Liverpool meant time for some serious shopping for the ladies. After the dearth of shopping centres in the Moors, Dales and Lakes, the girls let loose on the multitude of shopping arcades and malls which now make up much of the centre of Liverpool.
Trivia time !!!! Something which isn't too well known, is that Liverpool claims to have the second largest cathedral in the world. However, this claim is a little muddied for want of a better word. Many people would assume the largest to be St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. However, the largest apparently is New York's Cathedral of St John the Devine, as St Peter's strictly is a church not a cathedral. (Perhaps one of our readers who is a little more religiously-inclined than I am could explain the difference). What is known, however, is that Liverpool is the largest non-RC cathedral in Europe (the World title going to the aforementioned St John the Devine). Whatever the claims and counter-claims it's BIG.
What is further interesting is that the foundation stone was laid by King Edward VII in 1904, and yet the cathedral was not completed until 1978. So not only did it see off Eddie 07 (or Ed Sev as his campaign team called him), but three other monarchs came and went before the last dollop of grout signalled completion. (Not even Masterton Homes can come anywhere near this).
Trivia time !!!! Something which isn't too well known, is that Liverpool claims to have the second largest cathedral in the world. However, this claim is a little muddied for want of a better word. Many people would assume the largest to be St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. However, the largest apparently is New York's Cathedral of St John the Devine, as St Peter's strictly is a church not a cathedral. (Perhaps one of our readers who is a little more religiously-inclined than I am could explain the difference). What is known, however, is that Liverpool is the largest non-RC cathedral in Europe (the World title going to the aforementioned St John the Devine). Whatever the claims and counter-claims it's BIG.
What is further interesting is that the foundation stone was laid by King Edward VII in 1904, and yet the cathedral was not completed until 1978. So not only did it see off Eddie 07 (or Ed Sev as his campaign team called him), but three other monarchs came and went before the last dollop of grout signalled completion. (Not even Masterton Homes can come anywhere near this).
Liverpool Anglican CathedralThis really interesting trivia was designed as an introduction to, what has been for many years, my favourite English city. Liverpool has something which London, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham and the rest do not have, and which can only be described as 'soul' (and with the exception of Manchester, a world-class football team)
Every visit I've had here has been great fun. Sure, Liverpool's economy these days relies heavily on those four young guys back in the early 1960's who set the world on fire, and whose timing was impeccable. Liverpool once was the gateway to the UK for much for much of its trade. At the beginning of the 19th century 40% of world trade passed through Liverpool. It was one of the leading cities of the industrial revolution, and its shipbuilding industry was second to none.
The decline of Liverpool coincided with the celebration of The Beatles and now the tourist industry has picked up the ball. It is estimated 600,000 visitors come to Liverpool every year because of The Beatles and spend in excess of £20,000,000. That's a lot of T-Shirts.
The place to begin the Magical Mystery Tour is of course Mathew Street, in the heart of Liverpool, and the home of the Cavern Club, where it all began
Every visit I've had here has been great fun. Sure, Liverpool's economy these days relies heavily on those four young guys back in the early 1960's who set the world on fire, and whose timing was impeccable. Liverpool once was the gateway to the UK for much for much of its trade. At the beginning of the 19th century 40% of world trade passed through Liverpool. It was one of the leading cities of the industrial revolution, and its shipbuilding industry was second to none.
The decline of Liverpool coincided with the celebration of The Beatles and now the tourist industry has picked up the ball. It is estimated 600,000 visitors come to Liverpool every year because of The Beatles and spend in excess of £20,000,000. That's a lot of T-Shirts.
The place to begin the Magical Mystery Tour is of course Mathew Street, in the heart of Liverpool, and the home of the Cavern Club, where it all began
The original Cavern Club closed down in 1983, and was demolished in 1984 (arguably one of the worst development decisions of all time), to make way for a proposed underground railway line, which was never built. Industrious business people rebuilt the club to the same specifications, using most of the original bricks, and occupying about 75% of the original area. Unfortunately, although it's a 'must see' on any Liverpool visit, the fact remains it is not where The Beatles played
The present-day entrance to the Cavern Club in Mathew Street. The original entrance just a few metres down the street is now occupied by a shop
The rebuilt interior of the Cavern Club
The 'Cavern Walks' shopping centre, some of which is built on the site of the original Cavern. In the area behind the stairs it is said was the original stage 
Statues of The Beatles in the Cavern Walks
The Grapes pub, across the lane from The Cavern, which is where The Beatles used to drink when performing at The Cavern, as the latter establishment did not have a liquor licence. We had one great night in this place, where Karen sang karaoke, and Chloe experimented with 'binge-drinking' English Bitter. After initial caution, the girls actually really enjoyed drinking with 'all the old people', most of whom were well over 25 ! 
