We arrived in Liverpool after a four hour train ride from Edinburgh. Three hours to Manchester where we switched trains for the 50 minute train ride to Liverpool.
Note that the Liverpool airport is named for John Lennon.
In the heyday of shipping, Liverpool had 7 miles of warehouses along its docks. The warehouses actually blocked the view of the Mersey River from the city. Those warehouses were extensively bombed during World War II and with the decline of shipping to Liverpool after the war, they were not be rebuilt. But, the ones that were rebuilt were converted to apartments. They make great apartments because the thick walls and thick floors that made them almost fireproof as warehouses make them soundproof and insulated as apartments. The dock area has been refurbished into a recreational area with entertainment cafes and pubs.
This building was the original headquarters of White Star Ship Lines the owners of the Titanic among other ships. Most of the crew on the Titanic were from Liverpool. On May 15, 1914, they family members of the crew members gathered in the plaza in front of the building awaiting news of the crews fate.
This municipal building on the Mersey River was the first building in the world built of steel beam construction and led to the modern day skyscrapers. The clock in the tower is larger than the clock in the Queen Elizabeth II tower in London (mistakenly called Big Ben, which if you have been paying attention is actually the name of the bell, not the clock). The clock allowed ship captains to accurately set sail at the peak of high tide to take advantage if the current going out the Mersey River.
The ferry terminal for the ferry across the Mersey River made famous in the Gerry and the Pacemakers song, “Ferry Cross The Mersey.”
A cruise ship in port. Much to the dismay of the Southampton dockworkers, Liverpool has again become a seaport for cruise ships, at least the smaller ones. Cruise ships out of Liverpool call on Cork and Dublin in Ireland, Belfast, Northern Ireland and Glasgow.
The tallest building in Liverpool. Is a Pez Dispenser or a Bic lighter? Below, the old Customs House.
Below, and next five pictures are shots of the “Hard Days Night Hotel.” It is a completely Beatles themed hotel and is just around the corner from the famous Cavern Club where The Beatles got their start. Can you find the statues of John, Paul, George and Ringo?
Below, more scenes of Liverpool.
Below, one of the entrances to the two tunnels that now go under the Mersey River to Birkenhead on the other side of the River. Birkenhead is still an industrial town with ship repair facilities, the Mersey Ferry docks (similar to the Statin Island Ferry in NYC) and the Stena Ferry docks that go the Belfast.
Below, the Liverpool Library and the circular reading room adjacent to the Library. The reading room was the first building in Liverpool to have electricity.
Below, a memorial to the people who died during the bombing of Liverpool during World War II.
The Liverpool Museum
Above, a radio studio now occupies the top of this tower which was originally built as a revolving restaurant but was not successful. The radio station bought the tower after it sat empty for several years and turned it into a broadcast studio.
The Royal Court Theater where live theater and musical concerts are held.
Modern Queen Square Bus Terminal.
Empire Theater above and modern rail station below. Next to the rail station is the Britannia Adelphi Hotel, the only five star hotel in Liverpool. The lobby of this magnificent hotel was used by Brian Epstein, The Beatles manager, to meet people who came to Liverpool to book the group. Brian was too embarrassed to take them to his old music studio where he had his real office.
Below is the ultra modern “Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King,” the catholic cathedral in Liverpool. The top is meant to represent the crown of thorns. Everything gets a nickname in England and this church is no different. The locals call it “Paddy’s Wigwam.” Also, the bell tower in front of the church has four bells which are officially named, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. But, of course the locals call them, John, Paul, George and Ringo.
Above, the Philharmonic Dining Room, easily the most elaborate pub you will ever enter. If elegance can be applied to a pub, this one is it. Known locally as, “The Phil,” John Lennon once said that the highest price he paid for fame was he was no longer being able to just go into The Phil for a pint of beer.
Above, at the other end of Hope Street away from the modern catholic cathedral of Christ the King, is the enormous Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Both tower above the Liverpool skyline and make interesting bookends to Hope Street.
