Friday, January 22, 2010

Liverpool's Beatles History

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Liverpool and London serve as geographical bookends to the story of the Beatles; a story that encompasses rock n' roll's most important years and still enthralls fans the world over. Any visit to Liverpool would be incomplete without a visit to at least a few of the haunts that shaped the most popular rock band of all time.

The Cavern Club

This legendary club where manager Brian Epstein discovered the Beatles no longer exists, having been demolished to make way for the Merseyrail underground in 1973, but the new club was built with the original bricks. It sits firmly in the Beatles' shadow and is a must-see for any true fan. Take in some great live music, look over the Wall of Fame, and touch a piece of music history.

The neighborhood surrounding the club is also a thriving shopping district where Beatle-themed merchandise and entertainment abound.

Magical Mystery Tour

Liverpool is full of sites that shaped and inspired the early lives of the "fab four." See the actual locations that inspired song titles and lyrics. See the places where life events inspired the music that's captured the world's imagination.

One of the best ways to go about this is to schedule a guided bus tour. Magical Mystery Tour is one such tour and takes visitors to sites like Strawberry Field, Penny Lane, and St. Peter's Church in Woolton where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met. This particular tour tells the Beatles story in a vivid and entertaining way with plenty of music sprinkled in along the way.

The tour originates in close proximity to several good Hotels in Liverpool and is a good way to prevent the frustration that can come with running all over town with a map.

Some fans, however, may choose to take the sights in at their own pace, and this can be a great way for the truly devoted to take their time and get a good feel for these places and neighborhoods.

Of particular interest is John Lennon's childhood home on Menlove Avenue. Lennon's widow Yoko Ono recently purchased and renovated the house, restoring it to it's 1950s styling. Ono donated it to the National Trust and it's now open to the public.

Liverpool hotels and the hospitality in Liverpool generally is particularly accommodating to Beatles fans. Visitors will find that they're both encouraged and welcomed in this rock music Mecca.

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