A Very Beatles Weekend in Liverpool

During the age of COVID, all I could do to escape my boredom was read, work out, and listen to music while I dreamed of better days to come. One band whose music I became truly entranced with was the Beatles. The Beatles are popular for a reason. Their music is timeless, and their songs tell tales of longing, sorrow, joy, and all of life’s occasions. What makes them so special is their bountiful discography. Any fan of the Beatles would know that each member hailed from Liverpool, in the north of England. As a Beatles fan, my interest in visiting Liverpool had been piqued, but I was not entirely sure that it would make the list of trips I could take during the few weekends I had while studying abroad. However, when my friend, and to her credit, a more devoted Beatles fan, asked me if I wanted to take a short trip to Liverpool with her, I, of course, jumped at the opportunity.

I chose to study specifically in London because I hope to live and make a career there at some point after graduating from college. Because of this, I wanted to use every opportunity I had to explore the rest of England, since for all I knew, I could fall in love with another city and further familiarize myself with a country that I might someday call home for longer than four months. Visiting different parts of England always excites me, so being able to do so easily from my study abroad location in London felt like a phenomenal gift. Luckily, I had purchased a National Rail pass, or Railcard, which made train travel affordable. If you are interested in exploring different parts of England while studying abroad, I would definitely recommend buying a Railcard. The direct journey from Euston Station in London to Liverpool Lime Street Station took about three hours, as we left around noon.

Our only night in Liverpool was nothing short of spectacular. My friend and I started the night by paying the best five pounds I have ever spent to watch a Beatles tribute band perform at the Cavern Club, the underground music venue where the Beatles famously first performed as a group. We thought we might spend an hour or two in the cavernous space where the tribute band and later other performers sang only Beatles songs. However, once we felt the incredible energy of the crowd and shared the excitement of being in a place that celebrated the Beatles with other fans, we ended up staying for five hours. Later that night, we explored another side of

Liverpool’s nightlife by going to Electrik Warehouse, where we mingled with students from local universities. Since it was Indie Night, we danced to music by the Smiths, Inhaler, and Fontaines D.C. Never in my dreams could I have imagined a more perfect night. On our second and final day in Liverpool, we had no choice but to join the Magical Mystery Tour. By joining the tour, I mean buying tickets for the aptly named bus tour that took us around Liverpool, stopping at locations such as Penny Lane and Strawberry Field before ending at the Cavern Club. Few experiences will ever make me as happy as listening to “Penny Lane” play through the bus speakers as we drove down Penny Lane itself.

I would not have changed anything about my short but memorable trip to Liverpool. I do not think you need more than two days there, as my friend and I were able to do everything we hoped to accomplish within that time frame. I would not call Liverpool a forgotten city, but while it has a vibrant nightlife and just as much charm as London, it doesn’t receive the same level of recognition. If you’re a Beatles fan studying in England, I highly recommend visiting Liverpool, because every time you listen to the Beatles, you’ll look back fondly on your memories there, just as I’m doing now.