The Beatles Sights In Liverpool

One of the many wonderful things about going to a university around Liverpool is the opportunity to see some of the sights. Today everybody on the journalism course went on a 'Magical Media Tour' around Liverpool, and also on the Mersey ferry.

The ferry, which we went on first, was absolutely delightful. Gerry Marsden's Ferry 'cross The Mersey was played and everybody was singing along, and overall it was a great atmosphere. The views from the top deck of the little boat were magnificent - I fell in love with the Liver Building.

Before boarding the ship, however, I got a photo with the iconic Beatles statue which stands on Pier Head. It was majestic, and a lot larger than I thought it would be. It's a big tourist attraction, so I had to wait a couple of minutes for my turn for a photo.

There is a photo of Sir Paul McCartney posing with the statue during his appearance on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke, and just having the chance to stand there made me feel that little bit closer to him - which might sound silly, but it wasn't to me.

After the ferry trip, the coach rolled on to some other sights; Anfield Stadium being the main one, however we also passed several sights of gruesome murders which were pointed out to us, such as the New Strand shopping centre in Bootle, where toddler Jamie Bulger was abducted by two ten-year-olds in 1993.

And then we got to what was, for me, the highlight of the trip. The Beatles sights. Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, and John Lennon's house. I was overcome with emotion at seeing them - and probably sounded quite like a banshee because of the way that I screamed! I found the painted Penny Lane sign that Sir Paul had signed on his visit to Liverpool with Corden (video above), and also took a photo with the standing road sign.

I didn't get to go in Strawberry Field, but the gates were a sight. They were absolutely gorgeous, the brightest red I think I have ever seen, and the scribbles on the walls beside the gates were so moving - thousands, if not millions, of fans have visited the sight over the years to remember John Lennon and his beautiful song, and their love is shown on the bricks. I wish that I had a pen with me so my name could have joined theirs.

And finally, we went to John Lennon's house, 251 Menlove Avenue, known as Mendips. I could almost see John walking up the road to the house that he shared with his aunt and uncle, Mimi and George, and then following his uncle's death, just his aunt Mimi. I wish that the house was open when I visited so I could have gone inside; it would have completed the trip for me, but the fact that it wasn't means that I have something to do next time I am in the area.

The trip today was, for me, magical, and something that I have wanted to do for such a long time. I cannot believe that I have finally done it. Thank you to LJMU for running the trip, and thank you to Liverpool for being such a wonderful place.