Mathew Street in Liverpool is already famous as the home of the Cavern Club, where the Beatles regularly performed in their early years. A short distance along the same street, at number 23, the Liverpool Beatles Museum occupies a five-floor building that was originally a warehouse constructed in the early 19th century. Now a Grade II listed building, it opened on 13 July 2018 under its original name, the Magical Beatles Museum, before adopting its current name.
Origins and the Man Behind It
The museum was created by Roag Best, son of Neil Aspinall and Mona Best, and half-brother of Pete Best, the Beatles’ original drummer. That family connection to the band runs through every corner of the collection. More than 300 original items are on display across the building, with a further 1,200 kept in storage. Three of the floors are each dedicated to a distinct period in the Beatles’ history: the first floor covers 1959 to 1962, the second covers 1963 to 1966 and the third covers 1967 to 1970.
What the Collection Contains
The range of objects is striking. George Harrison‘s Futurama guitar sits alongside John Lennon‘s Sergeant Pepper medals and his custom-made egg chair. Pete Best‘s Premier drum is on display, as is the cello used during the recording of “I Am the Walrus” and Paul McCartney‘s bass speaker. Among the more unusual pieces are police log books listing the names of officers who guarded the Beatles during their New York City visit, the “All You Need Is Love” doll from the BBC Our World broadcast, and gifts that Elvis Presley gave to the band. In 2020, Pete Best unveiled a new mural at the museum. Photos of celebrity visitors line the walls, with names including Noddy Holder, Nick Mason, Billy Bob Thornton, Tim Rice and Craig Charles among those who have been through the doors.