Retired Nomads Part 4: Beatles Magical Mystery Tour

Monday July 6, 2026

It was an early morning for us to be at the train station for our train at 7:43a to spend the day in Liverpool. We took the Magical Mystery Tour for all things Beatles. Evans Tours made it simple and easy. Liverpool & The Beatles Rail Tour from London - Evan Evans Tours They provided the train tickets, Beatles Story Museum, and Magical Mystery Bus Tour.

cute billboard in train station

While we were in Euston Station waiting for our train platform to appear on the board a young lady from India befriended us. She was worried since she didn't see her train number on the board and we explained it won't appear until closer to time. She had just arrived after many hours of travel and she thought we would be on the same train. We explained we were going to Liverpool not (I forget the name of the town). We had about an hour until time to go, so we wandered off to use the restroom and get a breakfast pastry. We found her again to reassure her she was doing the right thing. Our train was announced first and hers was due to come up soon. We left but told her that her platform would appear next.

We arrived at the Lime Street station and made our way to the Royal Albert Dock where the Beatles Story Museum is located. They had a time reserved, but the museum honored the ticket at pretty much any time.

It was a well-done museum that covered everything about the band’s humble beginnings, meteoric rise to fame, legendary world tours, and loyal fanbase. You could spend as little or as much time as you wanted as it was self-guided tour with headphones. They had a replica of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles first performed and managed to have the same smell emanating as you entered. (disinfectant, sweat & beer)

The rest of the day was on your own until the Magical Mystery Bus tour time. It was lunch time and we grabbed some fish & chips. So good!

fish & chips and mushy peas

It was a cool can very windy day or we would have taken the Ferry across the Mersey. (remember the song by Gerry and the Pacemakers Ferry Cross the Mersey?) There were small white caps on the river, and it didn't seem a pleasant day to do it. Plus, we weren't sure we had ample time before the bus tour.

We decided to visit the Liverpool Cathedral, and we took a couple of buses to get us there. It was billed as the largest and most impressive in the world. That's a big claim but it was large and beautiful.

walking to the bus stop

Liverpool Cathedral

walking back to the bus stop

back at the Docks

We made our way back to the Docks to meet the Magical Mystery Tour. Our guide was Dale Roberts and he was very good and knew just about anything about the Beatles. He also does walking tours in Liverpool and is 1/3 owner of George Harrison's Childhood Home in Speke which is now used as an Airbnb. He was a fun tour guide with a great sense of humor. Instead of droning on and pounding into everyone to be safe crossing streets when we got out to take photos, he used humor and played lots of Beatles music (of course) appropriately to go with the site we were visiting. (It took a couple of weeks to get Yellow Submarine out of my head)

It was a fun tour showcasing the places that inspired timeless hits like 'Penny Lane’ and ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ to their childhood homes.

photos from the bus

George Harrison was born here (blue plaque)

Liverpool's smallest house

Strawberry Field was an orphanage

gates of Strawberry Field

Paul McCartney's home growing up

John Lennon's childhood home

tour guide Dale Roberts

After the bus tour we were dropped off near the legendary Cavern Club, where the band first performed and won over hysterical crowds with their electrifying performances. (admission included in tour) We were warned to make sure we found the right place as it was on the right. However, there was another club called Cavern Pub and almost everyone went there first to get their "free gift". (post card) They directed us across the street.

the wrong club

the guy on the left was shouting out trying to start a conversation with "Americans"

We found it and took a few photos of the small dark club and got our post card before it was time to go back to the train station.

the right club

going down the stairs to the pub

the bar

musician performing

Dinner would be on the train, so we found some Samosas and baklava and diet Cokes and got seated on the train. It was a long late day, and it was after 10:00p when we got to the hotel.