Liverpool & the Beatles


 Day 1: The Cavern Quarter

John

 
I was always fond of Brian Epstein (the Beatles manager)

Cilla Black (Merseybeat pop star & TV presenter)


I sat on the bench with Eleanor Rigby for a while.


The Cavern Club
 

The Cavern stage


On display in the Cavern


Paul played the Cavern in 1999!

I went down the Cavern when it opened at 11 am and I'm glad I did. By the time I had listened to the first performer and watched the two short films I wanted to see, the place was crowded with tourists.

I could hardly believe that I was in THE club of such historical significance! But I must say that I was a little disappointed. The raucous, sweaty club of the 60s was now air-conditioned and featured Beatles tribute bands. Not my cup of tea.


Day 2: John and Paul

John and Paul's childhood homes are now owned by the National Trust and the only way to visit INSIDE the homes is to go on a National Trust tour.

National Trust properties are usually old castles and stately homes. But these are just small, ordinary homes which the NT has painstakingly preserved and restored to the way they were in the 50s and 60s. John's home is 'posh' compared to Paul's!

Photos are not allowed inside.

John's childhood home (Mendips)

 
John's back garden

Paul's childhood home (20 Forthlin Road)

Paul's back garden (Photo by Paul's brother, Mike McCartney)

Day 3: Mad Day Out!

George's early childhood home, before he was a Beatle

 
Ringo's childhood home

Near Ringo's childhood home


Penny Lane


"Behind the shelter in the middle of a roundabout"


With John on Penny Lane


Strawberry Field garden with bandstand


Strawberry Field garden


Strawberry Field original gates (now in the garden for safekeeping)


Eleanor Rigby's grave


St Peter's Church, Woolton, where John and Paul met


Beatles statue on the Waterfront


Ferry Cross the Mersey ❤️

Day 4: Ropewalks & the Georgian Quarter

St Luke's Bombed Out Church

 
St Luke's Bombed Out Church

Saint Luke's lost its roof to the German bombs of the Liverpool blitz in 1941.

 

Liverpool Cathedral

 

LIPA: Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts, co-founded by Paul McCartney

Paul is still involved with the school.

The iconic Jacaranda (music venue and bar), just around the corner from my hotel

The Jacaranda was at the heart of Merseybeat in the 60s and is still a music venue today.

This copy of Paul's letter from 1960 hangs in the Jacaranda! ❤️


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