John and Paul's Childhood Homes Tour

Mike: Absolutely! Feel free to call me out on it if you don't think so after visiting. It's not just a history of the Fabs but a look at life during the 1950s. I found it utterly fascinating and a highlight of my travels. We also took a private tour of other Beatles sites like the church and where Ringo and George lived, and that was wonderful, too, because the guide shed light on a lot of cool details. It was amazing when we walked into the church reception hall where John and Paul met, and the gravesite where Eleanor Rigby is buried.

Keep my posted with a trip report. Anything else my man let me know. Best to you and yours--Mike

This was my favorite thing that I did in Liverpool!

Not only do you learn a lot about John and Paul’s childhoods, the two houses are like time capsules of life in the 1950s.

Absolutely, this is an amazing tour. I’ve done it twice.

I wonder if they let you test the acoustics in the bathroom, which Paul has said had the best sound in the house?

I suppose a lot depends on how keen you are on the Beatles and their stoy and how desperate to see their homes.... Must admit it doesn't float my boat (especially at that price!) .

If you are interested in life in the 1950s, then try and visit Beamish in County Durham which has created a 1950s town complete with shops, cinema, police station, baby clinic and houses. (it is also slightly cheaper to visit too and you also get the bonus of the 1900s town and mining villag trams, 1940s farm, 1720s manor house plus loads more....)

Not for me it's not, but then I can take or leave the Beatles.

However if you drive there then you park at Speke Hall. For some odd reason that never features on this forum.
It is also National Trust and costs £19 for entrance.
It is a Tudor manor house, built by Catholics when they were persecuted, so has a priest hole. The owners were heavily involved in the slave trade and benefited hugely from it, as well as the products of their Caribbean estates.
It was restored in the late Victorian period so is also an important Arts and Crafts House.
A lot more history, especially of the Port of Liverpool there, what made it the huge trading port it was.
Way more important to me than the Beatles.

Obviously it depends on your interest in the Beatles but I think the opportunity to 'experience' life as it was in Liverpool in the 50s and 60s shouldn't be ignored.

Their houses are the types of houses that most British people in towns and cities lived in, and continue to live in now (although with slightly better plumbing) - council built properties, terraced houses, semi-detached.
What might seem quite ordinary, even dull to a british visitor of one of the Beatles houses is perhaps more interesting to a foreign visitor?

Not to down play the UKs beautiful villages and historic stately homes but they weren't the reality for many.

The BBC produced an excellent series called Hidden Treasures of the National Trust which went behind the scenes at a wide range of National Trust properties, from the grandest to the least. One episode visits Paul McCartney's house and so might be worth a watch to help you decide if you want to visit. If you can track it down the whole series is worth a watch anyway, if you have any interest in history

Touring these houses was a highlight of my trip. The tour guide was excellent and had some great stories. There was a wonderful mix of ages in our group from 20 somethings to those who were teenagers when the Beatles started performing, and it was fun to talk about our interest in the Beatles.

As mentioned, you also get a good look into life during the 1950's.

Our guide invited people to play the piano in the house, and one person belted out "One After 909."

All the best,

Raymond

Yes, yes, yes if you're a Beatles fan as i am.

The docent at Paul's house was the same one who was on duty when Paul visited during filming of Carpool Karaoke and it was lovely to talk to her.

And, yes, you can test the acoustics in the bathroom!