London/Liverpool visit: how to prepare, what to know
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Hi everybody, I'm planning a trip to London/Liverpool during Beatles' Week either this year or next, haven't decided yet. My only reason for waiting a year is that I know nothing about England and want to wait until I'm fully prepared to visit. I looked up titles of guide books and found three that look very good, but haven't purchased one yet. None of them have sites like Abbey Road or Apple Studios in the index, things I'm interested in. But, they do have pertinent info regarding hotels, B&Bs (I eat gluten free so B&Bs are probably out), restaurants, subway schedules and rates, etc. For all of you across the pond, what do you think someone from America would need to know to get around safely and economically while visiting? Also, things to see that aren't in the guide books would be helpful.
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You need to know that you can buy a pass for transportation that will last an entire day. I found you could buy one at some of the mini marts there for about 5 pounds from what I remember. Then you have access to the tube or bus all day. Seeing the London tower is a must. You can learn really quickly where many sights are located. Soho is right next to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace. There is an MPL located in Soho.
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butterpie:
You need to know that you can buy a pass for transportation that will last an entire day. I found you could buy one at some of the mini marts there for about 5 pounds from what I remember. Then you have access to the tube or bus all day. Seeing the London tower is a must. You can learn really quickly where many sights are located. Soho is right next to Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace. There is an MPL located in Soho.
Thanks, Butterpie.
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You need to buy this book: The Beatles Long: A Guide to 467 Sites in and Around London http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-London-Guide-Sites-Around/dp/1566567475 And this one on Liverpool: Beatles Liverpool http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Liverpool-Ron- Jones/dp/0951170376/ref=pd_sim_b_3/182-0741901-3774246 And while in London, you need to take one of Richard Porter's Beatles Walks. He has a website. They end at Abbey Road.
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You can look on google earth and find out where things are located too, before you go.
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maccascruff:
You need to buy this book: The Beatles Long: A Guide to 467 Sites in and Around London http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-London-Guide-Sites-Around/dp/1566567475 And this one on Liverpool: Beatles Liverpool http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Liverpool-Ron- Jones/dp/0951170376/ref=pd_sim_b_3/182-0741901-3774246 And while in London, you need to take one of Richard Porter's Beatles Walks. He has a website. They end at Abbey Road.
maccascruff, NOW we are TALKIN.' This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. THANK YOU!!!! Couldn't get the second link to work, though. Thanks anyway.
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butterpie:
You can look on google earth and find out where things are located too, before you go.
Thank you! Didn't know about that
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Fan4-45years:
maccascruff:
You need to buy this book: The Beatles Long: A Guide to 467 Sites in and Around London http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-London-Guide-Sites-Around/dp/1566567475 And this one on Liverpool: Beatles Liverpool http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Liverpool-Ron- Jones/dp/0951170376/ref=pd_sim_b_3/182-0741901-3774246 And while in London, you need to take one of Richard Porter's Beatles Walks. He has a website. They end at Abbey Road.
maccascruff, NOW we are TALKIN.' This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. THANK YOU!!!! Couldn't get the second link to work, though. Thanks anyway.
Name of book is Beatles Liverpool and Amazon does sell it.
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This is the tour guide I would go with in London: http://www.grentours.co.uk/ Glen Portch gave us a walking and couch tour of London when I went with beatletour.com group in Aug/Sept 2011--fantastic!!
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maccascruff:
Fan4-45years:
maccascruff:
You need to buy this book: The Beatles Long: A Guide to 467 Sites in and Around London http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-London-Guide-Sites-Around/dp/1566567475 And this one on Liverpool: Beatles Liverpool http://www.amazon.com/Beatles-Liverpool-Ron- Jones/dp/0951170376/ref=pd_sim_b_3/182-0741901-3774246 And while in London, you need to take one of Richard Porter's Beatles Walks. He has a website. They end at Abbey Road.
maccascruff, NOW we are TALKIN.' This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for. THANK YOU!!!! Couldn't get the second link to work, though. Thanks anyway.
