If you’re looking for something alternative to do, we’ve discovered a fascinating Liverpool city and Beatles tour courtesy of the Embassie hostel! This two hour walking tour that starts in the Georgian Quarter and finishes at the Cavern Club costs only £10 and provides an intriguing insight into our amazing city! Here’s what we learnt….
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 1: The Embassie Hostel
The tour starts at Embassie Backpackers Hostel, situated in Falkner Square in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter, and is led by Kevin Murphy Snr — the man who opened the hostel in 1988. Embassie Hostel is the oldest hostel in Liverpool and is dubbed ‘The Love Hostel’ due to the many relationships formed from there.
Embassie Hostel has a fantastic reputation for being great value and a friendly place to stay — with people coming back again and again. We commenced the tour with an Austrian, an American, an Australian and a Spaniard. Tour guide Kevin has an extensive knowledge of Liverpool and the Beatles, so we were in good hands.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 2: The Georgian Quarter
We left Embassie Hostel (formerly the Venezuelan consulate) and Kevin informed us that Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter is the longest complete stretch of Georgian buildings in the world! Also, Peaky Blinders was filmed here and the cast visited the Embassie Hostel — they’ll be returning soon! In The Name Of The Father and other movies were filmed here too.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 3: The old Liverpool Women’s Maternity Hospital
Our next stop was the old Liverpool Women’s Maternity hospital — now University buildings. This was the birth place of John Lennon and Kevin told us some interesting Lennon and Beatles facts. As the tour went on, we came to learn some enlightening Beatles facts courtesy of the only Beatles tour guide to have seen them live at the Cavern Club.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 4: Hope Street & the cathedrals
Some really interesting stuff here on the iconic Hope Street! Did you know that the larger Anglican cathedral looks much older but was actually completed in 1974 and is newer than the more modern looking Catholic cathedral. Also, the Protestant Anglican cathedral was built by a Catholic and the Catholic cathedral was built by a Protestant.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 5: LIPA
During our next stop, Kevin told us that Sir Paul McCartney has invested over £8million in Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. We checked out the street sculpture — luggage and guitars representing the people who have come to study there. Did you know that Michael Jackson donated £25,000 (then again he owned the rights to many Beatles songs)?
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 6: The Philharmonic Theatre & Pub
Liverpool expert Kevin informed us that the Liverpool Philharmonic theatre was originally situated opposite the pub and hotel but moved to its current location following a fire. One of the best acoustic venues in the world, the current venue has hosted the likes of The Rolling Stones, Elton John and Ella Fitzgerald — but not the Beatles. Of course, we had a pint in the Philharmonic pub and checked out the famous toilets!
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 7: Hardman Street
Did you know that The Hot Water Comedy Club (formerly The Magnet) was once called The Sink — a members club that required a plug to get in and hosted the likes of Freddie Mercury. Did you know that Indiana Jones was filmed at Fly In The Loaf and Hannah’s is owned by boxer John Conte? We were also told some interesting things about the Bombed Out Church.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 7: Bold Street
After being told that Liverpool has the oldest Chinese community outside China in the world, we took a walk down Bold Street. Bold Street is actually named after a slave tradesman — rather controversially. Bold Street Coffee was once called The Odd Spot — a Beatles hangout and the reason for the famous song ‘8 Days A Week’.
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 8: The Jacaranda
Kevin told us how the Beatles actually started out at The Jacaranda, with the Cavern Club being mainly a jazz venue. The Jacaranda was owned by Alan Williams, who sent the Beatles to Germany and ordered them to play covers. The Fab Four refused and fell out with Williams, who said they would never play in Liverpool again — how wrong he was!
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 9: Lord Street
After Kevin told us how the first ever Virgin record store was located on Bold Street, we were told that the Radio City tower was originally a ventilation shaft and is actually the same height as the Anglican cathedral! We checked out the Moores brothers statue — John Moores was not only the founder of the university but also the man who founded Littlewoods and the pools!
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Stop 10: The Cavern Club
As we came to the end of the two hour tour, Kevin told us all sorts of fascinating facts about the Beatles and gave us passes to get into the Cavern Club (there’s also an option to go for fish & chips). We enjoyed live music with our new found foreign friends and true to Liverpudlian hospitality, we bought them drinks and made sure they knew about the best places to go in the city. They’re all La Vida Liverpool fans now of course!
The Embassie Liverpool City & Beatles tour / Embassie Hostel, 1 Falkner Square, Liverpool, L8 7NU
To book a place on the tour call 0151 707 1089!
Check out Embassie Hostel on Facebook!
