Rediscovering Britain – Walking through History with The Beatles

Liverpool

When you visit Liverpool there are several `must do` sights including The Cavern, Royal Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool, Anglican & Catholic Cathedrals, St George`s Hall and the iconic Ferry cross the Mersey amongst many others!

Whether you’re a fan of the ` Merseybeat ` sound or Gerry and the Pacemakers it’s almost impossible not to sing along to the song as the ferry makes its way across the river Mersey. You can enjoy a fifty-minute cruise from which you can view the city from an unfamiliar perspective. If you are lucky there may be a cruise ship in dock at the new cruise terminus.

After leaving the ferry stop off for a cup of tea and cake at the Beatles themed Fab 4 Café inside the Pier Head Terminal Building. Just outside the entrance to the café there is a sculpture of the four mop tops walking to the ferry. The Beatles did actually play on the ferry alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers and other Mersey beat stars during the sixties.

You should also visit the nearby Museum of Liverpool where you can discover the amazing story of Liverpool through its people, music, and sport. The museum contains over 6,000 exhibits over three floors. A fascinating museum which puts you in touch with the heart of Liverpool. Once refreshed I set off down the waterfront to the renovated Victorian warehouses of the Albert Dock.

There is so much to see at the Albert Dock! The Beatles Story, Maritime Museum, Customs and Excise Museum & Museum of International Slavery which are all free of admission charges! Tate Liverpool houses one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary art outside of London the galleries display some of the finest paintings, photography, sculptures, and installations from both the Tate`s own collections as well as national and international touring collections & exhibitions.

There are plenty of souvenir shops, bars & cafes located in the old docks plus two hotels. It is a wonderful place to visit at any time of day or evening with lots of trendy, stylish bars & restaurants!

When the Beatles released their debut single Love Me Do in October 1962, I was an eight-year-old junior school pupil and by the time I had reached my sixteenth birthday and left school, The Beatles had officially split! Just eight years apart but growing up during those formative years listening to one of the greatest rock and pop bands during my early teens meant I have always been a fan of The Beatles and Liverpool is the place to be!

The Cavern Club on Mathew Street is an integral part of Beatles history. Although the club has seen many changes it is still the first place most Beatles fans target when arriving in Liverpool. The Beatles played The Cavern Club a total of 292 times between 1961-63. Their final performance was in August of 1963. Make sure you check out the Liverpool Beatles Museum, right in the Heart of the Cavern Quarter on Mathew Street.

The Liverpool Beatles Museum should not be confused with The Beatles Story which is in the Royal Albert Dock. This museum is a private collection of over three hundred rare & authentic items documenting the early days in Liverpool & Hamburg, the years of Beatlemania, through to the final days of touring and the start of the bands pioneering studio recordings. Several years ago, I had the good fortune to visit The Casbah Coffee Club which is often overlooked by many Beatles fans on their pilgrimage to Liverpool, yet it played a crucial part in the early history of the band.

My guide that day was Vincent “Roag” Best, the son of The Beatles road manager Neil Aspinall and Mona Best, mother of the original Beatles drummer & Roag’s brother Pete Best who as everyone knows was a member of the Beatles for two years from 1960 – 1962.

It turns out that The Liverpool Beatles Museum belongs to Roag who has been a collector of Beatles memorabilia for over thirty years. It is now the largest singularly owned authentic Beatles collection in the world, spread over three floors highlighting key moments and music in the history of the band.

Finally try & check out the Philharmonic Dining Rooms or ‘The Phil’ as it is known locally. It has been described as the ‘most ornate pub in England.’ Dazzling and flamboyant, this magnificent hostelry takes its name from Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall opposite. It is not just an architectural beauty though; it is a traditional local pub with loads of unique character. It was at `The Phil` where Paul McCartney performed his impromptu performance gig on the James Corden Carpool Karaoke!