Liverpool -Self Guided Beatles Walking Tours?

From having done various Beatle tours over the years, I think the sites are too spread out for a walking tour, unless you count taking cabs or buses from area to area as part of a walking tour.

If you're really a big Beatle fan, the real sites to see are the Lennon/McCartney family homes, the indoor tour the National Trust runs, you have to reserve a time but they're really the most authentic and interesting sites to see. The Lennon/McCartney homes are close enough to walk between since they did it back in their day. Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields are within range of their places too.

Last time there we did a Beatle taxi tour, which was fun, I suppose you could tell the driver how Mickey Mouse you wanted him or her to be.

I highly recommend the Magical Mystery Tour and did not find it "Mickey Mouse" at all. Our guide and our driver were both very knowledgeable and shared lots of factual information. The Beatles Experience museum at the Albert Dock, near the MMT bus boarding point, is also terrific.

Two worthwhile locations that are an easy walk from one another are the Cavern Club (down several levels of stairs, rebuilt to resemble the original) and the Hard Day's Night hotel, where you can (for example) have a sandwich or afternoon tea from the "Any Time At All" menu if you're not up for a meal. On the same street as the Cavern Club is a place called the Cavern Pub, which serves food. The Magical Mystery Tour ends near the Cavern Club/Pub street, and your bus ticket gets you free entry to the Cavern Club.

Thanks for your insight. We will, almost certainly, do the MMT. But, we find ourselves often needing more time here or there-we like to read all the placards, The problem with tours is always that you must adhere to the group schedule.

The best tour is the National Trust tour of the Lennon and McCartney boyhood homes. Book it in advance on the National Trust site. You won't be disappointed, and the guides have fascinating tales to tell (ask them about the time Bob Dylan disguised himself and went on the tour). This tour sells out, so book you time as soon as you know when you'll be in Liverpool.

Hi Jeff, I highly recommend the Mop Top Tour company. You can pick the length of tour that interests you. My mum and I did the four hour Mop Top tour in December 2017. We had the van to ourselves and it was very personalized and informative. I noticed other tours would drive by significant spots whereas we would get out at each stop. Check out the ratings on TripAdvisor. I would also recommend staying a few days in Liverpool. The city has many fun things on offer. Enjoy!

Thank you Andrea and Emma. Both good points I will follow up on. I mostly find TripAdvisor to be absolutely worthless. i only read the worst ratings and only for entertainment. One wonders why those folks even bothered to leave the comfort of their home. My favorite all time were reviews of a fantastic Costa Rican resort that was the last stop on our rain forest tour. The complaints were -too dusty (to me that said it wasn't raining), the pristine white sand beaches were too far apart and one had to ride a little tram and that it was really nice except that there were so many Costa Ricans around. I am hoping there will be lots of locals about when I get to Liverpool.

Liverpool is fantastic. We did the National Trust tour of Lennon & McCartneys Childhood Homes and it was really great. We also did the Magical Mystery Tour and enjoyed that as well. Also the Beatles Museum at Albert Dock and the British Music Experience. We stayed at the Hard Days Night Hotel and did a self guided pub tour of Mathew Street pubs including the Cavern Club & Pub. I only wish we had stayed an extra day to see the cathedral & other non-Beatles sites. I agree with others though, the Beatles sites are really not walkable. Enjoy your trip.

Liverpool is full of friendly chatty locals and they will be made up (as they say) that you’ve come to visit. I reckon everyone over a certain age has a Beatles story, too... if anything they’re almost too chatty & friendly ;-)

I've been to Liverpool several times. I'd recommend the Magical Mystery Tour as the best way to see a decent number of Beatles sights as they are spread out. The area where Ringo lived is being redeveloped so it'll almost seem like a ghost town. You get out of the bus and get to walk around George's house. You also drive by John's house, Brian Epstein's house, and get off the bus at Paul's house. You also get off the bus at Strawberry Field and Penny Lane for photo ops. The one stop it doesn't make, which I would have liked, was at the church where John and Paul met and has the gravestone for Eleanor Rigby.

In the city centre, you can walk around Mathew Street, and can easily make the walk from the old NEMS records location which is now a Forever 21. Drop into the Grapes pub and see the picture of the Beatles sitting at a table there along with a lot of other memorabilia.

I also enjoyed the childhood homes tour. No photos are allowed, but buy the inexpensive guidebooks for souvenir photos.

The Beatles Story museum seemed a bit overpriced but was fun to do once. It's heavy on the early years.

The Casbah isn't particularly convenient but the tours are lead by Roag Best, Pete's half brother.It's worth the trip there if you're a huge fan.

I visited Liverpool a few years ago and stayed at the Hard Days Night hotel. It was wonderful and close to the Cavern. I booked the Lennon and McCartney house tours for the morning and in the afternoon took the Fab Four Taxi Tour. It was very informative as we drove by George and Ringo’s houses,John and Cynthia’s first apartment, and our guide Terry even took us into the barbershop in the Penney Lane roundabout. The Taxi Tour was great. I also spent another day in the City visiting the museums in the Albert Dock area, the two cathedrals and had lunch in one of John’s favorite pubs. I highly recommend the National Trust tour of the Lennon and McCartney houses and the Fab Four Taxi Tour for the serious Beatle fan.

@Emma I think he was noting that in contrast to the TripAdvisor reviewer who were annoyed about the locals (Costa Ricans) being present in Costa Rica, he is, rather, looking forward to seeing Liverpudlians (??) while in Liverpool!

Exactly. Thanks. When traveling, it is our goal to be as local as possible-b&bs instead of hotels,local food, walking instead of taxis. Otherwise,what is the point of going?