lot of clubs where they once performed in the late 50s and early 60s. There are also a lot of notable pubs where they would stop to grab a pint before or after a show.

In addition to these sites, we will also cover a few historic landmarks where the Beatles had important performances or appearances.


The Cavern Club

This is arguably the most famous club in Liverpool, and it’s noted as an incredibly important site where the Beatles started to develop their sound.

Today, the Cavern Club still hosts live musicians and they also offer behind-the-scenes tours for fans who want to experience more.


Casbah Coffee Club

According to Paul McCartney, this was the site that the Beatles thought of as their personal club. Before they even got off the ground, they earned a slot performing here by helping to paint the club.

One of the most notable attractions here is a silhouette of John Lennon, originally painted by his girlfriend Cynthia, who would eventually become his first wife.


Blue Angel Night Club

This club was once owned by Allan Williams, the first manager of the Beatles. As a result, they had a lot of opportunities to play here at the time, and they even secured their first tour outside of Liverpool at the Blue Angel Night Club.


The “Jac” Jacaranda

Also owned by Allan Williams, this location originally opened up as a coffee shop in 1957, but it eventually became a bar in 1958. The Beatles would eventually perform here in 1960.

John Lennon helped to paint a mural for the Ladies room, leaving his mark on the establishment in a very artistic way.


St. Peter’s Church

Although it’s not a club, this church is noted as the location where John Lennon first met Paul McCartney during a church fete in 1957. After performing for the Quarrymen, he was invited to join their band just 2 weeks later.

When he was younger, John Lennon was involved in the youth group at St. Peter’s, and he sang in the choir for weddings.


Liverpool Town Hall

This is another case where the landmark isn’t technically a club, but it is important to the history of this rock band.

The Beatles made an appearance here on July 10th, 1964 upon returning to Liverpool for the premiere of their first movie, A Hard Day’s Night. More than 20,000 fans gathered to greet them here, an event which was re-enacted in 2014 for the 50th anniversary.


Litherland Town Hall

Even though it’s not technically a club, this was the site of what many people consider to be an incredibly important Beatles performance.

On December 27th, 1960, the rock group held a show here that was so big it came to be known as the birthplace of Beatlemania. The town hall has since been transformed into an NHS health centre.


Philharmonic Dining Rooms AKA “The Phil”

This was reportedly one of John Lennon’s favorite pubs during his youth, and he once lamented that the price of fame was “not being able to buy a pint at the Phil.”

Many consider this one of the most beautiful pubs in the city, so you might want to stop in just to grab a drink for yourself!


The Grapes

Located just a few doors down from the world famous Cavern Club, this is one of the pubs where the band would get some drinks before or after a performance. Today, The Grapes houses a lot of Beatles memorabilia.


 Ye Cracke

When John Lennon was attending the Liverpool College of Art, he often stopped at this pub to have a drink. Much like other pubs with historical ties to the band, you’ll find a lot of Beatles memorabilia throughout the building today.


About The Author

Margaret

An American simply by accident of birth, Margaret moved to London over 16 years ago and hasn’t looked back since! With a keen interest in History – and a BA degree to match – Margaret prides herself on her knowledge of the amazing city she calls home and she's been guiding here now for nearly a decade. Social history is her real expertise, with sound understanding of the day-to-day lives of Londoners over the past centuries. Read More...
Updated: January 25th, 2023
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