For many Beatles fans this is the most moving thing to do in Liverpool, because it is the only way to step inside the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The two houses are looked after by the National Trust and are visited together on a guided tour of about two hours, with roughly the same time spent in each. Mendips, in Woolton, is the suburban semi-detached house where John lived with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George, and the rooms have been returned to the way they looked in his teenage years, including the small porch where he practised guitar. Twenty Forthlin Road, in Allerton, is the modest council house where Paul grew up with his brother Mike and his parents, and where he and John wrote some of their earliest songs in the front room. The guides bring both homes to life with family stories, period furnishings and photographs from the time, and the ordinary scale of the houses makes the story of four boys from Liverpool even more remarkable. Groups are small, with no more than fifteen people, so the visit feels personal rather than like a museum queue.
How to visit
You cannot simply turn up at the houses. Everyone travels together by National Trust minibus from the departure point, and the tour leaves at its set time without waiting for latecomers, so arrive at least fifteen minutes early. Morning tours leave from Liverpool South Parkway station, about a quarter of an hour by train from the city centre, and afternoon tours leave from Speke Hall, a National Trust house near Liverpool Airport.
On some busy days all tours leave from South Parkway, so choose the right departure point when you book. Booking in advance is essential and tickets can sell out, especially in July and August. Tickets cannot be refunded, although you can usually change the date or time online up to twenty-four hours before if you have an account, and wheelchair users, carers and very young children need to book by phone.
What to expect
The visit lasts about two hours in total. Photography is not allowed inside either house, for copyright reasons, but you have time to take pictures outside, including the famous porch at Mendips. Food and drink cannot be taken inside, there is no space to store belongings on the bus, and bags can be left in a locked space at each house, so travel light and leave large bags and suitcases behind.
Dogs are not allowed, other than assistance dogs. The upstairs rooms in both houses are not wheelchair accessible, although photographs of them are shown during the visit.
Making the most of it
Book this tour before you finalise the rest of your Beatles itinerary, because it has the fewest places. Pair it with Strawberry Field and St Peter’s Church in Woolton, which are close to Mendips, and keep the Magical Mystery Tour, The Beatles Story and the Cavern Club for other days. Fans often say the childhood homes are the part of the trip that stays with them, as it shows how small and ordinary the beginning really was.
Take a few minutes before you leave home to refresh your memory of the early songs, because the guides love to talk about them, and the visit is richer when you know which lines were written where.
What to expect
The experience
A small-group guided tour of about two hours that visits Mendips and 20 Forthlin Road by National Trust minibus.
Best time
Book the earliest date that suits you, and choose a morning tour if you want to combine it with Strawberry Field and Woolton.
How long
About two hours, with roughly equal time at each house.
Tips
Arrive fifteen minutes early at the right departure point, travel light, and remember that photography is not allowed inside.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Serious Beatles fans who want to stand in the rooms where John and Paul grew up.
- Families
- Suitable for children who are interested in the band, but under-fives need to book by phone and the upstairs rooms are not wheelchair accessible.
- Couples
- An intimate, emotional visit in a small group, followed by a wander around Woolton.
- Pair with
- Strawberry Field, St Peter’s Church in Woolton and the Magical Mystery Tour.
- Time needed
- Two hours for the tour, plus travel to the departure point.
Good questions
Can I visit the Beatles childhood homes without a tour?+
No, the houses can only be visited on a guided National Trust tour. Everyone travels by minibus from the departure point and you cannot meet the group at the houses.
Which houses are on the tour?+
The tour visits Mendips, where John Lennon grew up, and 20 Forthlin Road, where Paul McCartney grew up. Both are visited on the same two-hour tour.
Where does the Beatles childhood homes tour start?+
Morning tours leave from Liverpool South Parkway station and afternoon tours from Speke Hall. On some busy days all tours leave from South Parkway, so check your booking carefully.
Can I take photographs inside the houses?+
No, photography is not allowed inside either house because of copyright. You have time to take photos outside each house.
Do I need to book the Beatles childhood homes tour in advance?+
Yes, booking ahead is required and recommended, especially in July and August when tickets can sell out. Tickets are non-refundable, so be sure of your date.
