Editor’s note: I’ve never been to Liverpool, so we are lucky to have Mandy give us a taste of the most famous residents the city has ever known. For more of her awesome walking tours, click here.
Liverpool one of my favorite places to visit in England and it is probably most famous for being the home of The Beatles which is the theme of this walking tour. Whether or not you’re a huge fan of The Beatles there is no doubt of their impact on musical history. Liverpool (population around half a million) is located in the north of England, nestled amongst other cities like Manchester, York and Leeds, all of which make for great day trips either by train or bus.
Liverpool is filled with tons of Beatles sites to see in the city center including The Beatles Story on Albert Docks which has the largest permanent collection in the world of their memorabilia. The Albert Docks is the location of many of Liverpool’s museums which also have free admission. You can also stop by The Cavern Club where The Beatles built their musical reputation, giving over 250 performances between 1961 and 1963. The Cavern Club has been sold various times over the years and the club we currently see was reconstructed using bricks from the original site and sits on the same location. I would highly recommend stopping by these statues when you are in downtown Liverpool. This walking tour takes place in and around Woolton Village, which is accessible from Liverpool town center and the airport by bus. I made a map of the general route which you can access here.
You will start in the center of Woolton Village (the bus should drop you off near a Sainsbury’s) which is full of quaint shops, pubs, and restaurants, and has a lovely atmosphere if you’re in need of a pint of beer or coffee after your walk. You’ll begin your walk on Woolton Street and head southeast toward your first destination, 251 Menlove Avenue, John Lennon’s childhood home. This property was donated to the National Trust, which is the UK’s historical conservation charity and functions as a museum of sorts. Due to social distancing requirements, it is necessary to schedule a viewing in advance.
You can continue walking along Menlove Avenue (approximately 15 minutes) until you reach Calderstones Park on your left. One of the things I love most about England is its epic parks – and this is a perfect example. Within its confines there is a small lake, a botanical gardens, and a manor (which has a café), and it is a great place to wander around and get lost for awhile. After this small departure from The Beatles theme, you will leave the park the way you came in and turn left onto Beaconsfield Road. Stay to the right side of the street and you will come across a red gate with a Strawberry Fields sign, inspiration for the famous song. This site was where John Lennon used to play as a child and has been turned into an attraction featuring an exhibition detailing the site’s history and significance as well as a large garden.
Finally, you will walk towards your final stop, the place where it all started, St. Peter’s Church, where Paul McCartney met John Lennon. The two met one night when John’s band at the time, the Quarrymen, were scheduled to play a gig. A mutual friend introduced the two and Paul so impressed the group with his musical skills that night that two weeks later he was invited to join
the band. Here you will also find the gravestone of Eleanor Rigby, and while nobody is sure that this is the person who inspired the song, it makes for a great photograph. This beautiful Church is located right in the heart of Woolton Village so you can explore the shops while waiting for your bus back to town.
Liverpool is full of Beatles-related fun, but this short walking tour will give you some great history – and some good exercise!
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