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Hey there fellow Beatles fanatics! If you’re humming “Penny Lane,” and wondering if it’s a real place, you’ve come to the right spot. You bet it’s real, and I’ve walked down that famous lane more times than I can count on my Liverpool journeys.
If you’re feeling a bit lost about how to start planning your visit to Penny Lane in Liverpool, fear not. As a hardcore Beatles devotee, I’m here to lend a hand.
Think of me as your personal tour guide to all things Penny Lane. Let’s dive into this guide to one of Liverpool’s most iconic streets!
Table of Contents
Where Is Penny Lane?
You’ll find the Penny Lane location in the Beatles’ home city of Liverpool, in the northwest of England.
Penny Lane is an actual, living, breathing street! It’s around 3 miles away from the city centre, in the Mossley Hill neighbourhood to be exact. You’ll find it between Greenbank Road and Smithdown Road.
How to Get to Penny Lane in Liverpool
Private Beatles Taxi Tour
Private Beatles Taxi Tours are the most popular Beatles tours in the city. Hopping inside your black cab, you’ll head out to the suburbs of Liverpool, with your guide stopping at all of the most important Beatles locations to share information, snap photos for you, and show you around.
When it comes to private Beatles Taxi Tours, this one is the absolute best since it includes a visit to go inside John and Paul’s former houses, but it is pricey.
If you’re on a tighter budget, this Beatles taxi tour is a solid option, but you’ll only get to check out John and Paul’s houses from the outside.
There are plenty of tours to choose from, and all of them visit the Penny Lane street sign for a photo opp and will drive along Penny Lane. Of course, though, since they’re private tours, you can ask the driver to stick around on Penny Lane for longer.
Magical Mystery Tour
If you’re on a tight budget, and a tight timeline, and want to check out Penny Lane as well as most of the other famous Beatles sights in Liverpool, then the Magical Mystery Tour is perfect for you.
This 2-hour sightseeing tour, run by the Cavern Club itself, is a whistle-stop tour of all of the main Beatles attractions, including Penny Lane. Unfortunately, in my experience (which you can read about here), it’s quite rushed. You have a lot to see in a short amount of time!
For that reason, you only get the chance to snap a photo at the Penny Lane sign before getting back on the bus again. You drive along Penny Lane, but you don’t get the chance to wander along it or check out the other famous sites there.
Click here to check Magical Mystery Tour prices & availability!
There are also a couple of other bus tours in Liverpool that’ll drop you off at Penny Lane, but the Magical Mystery Tour is the best, in my opinion!
Public Bus
If you’re on a really tight budget and want to spend a lot of time soaking up everything on Penny Lane, it’s actually possible to catch the 86 public bus. This public bus departs from the Liverpool One bus stop and takes around 35 minutes.
Once you’re off the bus, you’re free to explore Penny Lane however you’d like! Of course, the downside is that you don’t have your own method of transportation, so it’ll be tricky to move on to other Beatles attractions after Penny Lane without having to hop back on a bus or walk for a while.
Why is Penny Lane Famous?
Penny Lane is world-famous all thanks to the Beatles!
You see, Penny Lane, now a must-visit spot for any Beatles fan, was once just an ordinary street. Then, when the Beatles were tasked with writing more “personal” songs, Paul McCartney created the masterpiece known as Penny Lane, and it was released on the Fab Four’s “Magical Mystery Tour” album.
Although it’s a street, Penny Lane is also what the locals use to refer to the entire area surrounding this street, too. John Lennon used to live on a street called Newcastle Road in the “Penny Lane” area until he was four.
It’s also where John and Paul used to connect buses to visit one another as teenagers, and where the two used to meet to catch the bus into Liverpool city centre during the early days of the band. This is one of my favourite bits of Beatles Liverpool trivia.
Penny Lane isn’t just any song, though – it’s a love letter to their hometown. The song paints a charming picture of the everyday scenes they saw growing up, from the barber showing photographs to the pretty nurse selling poppies from a tray.
So, Penny Lane isn’t just famous – it’s legendary, etched in Beatles history, and brimming with musical memories.
The Penny Lane Ghost
Another thing that Penny Lane is famous for is pretty random – it’s a ghost!
Number 44 Penny Lane is supposedly home to one of Liverpool’s craziest ghosts which dates back to the Victorian period. It’s pretty weird, and definitely not Beatles-related, but this is an area often frequented by ghost-hunting teams.
Ghost aside, let’s get back to the Beatles!
Things to See on Penny Lane, Liverpool
When you visit Penny Lane, you’ll be surprised by just how many places you can see that were mentioned in the song. There are loads of fabulous landmarks scattered along the street. Here are the must-visits!
Penny Lane Sign
On your trip down Penny Lane, you’ve got a special mission – spotting the iconic street signs. They’re like celebrities in their own right, attracting Beatles fans from all over the world.
Back in the day, there was a serious problem – Beatles fans kept stealing the street signs! To combat this, the city officials started painting the street name on buildings and walls. But by 2007, they decided to give the old-school street signs another try and installed theft-resistant ones.
Though most of these toughened signs stand their ground today, some still go on adventures with light-fingered tourists.
You can find the main Penny Lane street sign that people take photos with here, although there’s another one here too.
