The Beatles: In the Footsteps of a Legend

Today I'm offering you a little tour of Liverpool to follow in the footsteps of my favorite band. If you're as big a fan as I am, these places will let you experience some of the Beatles' greatest hits, as well as a chapter of their history.

St. Peter's Parish Church

The church where Paul McCartney and John Lennon first met in 1957. Lennon was playing there with his band, the Quarrymen, which Paul joined a little later. Behind the church, in the cemetery, is buried Eleanor Rigby, who unwittingly became the subject of an eponymous song released in 1966.

The Casbah Coffee Club

In the house of Mona Best (Pete's mother, the former drummer of the Beatles). This is where the Quarrymen got their start. It's possible to take a tour. If you're lucky, you might meet Vincent, Pete Best's brother, who runs the place, or maybe even Pete himself—you never know! Interesting fact: The ceiling of the Casbah was painted with stars by John and the band. A few years ago, Sotheby's (a major real estate agency) offered to buy the ceiling for tens of thousands of dollars! The Best family refused.

The Cavern

The pub where the Beatles performed on several occasions. The place still exists, so you can sip a good English beer in the very spot where your idols enjoyed a beer (or several) before becoming so "big"!

Penny Lane

It's not just a hit song from 1967. It's also a street, at the junction of Allerton Road and Smithdown Road. A street where you can shop, enjoy a good meal in one of its many restaurants, and have a good drink!

Strawberry Field

A former orphanage founded in 1936, now closed. John Lennon used to play with his friends on the orphanage grounds when he was a child. The place was immortalized in a song in 1967 by Lennon, though credited to both Lennon and McCartney (as are all the band's songs written by one or the other). Even today, dozens of fans visit every day to take a picture of the famous red fence.

20, Forthlin Road

Paul McCartney's childhood home. Since it's part of the National Trust*, it's possible to visit!

*British non-profit association founded to maintain and enhance certain monuments and sites of collective interest.

251 Menlove Avenue

Also known as Mendips, this is the home of John Lennon's aunt, Mimi, where he spent several years of his life. The house was bought by Yoko Ono, renovated, and now belongs to the National Trust.

And while we're in Liverpool, we'll take the opportunity to visit the "Beatles Story" museum to experience the Beatles to the fullest!