Liverpool Day 3: Fab 4 Taxi Tour

Strawberry Fields Forever

I woke up that morning feeling a little star struck, well after all I had seen Paul McCartney just a few hours before! I'm so pleased that we decided to stay an extra day in Liverpool instead of a long day travelling home. Due to the major buzz I was experiencing from the night before, I seriously don't think I could have contained myself in as small a space for a long period of time considering how hyper I was.

We got up out of bed and packed our bags up as we were moving hotels for our final evening in Liverpool. We ate breakfast in a place named "What's Cooking Bar & Grill" which was directly underneath the premiere Inn. The décor was so cool, although I've probably said that about every restaurant/café I visited during my time in Liverpool but they all were unique and exciting in their own special way! I loved how this particular café incorporated the original features within the building creating a similar feel to the Premier Inn. I decided to order the "full monty" breakfast as I enjoy a cooked breakfast every now and then. You should however, have seen the look of shock on my face when the plate was sat down in front of me. I couldn't quite believe just how it big it was! Needless to say I couldn't finish it but what I did manage to eat was of course, rather delicious!

After breakfast we packed up the car with our bags and Dad took it over to the Crowne Plaza hotel where we'd booked to stay for our final evening. Mum, my sister and I made our way to the Pumphouse restaurant which was our designated meeting point for the Fab 4 Taxi Tour we'd booked a few weeks in advance of our trip. Just a short while after Dad joined us we were approached by a gentleman named Graeme who turned out to be our driver/guide. We followed him to the taxi and settled into our seats. We drove through the streets of Liverpool until we arrived outside a pub which we soon discovered was the pub on the front of Ringo Starr's first solo album "Sentimental Journey". Graeme was fairly new to the company, so it was here at this very location where we met John who would be take on the role of the main guide for us and another party of tourists.

The pub on the cover of Ringo Starr's first solo album Sentimental Journey

John told us the story of Richard Starkey's (more famously known as Ringo Starr) life standing in the exact location where it all took place. Just around the corner was the house that Ringo and his mother lived in until he became famous as the drummer of The Beatles. A couple of streets down the road was the very house Ringo where was born, almost directly across the road was his Dad's house and just a little further down the path was the home of his Grandparents. All of the houses in that particular street are currently empty and apparently were intended to be knocked down by the council. The plans have since changed and apparently, Ringo's birthplace is now set to become a museum at some point in future. The remaining empty properties in the street will be sold cheaply with the condition that all buyers promise to spend a certain sum of money on the renovation and maintenance of their property.

The next stop on our tour was the famous Penny Lane which served as the inspiration for the Beatles classic written by Paul McCartney. We had our photos taken next to the street sign, which they've now painted on the wall due to the fact that the street sign had been stolen on numerous occasions, which I find a little weird to be honest. I mean what would you do with a street sign?

Penny Lane Barber Shop

Further along the road was the famous "shelter in the middle of the roundabout" as well as the Penny Lane Barber Shop mentioned in the lyrics of the song. John, one our tour guides told us how Paul was inspired by childhood memories of Penny Lane and how these related to the lyrics of the song. Being such a big fan of The Beatles, I found it particularly interesting to see the exact locations I'd heard mentioned in the lyrics on so many occasions right there in front of me. It's extremely interesting to see how everyday life can create such amazing art loved by so many. Standing outside, we were shown a photograph of The Beatles taken inside the famous barber shop. In the photo was all four Beatles, with Paul seated in the barber chair having his hair cut into the famous Beatles mop top. Believe it or not the barber shop is still open to the public and much to our amusement they sell merchandise such as Penny Lane Barber Shop t-shirts!

Paul McCartney's childhood home

Next in the tour itinery was a visit to 20 Forthlin Road where Paul McCartney lived with his father, James and brother, Michael until he became famous. I'd seen many pictures of his childhood home so it was pretty surreal to find myself standing right in front of it! We were all told the story of Paul's life and how both him and John would skip school, (and art college in John's case) catch the bus back to Paul's house and spent the afternoon writing songs together unbeknown to both Paul's father and John's Aunt Mimi. The strange thing was I could actually visualise them strolling along the path together and sneaking into the house trying to avoid being caught by the neighbours.

Our next stop was Strawberry Fields, the very place that inspired John Lennon to write yet another legendary song in The Beatles catalogue of hits. Strawberry Fields for me, felt rather magical. Literally, the second we arrived there I instantly fell in love with it. I could hear the sound of leaves rustling in the crisp breeze in the trees towering high above us and the sweet sound of little birds singing songs filled the air-pure bliss in my opinion! From what I've heard John Lennon felt a connection with Strawberry Fields and after visiting there myself, (although, I'm sure it's changed a lot over the years) I can definitely see why he loved it so much.