The Wedding House where non-religious weddings are celebrated.
Entrance to the Liverpool Chinatown. Not very active like NYC, San Francisco, etc. but it does have a very impressive gate that was brought over from China and reassembled in Liverpool.
Above is an interesting tomb. It is triangular like a pyramid. Inside, sitting at a card table is a card sharp and professional gambler named William McKenzie who allegedly sold his soul to the devil. The devil made an agreement not to take his soul until he was dead and buried in the ground. The gambler arranged to be buried in this tomb so as not to be put into the ground and thus cheating the devil out of his soul.
The old pump house which pumped water into the docks to maintain the water level so that the ships did not sink into the mud at low tide is now a restaurant and pub in the dock area.
These three boats are called the Yellow Submarine, The Titanic, The Joker (Batman themed). They can be rented as hotel rooms and for parties.
Across the Mersey River is the ferry that goes to Belfast.
Below, we arrive on the famous Mathew Street where The Cavern Club and most of the music venues are now located to be near The Cavern. We went in just to see what it was like and ended up staying 4 hours listening to the live entertainers. Live entertainment starts at Noon every day!
Monique's Cabaret, a traditional supper club.
Lennon’s Bar. And below, multiple pictures of both the inside and outside of The Cavern Club where the Mersey Beat and The Beatles all began. It bills itself as the “most famous club in the world.” I actually think the Moulin Rouge in Paris is the most famous club in the world, but The Cavern Club is certainly close.
Elaine with John Lennon.
The inside of The Cavern Club is appropriately named. Very low ceilings, brick ceilings and walls, lots of support columns. The ceilings are so low, we cannot imagine what it must have been like in 1962 when the club was packed with smokers to hear The Beatles.
Edward being distracted from The Cavern Club stage and the performer on stage. Note the small size of the stage which has to fit between the two rows of brick columns and imaging the four Beatles and their instruments on that small stage.
Replica of the contract The Beatles signed with Brian Epstein three days before “Love Me Do” was released by Apple Records.
The list of musicians and groups who have played in The Cavern Club. Edward had to have one to go with his Rock ‘N Roll Hall of Fame shirts.
The “shelter in the roundabout” on Penny Lane. Across the street is the Penny Lane Barber Shop where John and Paul got their hair cut. But, more about that later on our Beatles Tour posting in a couple of days.
This is the view of Mathews Street with The Cavern and other music clubs are located. A lot like Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The following views below are taken from the top of the radio studio tower shown earlier in this post. The studio allows small groups of people to go up to the old observation deck and we were lucky to be there in time to be included in the group of 10 people. Since it is a live on-air studio, the groups have to be small. Enjoy the aerial view of Liverpool.
Radio studio offices in the tower.
Paddy’s Wigwam (Christ the King Cathedral).
Mersey River with a battleship just departing after repairs were made.
Above, the Lime Street (main) rail station where Brian Epstein met people who wanted to book The Beatles and below, the Ferris wheel at the Liverpool docks followed by photos inside of the largest radio studio in the tower.
The Liverpool Football (soccer) Stadium in the distance.
Above, promotion bills in the Hard Days Night Hotel.
Note this listing. The bands playing that night in The Cavern Club were, The Saints Jazz Band, The Beatles and The Dominoes. The Beatles had the middle booking in the 7:00pm slot, The Dominoes (who remembers them?) and the coveted 10:00pm slot.
Yellow Submarine juke box.
John Lennon
Below, the statue of Queen Victoria outside the law courts and the modern law courts building. We later found a picture showing complete bomb damage in this area during the war with the statue of Queen Victoria being the only thing standing.
White Star Ship Line office building. Below, Edward with the statue of Billy Fury in the dock area. Edward actually knew who he was and could name some of his songs confirmed in the plaque adjacent to the statue.
The Merseyside Marine Museum.
Above, the Yellow Submarine, the Titanic and The Joker available for rent as a hotel and/or party room at the docks. Below, sunset at a docks restaurant where we had dinner.
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