A sign outside The Grapes, staking its claim to fame
Directly opposite The Cavern Club is now the commercially inspired "Cavern Pub" which never existed in The Beatles' heydey. The sculpture of John Lennon is taken from a early photograph from The Beatles' days in Hamburg, Germany.
Liverpool artist Arthur Dooley's 1974 tribute to the "Four Lads Who Shook The World" 
Pioneer British rocker Tommy Steel's 1982 statue of Eleanor Rigby "Dedicated to all the Lonely People"
Strawberry Fields, the inspiration behind John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields Forever", was a Salvation Army children's home in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton. The gates of Strawberry Fields appeared in the video clip of the song. Lennon lived nearby and as a boy often played in the wooded area behind the home and would attend the annual fete here. It is said that Lennon could hear the Salvation Army band playing here from his own home at nearby Menlove Avenue, and this was his inspiration from a very young age to listen to music. The home closed in 2005, but the famous gates have been retained.
The headstone bearing the inscription "Eleanor Rigby" in the churchyard of St. Peter's Parish Church, Woolton. As a young boy, Paul McCartney would ride his bike through the churchyard, and it is said the unusual name was his inspiration for the song of the same name.
A barber's shop........
......a bank......
.....a shelter in the middle of the roundabout.....
....of course, it is Penny Lane.When Paul McCartney wrote "Penny Lane" in 1967, the "barber showing photographs" was Roger Bioletti, although Tony Slavin has owned the shop for many years. There is also a fire station, although the song takes poetic licence, as it is not actually in Penny Lane, but a mile or so further along Allerton Road. The bus shelter was converted into the "Sergeant Pepper Bistro" some years back, although this has now closed down.
The "Penny Lane" street signs for many years were painted on to the walls, as they were continually stolen by souvenir hunters. Recently Liverpool Council installed a "tamper proof" sign at the Sefton Park end of Penny Lane. It was stolen the first night.
And so to The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, or Philharmonic Pub, or locally, known as "The Phil". This has to be one of the most ornate pubs in the UK, if not the world. Built in 1898, and reputedly using out of work interior ship tradesmen, The Philharmonic is a blend of dark wood-panelled walls with copper reliefs, Art Deco lighting and mosaic floor and bar.
And so to The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, or Philharmonic Pub, or locally, known as "The Phil". This has to be one of the most ornate pubs in the UK, if not the world. Built in 1898, and reputedly using out of work interior ship tradesmen, The Philharmonic is a blend of dark wood-panelled walls with copper reliefs, Art Deco lighting and mosaic floor and bar.
The Philharmonic was a favourite watering hole of John Lennon during his student days. He once quoted the price of fame as "not being able to go to the Phil for a drink"
The Philharmonic has two intimate drinking rooms for getting away from the busy pub crowd in the main bar, one is the 'Brahms' room.....
...and naturally the other is the Liszt 
The front bar of The Phil showing the wood-panelling, columns, glass-work and ceiling
Another view of the front barThe Gents toilets are almost as famous of The Phil itself, and once or twice a day special viewings are organised for women. Due to the angles and narrow aspect of the toilet, it was very difficult to get a decent picture of the Gents loo, but the BBC have posted a very good panoramic viewer of the toilets which can be viewed at
It's worth a look!!
Other than The Beatles, Liverpool produced many other groups and singers who became famous in the early 60's. One was Gerry Marsden, of Gerry & The Pacemakers fame. One of his hits was 'Ferry 'Cross The Mersey'. I didn't mind this song, but when you actually travel on the ferry (now a tourist attraction, rather than a commuter facility), and hear the song as you are embarking, as you are disembarking, and for most of the time in between, and it's one of those songs that then becomes stuck in your head for the next three weeks, you can generate a certain dislike for it.
The Ferry 'Cross The Mersey, viewed from the Birkenhead side of the Mersey River, showing the Liverpool waterfront, now a World-Heritage listed site. the building with the clock tower at the front end of the ferry, is the Royal Liver Building, one of Liverpool's famous landmarks.and so after four action-packed days in Liverpool, it is time to head south to the peace and tranquility of Stratford-on-Avon to discover the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
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