Here’s what we’ll visit on this trip:
- John and Paul’s childhood homes- restored as they were in the 1950s.

- St. Peter’s Church - where Paul and John first played together, and  

  where Eleanor Rigby is buried.
- Strawberry Fields.
- Penny Lane.
- John's first home - before his mum passed him to his Aunt Mimi.
- Dovedale Towers where the Quarry Men played.
- Johns’ secondary school.
- Paul and George’s first school.
- And time permitting George and Ringos' childhood homes.

If you want to enter Paul and Johns' homes you have to arrange a National Trust tour which leaves from the Albert Dock in the morning, and leaves from Speke Hall in the afternoon.

There are 2 morning tours and 2 afternoon tours.
To book and to check departure times ‘phone:
0151 708 8574 for Albert Dock departures.
0151 427 7231 for Speke Hall departures.
Costs in 2008 -  £15 Adults, Children £3
National Trust Members - £7 to cover minibus.

Speke Hall is near to Liverpool Airport. It is a half timbered Elizabethan house standing in beautiful grounds. If you don’t have time to visit Speke Hall, it is worthwhile dropping out of the tour after Forthlin Road/Mendips.

What to do if you are not taking the National Trust Tour.
Catch the Number 86 bus from Paradise Street Bus Station or you can catch it at various stops in the town centre (See Map). Ask the driver to put you off at Forthlin Road. The bus stops opposite the end of Forthlin Road. There is a bus about every 10/15 minutes and the journey takes about 20 minutes.
After you’ve seen Paul’s childhood home No. 20 Forthlin Road, follow the instructions for those who have been on the National Trust Tour starting with "Penny Lane" below.
What to do if you have taken the National Trust Tour.
The tour concludes at Forthlin Road, and then returns to the Albert Dock/Speke Hall. Ask the tour driver if he can drop you at Penny Lane. If he can’t/or you are not on the tour, go to the top of Forthlin Road where it joins Mather Avenue. From the Bus stop on your left catch the 86 bus and ask the driver to put you off at Penny Lane, about a 5 minute journey.

Penny Lane
The words of “Penny Lane” refer to the area around the former bus shelter on the roundabout, rather than Penny Lane itself. This is where the “pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray” stood - to catch the passing bus passengers. The shelter is now Sergeant Pepper's Bistro. The “barber showing photographs” is still there behind the roundabout.

Opposite the wine bar is St. Barnabas Church, where Paul sang in the choir and where his brother was married.
There are a number of other Beatle links in this area. On the right side of Church Road is Newcastle Road -John lived at Number 9 from birth to 5 years old.
Cross to Penny Lane itself. A few minutes walk along the Lane is Dovedale Towers. This is now a bar/restaurant, but it used to be a community centre where The Quarrymen played in 1957. In 1961 they looked at booking The Beatles, but declined to do so because of the cost-£15!
Continue along the Lane and turn left into Dovedale Road. Along the road, on your left is Dovedale Primary School attended by both John and George.
Turn left onto Herondale Road and this will take you to the school entrance. Continue past the School and along Queensdale Road and this will lead you back to Allerton Road.
Cross Allerton Road and then catch a 176 or 177 bus and ask the driver to put you off at Harthill Road. Cross the main road and walk down Harthill- to John’s’ secondary school Quarry Bank where John took the name of his first band, the Quarrymen. Carry on past the school until you reach the main road, Menlove Avenue. Cross the Avenue and catch a 176 or 177 bus, asking the driver to put you off at Beaconsfield Road. If you have not visited John's home “Mendips”or wish to revisit it, it is a few minutes walk along Menlove Avenue. ”Love Me Do” was
composed in the porch of the house.
Afterwards walk up Beaconsfield Road - Strawberry Field is on your left. Only the gates remain, but you may want a photo here. Strawberry Field was an orphanage, where John would sometimes go to play. His Aunt Mimi was not happy about him mixing with children she considered rough and told him off every time she found out he had been here. Exasperated on one occasion he responded to her that going to Strawberry Field was "Nothing to get hung about".

Continue along
Beaconsfield  Road, turning right onto Quarry Road, carry on until you turn left onto Linkstor Road, then right on to Church Road. This is the shortest route to St. Peter's Church so it is probably the way that John went when he was a choirboy here. St. Peters was built in 1887, of sandstone from the local quarry, hence Quarry Road.
Go through the half timbered lychgate, turn left, then turn at the first little path, you will find Eleanor Rigby’s grave  on your right (see map). It may be coincidental but there is also a McKenzie buried in front of her. John's Uncle George, effectively his stepfather for most of his life is also buried here.
Cross Church Street, just down the hill, and enter the path leading to the
Church Hall.The plaque on the wall tells you that this is where Paul and John first met.

Go to the end of Church Road, turn left and at the next junction, Woolton road, turn right to find the bus stop. Catch the 75, 78, or 81 bus towards the city centre. If you want to stop off at George's boyhood home ask the driver to put you off at “Picton Clock”. From the Clock cross High Street to Frederick Grove, and Arnold Grove is first on your right. George spent the first 7 years of his life at Number 12 Arnold Grove. A few years ago local fans decided there should be a plaque to mark George's home. They raised funds, had the plaque made, arranged for the press to attend its installation - but neglected to consult the house owner who greeted the crowd with

“what the devil do you think you’re doing?”, or words to that effect.
“Putting this Plaque up”...
”Not on my house you’re not”- hence no plaque.
If you want to return to town, most of the dozen or so bus services along High Street will take you. If you want to visit Ringo's house leave the bus at The Adelphi and cross to the bus stops opposite Lewis's store.Take the 75,80 or 80A bus, and ask the driver to put you off at Princes Park Gates, about 10 minutes from here. Walk back along the bus route a short way, enter South St. on your right and continue to Madryn St. Ringo lived at number 9 from birth to the age of 3 years.This area is being re-developed but it is intended to take Ringo’s old home apart brick by brick so it can be reconstructed.
Go to the end of the street turn left and first on your right is Admiral Grove. Ringo lived the rest of his youth at Number 10.
Return to Princes Park gates and catch any bus into the centre.