There is much to see and enjoy in Liverpool - from magnificent architecture to great sporting occasions, but top of the list is simply tracing the footsteps of The Beatles. You can visit most of the places that were part of their early history. Their homes, their schools, The Cavern Club and many other venues, like the Penny Lane corner with all its connections.
"When I Get Home"
9 Madryn Street
On 7th July 1940, Richard Starkey was born. Overdue and weighing 10 pounds, he was to become Ringo Starr, the eldest of the Beatles.
Richard and Elsie Starkey rented the house in Madryn Street for 10 shillings (£0.50) a week, but separated 3 years later and mother and son moved to a smaller, less expensive house in nearby Admiral Grove.
10 Admiral Grove
Elsie and her son moved to the two up, two down house in Admiral Grove, which remained Ringo's home until 1963 when he became nationally famous. Legend has it on Ringo's 21st birthday, 7th July 1961, nearly 200 local musicians and their girlfriends packed into the tiny house for a party. Ringo was a sickly child and due to his many absences from school, was taught to read and write at home by a local girl, Marie Maguire. When Ringo was 13 his mother married a Londoner, Harry Graves. Elsie and Harry were persuaded to Leave Admiral Grove for a house Ringo had bought them in Gateacre.
9 Newcastle Road
John Lennon was born in Oxford Street Maternity Hospital and was brought home by his mother, Julia, to 9 Newcastle Road in October 1940. It was here he spent the first 5 years of his life prior to living with his aunt Mimi, Julia's sister, at 251 Menlove Avenue.
'Mendips', 251 Menlove Avenue
John lived with his Aunt Mimi for almost twenty years before becoming nationally famous. John then went to London and Mimi moved to a bungalow bought for her by John in Poole, Dorset.
3, Gambier Terrace
John Lennon moved into Stuart Sutcliffe's first floor flat in this late Georgian terraced house in 1960 when all The Beatles met, ate and slept at the flat regularly.The 24 July issue of The People carried a headline "The Beatnik Horror" which showed a
photograph of young men lying on the floor of the flat amidst squalor. The unmistakable face of 19 year old John is quite clearly visible. The much published photo of John with a group of student friends, was taken in the terrace's private drive with the entrance gates in the background.
36 Faulkner Street
During 1961 and 1962 Brian Epstein rented a ground floor flat here for £4.00 per week. After John and Cynthia's wedding In August 1962, Brian gave them the keys and the Lennons set up their first home, in what was then the city's red light district, while searching for a permanent place of their own.
1 Blomfield Road, Springwood
Johns mum Julia eventually met a waiter named Bobby Dykins and moved into his home in Blomfield Road on the Springwood council estate. They went on to have 2 daughters, Julia and Jacqueline. John was a frequent visitor and occasionally stopped the night. John and Paul were known to rehearse in the
bathroom as they said the acoustics sounded like a recording studio.
10, Sunbury Road
In June 1942, James and Mary McCartney brought their first son, James Paul, home to rented rooms in this small terraced house near Liverpool's football stadium. It wasn't to be for long.
Once the Luftwaffe began bombing Liverpool in earnest, the McCartneys moved to 92, Broadway Avenue in Wallasey and the comparative safety of the Wirral.
72, Western Avenue
Mary McCartney was working as a midwife in Speke when the family moved into this house in 1947. The McCartney's stayed here for nearly six years before moving to Ardwick Road when Paul was 11 years old. The family actually had six homes during Paul's childhood. Sadly, two of these, Roach Avenue in Knowsley and Sir Thomas White Gardens in Everton Valley, are no longer in existence.

12, Ardwick Road
Shortly after moving into this house, Paul took up a place at the now famous Liverpool Institute. He had to commute the 20 mile round trip every day. In 1955, the family moved for the last time to Forthlin Road.

20 Forthlin Road
This ex-council property was the last Liverpool home of Paul McCartney. His room was the smallest of three and situated above the front door. The McCartneys moved here, their 7th home, in 1955 from Ardwick Road, Speke.
It was in this house, thirty years after the McCartney's had left, that the then owner found a Rupert Bear Annual in the attic. Written in the front of the book were the words "This book belongs to Paul and Michael McCartney, 12, Ardwick Road, Speke." When he heard this, Paul quickly bought the book back and unwittingly sparked a resurgence in Rupert-Mania.
12 Arnold Grove
Harold and Louise Harrisons 4th child, George, was born here on 25th February 1943. They lived here until 1950 when they moved to a new council estate in Speke.
George still has affection for his birthplace, hence the visit by his wife Olivia and himself a few years ago. In his autobiography "I Me Mine" he recalls how cold the house could be in the winter with icicles forming on the inside of the windows.
25 Upton Green, Speke
The Harrison's lived here for most of George's childhood years. George's mother was the only Beatle parent who actively encouraged the band, and they regularly rehearsed in this tiny house. On the 20th December 1958, The Quarrymen actually played here for the wedding reception of George's brother Harry.


 
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