Aunt Mimi's house

Mendips, 251 Melrose Avenue was where John Lennon lived for most of childhood with Aunt Mimi and just so happened to be our next port of call. Just like at the previous homes of The Beatles, we'd visited that day, we were told the incredible story of John Lennon. His story was absolutely heart-breaking to hear and I think standing in front his home made it seem all the more real. John had a really tough childhood and I really admire how he made something of himself and how he became a legend.

We also visited George Harrison's childhood home which looks almost identical to how it looked during the time that George and his family lived there. Apparently, this was the house where George celebrated his 21st birthday and the entire band celebrated it there with him. Our guides also showed us a photo of the local postmen delivering I don't know how many crates filled to the brim with birthday cards from his fans to the house. It was unbelievable, I have seriously seen nothing like it! It must have taken him years to open and read each and everyone of them!

The final stop of the tour was the church hall where John and Paul met for the very first time at a summer fete that the Quarrymen (John's band) performed at. Across the road was the graveyard where the tombstone that inspired yet another legendary Beatles track written by Paul. I'm sure you'll already have guessed that the song I'm referring to is Eleanor Rigby. Seeing the place where the world's best song writing duo met and of course, history was made was quite emotional for me as a fan. I often wonder what would have happened if perhaps one of them had taken ill and never attended the fete that day. Would they ever have actually met? Would The Beatles ever have actually existed? I suppose that's a question I'll never know the answer to which is most definitely a good thing! So it was here where we finished our tour and ironically we finished quite literally where it all began.

We bid farewell to John the tour guide and his party before getting back into our taxi and just a short time later we were dropped off by our guide/driver Graeme outside the world famous Mathew Street. What an incredible tour! Both guides Graeme and John couldn't have been nicer and both gentlemen were extremely knowledge about the Beatles and Liverpool itself. We'd booked a 2 hour tour which in fact actually lasted almost 4 hours which for just £45 was absolutely amazing! Next time I visit Liverpool I'd love to go on one of the longer tours with the Fab Four Taxi Tours and learn more about how Liverpool shaped The Beatles. Seriously, if you ever visit Liverpool and are keen to do a Beatles tours I'd completely recommend booking with them! You'll definitely not regret it! To find out more make sure to visit http://fab4tours.co.uk/

We made our way along Mathew Street before stopping to take a photo outside the Cavern Club and another beside the John Lennon statue situated a little further along the cobbled path. I couldn't visit Liverpool and not have my photo taken there! It had to be done!

A quick photo with the John Lennon statue

Afterwards, we made our way back to the Liverpool One shopping centre and popped into Ed's Diner for a milkshake. My sister has wanted to visit one of their branches for quite a while so we decided to pop in and see what it was like. I have to say I was rather impressed with it. It was like stepping back into the 50s, the décor was so cool and reminded me of the sets I'd seen in the Grease and Back to the Future films. The only problem was I felt like I should have come dressed in a poodle skirt or one of those cute 50s dresses covered in polka-dots, that you find in vintage shops or Camden Market in London. 

After a yummy refreshment, we took the opportunity to do a spot of shopping. I seriously don't think I've ever seen as many amazing shops in my entire life. There was a shop that catered to the taste and needs of almost everyone that stepped foot in Liverpool. Let's just put it this way, if there isn't you're just too fussy! No offence intended by the way!

As it was getting late we decided that it was probably a good time to have a spot of dinner and decided to take a visit to Pizza Hut. We don't visit Pizza Hut very often at home here in Scotland so it's always a nice treat to go there once every blue moon! I must confess I am not a huge fan of pizza, I'm not so keen on cheese (yes, I'm a little weird!) but I have to say that they make some absolutely delicious pizzas!

The Pizza Hut branch situated in the Liverpool One centre was what I would describe as mobbed (extremely busy). Presumably, it was as busy due to the fact that it happened to be half term in England and of course it was a Friday evening. Despite the quickly growing queue, the Pizza Hut staff were able to seat each party within the matter of minutes. The food tasted great and I think I enjoyed it all the more because I hadn't eaten pizza in such a long time!

After dinner we made our way to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, passing my beloved Albert Dock and the Liver Building on route to check in for our final night in the city. The thought of leaving the city didn't sound so appealing I must admit. The Crowne Plaza was very different compared to the Premiere Inn, it was rather fancy which was nice but I definitely have to say the Premiere Inn was my favourite out of the two! The Premiere Inn was very quirky which was right up my street!

I couldn't quite believe that my long awaited Liverpool trip had come to an end the following day. We grabbed the most amazing breakfast at a very cute and chic café/restaurant named "Bills" in the city centre of Liverpool and popped into a few shops to purchase a few bits n' bobs before making our way back to the car and bidding Liverpool farewell for now. I had such an amazing trip and enjoyed every single second of it! Without a doubt you'll already have guessed that my highlight of the trip was seeing Paul McCartney! Never in a million years did I ever imagine I'd see him in his hometown but as I've recently discovered dreams really do come true!