Visit The Home Of The Beatles At This Popular UK City
From their formation in 1960 to their split just 10 years later, the Beatles evolved from teen heartthrobs to innovative trailblazers and the most famous band on the planet. Over half a century after John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr went their separate ways, their influence is still felt throughout music and popular culture, and nowhere is that legacy more present than in their hometown of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.
Home to around half a million people and "Scouse," one of the country's most distinct regional dialects, Liverpool has a long history and a keen sense of local pride. With its past as an important industrial hub of the North, its working-class identity is intrinsically linked to the fortunes of its two big soccer teams, Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. which both still currently play at their ancestral stadiums amid streets of cramped terraced housing. For many Liverpudlians from similar backgrounds, the Beatles were four working-class lads (although some argue that John was more middle-class) who conquered the world and put their city on the global map.
Nowadays, Liverpool's international airport is named after John Lennon and travelers are welcomed by the surreal sight of the Yellow Submarine by the entrance. The sculpture is just one of many tributes to the city's most famous export in a town still rich with the memory of the Fab Four.
On the trail of the Beatles in Liverpool
Liverpool's status as a tourist destination has boomed over the past three decades and now attracts over 50 million visitors each year. You can bet that a good number of them are still on the trail of the Fab Four and the epicenter of Beatles worship is arguably the famous Cavern Club. The small vaulted venue was the band's home as they played their way to superstardom in the early '60s and the club still hosts live gigs today. Across the road, there is plenty of memorabilia to sift through at the Liverpool Beatles Museum.
A more immersive experience can be found at the Beatles Story Museum on the historic Albert Dock, which is also the starting point for the Magical Mystery Tour coach that takes visitors on a ride around key sites in the band's history. For those who like to make a pilgrimage under their own steam, you can visit Strawberry Field or take a stroll down Penny Lane; pay your respects at St. Peter's Church, the final resting place of a lady called Eleanor Rigby; and check out the childhood homes of John and Paul where they wrote many of their early hits.
To celebrate a busy day's sightseeing, you can quench your thirst on a mini Beatles pub crawl, taking in some of the boys' favorite old locals like The Grapes, the Philharmonic Dining Rooms, and the Blue Angel.
Other reasons to visit Liverpool
With its reputation as one of the friendliest cities in the UK, Liverpool offers a vibrant alternative to London in terms of museums, galleries, music, theater, and a thriving culinary and nightlife scene. There is much to do aside from following in the footsteps of the Beatles; the city's storied history has left it with plenty of interesting architecture to explore, from the famous Royal Liver Building and hulking gothic cathedral to more contentious additions to the skyline, like the angular modern designs on the historic waterfront that contributed to Unesco withdrawing the city's status as a world heritage site in 2021. An alternative view can be taken from a ferry ride on the river Mersey, immortalized by the Gerry and the Pacemakers song, or the 360-degree panoramas from the top of the Radio City Tower.
Shoppers of all budgets can unearth something interesting on Bold Street, a sanctuary for independent businesses and restaurants, and foodies will find good eats in the Baltic Market, renowned for its street food. Sports fans wishing to catch a game at Anfield or Goodison Park (the homes of Liverpool and Everton respectively) will need to be on their toes because matches sell out fast. If you can't get a ticket, you can still enjoy the action at one of the city's many lively sports bars. Liverpool's increasing popularity as a tourist destination just goes to show that there are many great city breaks in England beyond the capital.