Shelter in the Middle of the Roundabout
At the time that the song was written, Penny Lane was a really busy bus depot area, and there really was a shelter in the middle of the roundabout where people would wait for their buses!
It’s still standing today, right in the middle of the roundabout, at this location.
There’s not a whole lot to say about this, since it doesn’t have anything Beatles-related to see there. It’s just a bus shelter – and a bit of an ugly one at that!
Penny Lane Barber Shop
Buckle up, because now we’re heading to the famous Penny Lane barber shop!
And no, this is not the barber’s shop that gave our Fab Four their iconic mop-tops – that’s a myth.
The Penny Lane barbers mentioned in the song is Tony Slavin’s salon, which back in the day went by the name Bioletti’s.
Nowadays, you’ve got to keep your wits about you to find the real deal. You see, in 2010, a new barber set up shop down the road, throwing a spanner in the works with a Beatles-style font on its sign.
But don’t be fooled, my friends! This new kid on the block isn’t the legendary barbershop from the song.
Tony Slavin’s shop is still there, continuing to welcome hardcore Beatles fans. You can find it here.
Former Bank on Penny Lane
Just like the shelter in the middle of the roundabout, the former bank, where the “banker with a motorcar” used to work, is nothing special to look at.
This building was once the TSB bank, which closed its doors in 2021. You can find it here.
Penny Lane Fire Station
The fire station mentioned in Penny Lane was not actually on Penny Lane, but nearby, in the area where Mather Avenue meets Rose Lane.
Again, it’s nothing exciting to look at, and it’s no longer in operation (it’s actually in the process of being redeveloped into housing, but if you’re adamant to visit the site you’ll find it here.
You need to visit the next stop I mention in this post though, because you’ll be able to see the fire station’s original red doors there!…
Penny Lane Development Trust
Here’s a hidden gem on Penny Lane. It’s not mentioned in the song, but the Penny Lane Development Trust is the best place to visit for Beatles fans on Penny Lane.
The Magical Mystery Tour doesn’t go here, and many of the Beatles taxi tours don’t either unless you specifically request it. Trust me, a visit here is well worth it!
I stumbled across the Penny Lane Development Trust completely by accident, and I was blown away by this fabulous community centre filled with all manner of Beatles facts, memorabilia and information.
The woman who runs the trust, Julie, is an absolute wealth of information and will give you a warm welcome. As well as cool Beatles hippie murals outside, you’ll find a unique Beatles gift shop inside. It’s free to enter.
On the grounds, they also have a yellow submarine, the original doors from the fire station referenced in the Penny Lane song, and you can also learn about the Quarrymen, the original band John started.
A few of the original members still live nearby!
You’ll find the Penny Lane Development Trust here.
FAQs About Penny Lane, Liverpool, England
Is Penny Lane a Real Street in Liverpool?
Yes, Penny Lane is a real street in Liverpool, England. It gained international fame through The Beatles’ song Penny Lane released in 1967. The street is a popular tourist attraction, featuring various landmarks referenced in the song, such as the shelter in the middle of the roundabout and the Penny Lane barber shop.
What area of Liverpool is Penny Lane in?
Penny Lane is located in the area of Liverpool known as Mossley Hill. It is situated in the south-central part of the city and is one of the most famous streets in Liverpool, mainly due to its association with The Beatles and their iconic song “Penny Lane.”
Who lived in Penny Lane Liverpool?
Penny Lane has been a residential street for many Liverpool locals over the years. However, its significance largely stems from its association with The Beatles, particularly John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who lived nearby and drew inspiration from the street for their song “Penny Lane”.
What’s the story of Penny Lane?
Penny Lane is a real street in Liverpool, famously immortalised by The Beatles in their 1967 song of the same name. The street is located in the Mossley Hill area and is known for landmarks mentioned in the song, such as the roundabout shelter and a barbershop. It remains a popular tourist attraction, drawing Beatles fans from around the world who want to experience a piece of music history.
What Beatle lived on Penny Lane?
John Lennon lived in the Penny Lane neighbourhood until he was four years old, although he did not live on Penny Lane itself. Paul McCartney, along with John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, didn’t actually live on Penny Lane. However, the Beatles were all from Liverpool and John and Paul in particular were familiar with the Penny Lane neighbourhood.
Did John Lennon sing on Penny Lane?
Yes, John Lennon provided backing vocals on Penny Lane, although the lead vocals for the song were performed by Paul McCartney.
What does Penny Lane have to do with the Beatles?
Penny Lane holds significant importance for The Beatles. It is a real street located in Liverpool, England, and was the inspiration for one of the band’s most iconic songs, “Penny Lane.” Released in 1967 as a double A-side single with “Strawberry Fields Forever,” the song vividly depicts the sights and experiences from the neighbourhood, making it a beloved piece of Beatles history and a must-visit landmark for fans.
Conclusion: How to Visit Penny Lane in Liverpool
Alright, folks, that’s the final chord for our journey down Penny Lane. If you’re planning a Liverpool itinerary, adding this iconic street is like getting a front-row ticket to Beatles history.
But remember, the magic of Penny Lane isn’t just in its Beatles connection – it’s in the everyday scenes that inspired the legends. So, get out there, feel the rhythm, and make your own memories!