Name of book is Beatles Liverpool and Amazon does sell it.
Thanks. Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/The-Beatles-Liverpool-Complete-Guide/dp/0951170333
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Nancy R:
This is the tour guide I would go with in London: http://www.grentours.co.uk/ Glen Portch gave us a walking and couch tour of London when I went with beatletour.com group in Aug/Sept 2011--fantastic!!
Definitely want to see Highclere Castle and the London Tower.
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Also, make sure ahead of time you get detailed maps of Liverpool and London. You can get them at bookstores like Barnes & Noble. If I were you, since it is your first time over there, go with a tour group like this one headed by my buddy Charles Rosenay: http://www.liverpooltours.com/home.htm
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Nancy R:
Also, make sure ahead of time you get detailed maps of Liverpool and London. You can get them at bookstores like Barnes & Noble. If I were you, since it is your first time over there, go with a tour group like this one headed by my buddy Charles Rosenay: http://www.liverpooltours.com/home.htm
Thanks Nancy. All of this information is helping me get my ducks in a row
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I did go with Charles Rosenay on my first trip to the UK to see Paul. However, you can get everything you want without a tour group if you are adventurous. Don't use tour groups now. Go on my own if I am going. I have hired personal guides in Liverpool. She let me come up with my own list of sites I wanted to see. It was great to do Liverpool that way as I pretty much developed a Paul tour. Got to see places none of the tour groups take you, including the Magical Mystery Tour bus in Liverpool. Also, I think Charles uses the Adelphia Hotel in Liverpool. We were not at all happy with the hotel in 2003.
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maccascruff:
I did go with Charles Rosenay on my first trip to the UK to see Paul. However, you can get everything you want without a tour group if you are adventurous. Don't use tour groups now. Go on my own if I am going. I have hired personal guides in Liverpool. She let me come up with my own list of sites I wanted to see. It was great to do Liverpool that way as I pretty much developed a Paul tour. Got to see places none of the tour groups take you, including the Magical Mystery Tour bus in Liverpool. Also, I think Charles uses the Adelphia Hotel in Liverpool. We were not at all happy with the hotel in 2003.
Charles has told me you could stay at the Hard Day's Night Hotel if you want. The Adelphi (where the convention is) is within walking distance. I only suggested a tour for her since it is her first time. Hiring a private guide would cost a lot of $$. Some of my group hired out Glen Portsch in London and there were about 5 of them and it was still pretty expensive for just one day. What places did you see that none of the tour groups go to?
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One of my major highlights is that I went to all of the houses where Paul has lived. I can't put the address here, but the guide warned me the man living there did not like her bringing fans. I was only going to take a picture, but he came out of the house. I thought he was going to yell at me. Instead he invited me in. Highlight of my tour. I did not ask him to take pictures. When I got back to the car, the tour guide said she was in shock. It was worth the money for the moment alone.
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That's incredible! What a fantastic memory. What tour guide books or book did you buy and were they helpful? I'm trying to decide amongst so many. Here's one sold at the Beatles Coffeeshop near Abbey Road: http://www.beatlescoffeeshop.com/shop/product.php/2/guide_to_the_beatles_london__guide_book_by_richard_porter
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Has anyone been to The Beatles' Coffee shop? http://www.beatlescoffeeshop.com
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Fan4-45years:
Has anyone been to The Beatles' Coffee shop? http://www.beatlescoffeeshop.com
I just poked my head in in 2011 and 1993! That book looks good, but the one I have that is fantastic is The Beatles' London: A Guide to 467 Beatles Sites by Piet Schreuders, Mark Lewisohn and Adam Smith. (I got it on Amazon) Our London guide, Glen Portsch, used it.
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I've been to the Beatles Coffee Shop. The book you recommended is the book I recommend for London earlier.
