Strawberry Fields Liverpool Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Rebecca Banasko
There are many iconic Beatles songs but one that specifically stands out and marked a change in the musical direction of the Beatles was Strawberry Fields Forever. I was aware that this was a place in Liverpool that inspired the song and I’d seen many images of the unmistakeable red gates, but that was the limit of my knowledge. So I was excited to get the chance to visit the Strawberry Field site and exhibition to learn more! Strawberry Field is in the Woolton area of Liverpool, I drove and found it easy to find and with plenty of onsite parking, but it is easily accessible via public transport from Liverpool City Centre.
Upon entering we found very welcoming staff and a wonderful atmosphere. There was a gift shop – in which I spent far too much time eyeing up all of the Beatles and John Lennon goodies – a real treasure trove for any Beatles fan! There’s a lovely café overlooking the gardens with a great range of light-bites, sandwiches, drinks and cakes. We of course had to sample the food and it was really yummy and very reasonably priced too! The staff are super-friendly and the whole place had a warm and peaceful feel to it.
Upon entering the exhibition we were issued with small handheld screens and head phones. The staff gave us clear instructions on how to use them and there was always someone on hand if we needed assistance. The screens guided us through the exhibition and the sound would sync with wall mounted screens that were dotted about. There were also lots of extra footage and short videos as you walked around with extra information, interviews and music that all helped to tell the story. The journey started off right at the start of the history of the Strawberry Fields site itself, which actually originates with the birth of the Salvation Army, so to understand that we learned a bit about the history of the Salvation Army, this in itself was eye-opening I had no idea about any of it beforehand.
Without risking any spoilers Strawberry Fields eventually became a children’s home that was positioned right next door to where John Lennon lived with his Auntie and so he enjoyed breaking into the grounds regularly. This place was a real draw for him and it became obvious in the course of our time there as to why! With Strawberry Fields at the centre of the story we learnt more about John Lennons life and inspirations with interviews from people who knew him including his sister who is now honorary president of the charity and author of the book Imagine This: Growing up with my brother John Lennon.
A highlight of the visit was seeing the ‘imagine’ piano on display, which had been loaned to the exhibition by the George Michael estate – so many interwoven stories! We spent over an hour in the exhibition room taking in all the sites and the sounds and immersing ourselves in the whole story. Also being inspired by the fact that now this is a charitable Foundation that does so much good work in the community.
We then headed out in the gardens. The original building sadly no longer stands but the gardens are very much still there and it’s easy to see why John was attracted to this space. It is an oasis of calm, with a lovely winding footpath leading you through the garden, containing lots of benches and shelters dotted about so you can sit and take in the peace and calmness of the garden. Benches and rocks along the way, were adorned with various quotes from Beatles songs, a memorial stands proud as a symbol of hope for the war in Ukraine which was put there when Liverpool hosted the Eurovision song contest on behalf of Ukraine in 2023. The gem in this garden though are the original red iron gates that are so iconic of the Strawberry Fields, the ones outside the site are replicas so the original is kept safe within the garden and looked after.
Afterwards we headed to the cafe for a hot drink. We talked to staff who were more than happy to share lots of extra information that isn’t included in the exhibition. It just felt like a great space to spend the day; I would absolutely recommend this to anybody. There are so many stories woven through the central Strawberry Field theme – who knew one song could be the gateway to so much history! This is a real gem with so much to learn and a must-see in Liverpool. It’s also a great place to reflect, reminisce and take a breath away from the pressures of modern life and look back at the simple things that make us happy. As John himself put it best ‘I hope some day you’ll join us. And the world will be as one’.
If you are coming to Liverpool do not miss out on this enriching experience. You visit can plan your visit and purchase your tickets at https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/ costing from £12.45, with concessions available and children can go for free. There are also lots of Christmas events coming up if you are looking for something different to do this festive season. We spent a couple of hours in the actual exhibition and gardens but there are 4.5 hours of content for anyone wishing to stay longer. I give this enriching experience 5/5 stars, it’s a must see for any Beatles fan and music lover.
Rating: 5/5