Liverpool Adventures July 2016: Heading Out On A Fab Four Taxi Tour Part 1

During our fourth and final day in Liverpool, Mum and I took the Fab Four Taxi Tour which as some of you may remember was on the agenda during our trip last year. As we had enjoyed it so much during our previous trip we decided to opt for a longer tour this time; the three hour 'Lennon' tour. We both had a brilliant day touring the sites in Liverpool that helped shape The Beatles and became the inspiration for some of their most famous songs. So sit back with a cup o' tea and relax whilst I take you on a magical mystery tour as I write about all of the places we visited during the Fab Four Taxi Tour.

Around half past ten we arrived at the designated pick up point 'The Pumphouse' at Albert Dock where we met our tour guide, a gentleman named Ian. Each driver's cab is named after a Beatles song, Ian's was called 'Dear Prudence'-such a cool idea!

Due to my health and mobility accessing taxis minus a ramp is near impossible nowadays however we noticed on the company's website that some of the cabs have a swivel chair which allows people with mobility issues access the taxi from street level without any difficulty. And what a difference this made for me and Ian couldn't have been more helpful assisting me.

The house where Ringo was born

The first stop in the tour was a part of Liverpool named Dingle where Ringo Starr (then known as Richard Starkey) group up. No.9 Madryn Street pictured above is the house that Ringo Starr was born and lived there until the age of 5. Further down the Madryn Street at No.59 was also the home of Ringo's Grandparents. Every house on the street as far as I can remember had a sheet of lyrics from some of Ringo's songs attached to the window which was a special touch. Sadly, the street is currently inhabited besides one house as the residents who live there refuse to leave and to be honest I don't really blame them. I believe there has been doubts regarding the street's future however during our visit repair work was in progress right before our very eyes which is a positive sign.

A pic of The Empress Pub featured on Ringo's album 'Sentimental Journal' taken from inside of the taxi

Around the corner was 'The Empress Pub' pictured on Ringo's first solo album 'Sentimental Journey' where his family and friends spent a lot of time socialising when he was a young boy. Ringo recorded 'Sentimental Journey' for his Mother which was filled with covers of Ringo's Mother's favourite songs-another little fact for you all!

Ringo's home in Admiral Grove

Recreating a famous photo of Ringo

Ringo and his Mother moved to No.9 Admiral Grove (pictured above), a street almost directly adjacent to Madryn Street. The house in Admiral Grove is currently empty as the elderly lady who once lived there sadly passed away last year. We were able to have a peek through the window to get a glimpse of the interior as the rooms, fittings etc haven't changed since Ringo lived there all those years ago. Also pictured above is me recreating a photograph of Ringo leaving Admiral Grove for a Beatles gig in Liverpool on the very spot he once stood in (such a geek I am!).

The park where Julia Stanley met Alfred Lennon

Following this we visited Sefton Park where John Lennon's Mum Julia Stanley met his Dad Alfred Lennon at the boating lake (pictured above). The same park I believe was named in a song called 'In Liverpool' released by Ringo years later. Directly across the road was what is now a hotel named Blenheim Lakeside Hotel which was once home to Stuart Sutcliffe, a former member and the original bassist of The Beatles who like me was Scottish and sadly passed away in 1962. Stuart alongside his family once lived in apartment 1B situated on the right of the hotels front door. As you can see in the image below there's a plaque commemorating him outside of the hotel.

The apartment where original member of The Beatles Stuart Sutcliffe lived

Mum & I at the Penny Lane street sign

Through the speaker system inside the taxi one of my all-time favourite Beatles songs 'Penny Lane' began to play as we began to drive down the very street itself. First, we stopped off at the Penny Lane street sign where a photo was of course in order. As you can see the sign has been painted on the wall in place of the original street sign which like many other famous landmarks in Liverpool has unfortunately been obstructed or stolen by Beatles fan. Further along the road there is however an actual sign where most other Beatles tours take visitors to the city however the one we're photographed beside was in fact where the original sign had once been situated. That in my opinion is much more authentic in comparison to the new sign.

The famous Penny Lane barber shop

Listening to thefamous song once again, we headed further along the road to see a number of the very locations named in the song before our very eyes. This includes 'the shelter in the middle of the roundabout' where John and Paul used to meet to catch the bus, the bank, 'the barbershop showing photographs' formerly known as 'Bioletti's Barber Shop', now named 'Tony Slavin' as well as the fire station. For me, this one of my favourite parts of the tour; there's such a buzz listening to the lyrics of the song and actually seeing the exact locations that Paul McCartney visited which inspired him to write a song about it. Ian also pointed out various Beatles related locations within the proximity that's connections are rarely highlighted-being such a huge fan I loved seeing these unknown places.

The bus shelter in the middle of the roundabout

Barnardo's charity shop originally the photo studio owned by the gentleman who took The Beatles first professional photos

Pictured above, directly across from the famous bus shelter is what is now a 'Barnardo's' charity shop however what people don't know is that it once was a tiny photo studio owned by a gentleman who Brian Epstein asked to do The Beatles' first ever professional photoshoot in 1961. The shoot took place in 1961 and at the time Pete Best was the band's drummer. I believe the shoot consisted of thirty photos however only just sixteen survived as the rest were discarded due to certain bands members mucking around during the session. Just a few doors along the path is the location of what used to be the Woolworths store where John Lennon's first wife Cynthia once worked for a period of time back in the day.

The house John Lennon lived in from birth until 1945

Following this Ian showed us 9 Newcastle Road, Wavertree which was the first house John Lennon lived in from birth until 1945. In recent years the house was purchased by an American Beatles fan at an auction which took place in The Cavern Club in Mathew Street. You might not be able to see so well in the pictures but outside the front door; engraved into the steps are the words 'Imagine', 'Peace' and 'Wisdom' in tribute to John which is a fitting tribute.

Brian Epstein's childhood home

We also saw Brian Epstein's childhood family home located at 127 Queen's Drive in the area of Childwall as well as the house at 137 Gateacre Park Drive that John Lennon purchased for his Aunt and Uncle who took care of John's sisters after their mother Julia sadly passed away. This was the very house that John, Yoko and family visited amidst the recording of the 'Abbey Road' album in 1969 whilst on route for a tour of the Scottish Highlands where John spent many holidays visiting family as a child. It was during the same trip they got into a car accident in the narrow highland roads cutting their trip short.

137 Gateacre Park Drive where John, Yoko & children visited family on route for a tour of the Scottish highlands in 1969

George Harrison's family home from 1962-65 where he celebrated his 21st Birthday

We also visited the family home of George Harrison at 174 Markets Lane where he lived from 1962 until the year 1965 when George bought his parent a new house located in Warrington. This was also the home where he celebrated his 21st birthday at which Ian, our guide showed us some photographs of the local postmen delivering crates to the house filled with cards and letters to George from hundreds of fans wishing him a 'Happy Birthday'. In the image above you can see me sitting on the wall outside George's old house probably on the very spot where many Beatles fans would find themselves hoping to catch a glimpse of George back in 60s. Sadly, I'm just a few decades too late to meet George!
Well, as suspected this post is turning out to be a long one so I've decided to write about my trip round Liverpool exploring all of the Beatles related sites in two parts. There's so much to write about, I could easily go on forever! I hope you enjoyed Part 1 and be sure to keep an eye out for Part 2! If you want to find out more about The Fab Four Taxi Tours be sure to visit their website on the following link: http://fab4tours.co.uk/. I can't recommend this tour enough, it's totally worth it!