Strawberry Field
ENTRY
from £9.45
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Liverpool
What it’s like
Wander the gardens that inspired the Beatles song and play a virtual Mellotron in an exhibition packed with memorabilia.
This is the real Strawberry Field, the Salvation Army children's home that gave John Lennon a song title, and the visit is built around a self-guided exhibition and garden tour with a media guide doing the talking. Inside there's Beatles memorabilia to pick through, a colourful projection setup, and a virtual Mellotron and Swamandal you're actually allowed to play rather than just look at. The gardens outside are the quieter payoff, with musical soundscapes layered in as you walk, and they're worth taking slowly rather than rushing through to the shop.
Under 16s go free with a paying adult, which softens the £12.45 adult price nicely if you've got kids in tow. Most people spend around 1.5 hours here on a first visit, though the media guide itself holds over 4.5 hours of content if anyone wants to come back and dig deeper. Booking online is an option but not compulsory, you can just turn up and buy on-site, and cancellations get a full refund if you're more than 24 hours out.
One thing worth knowing: some coach and bus tours only stop at the gates for a photo and don't include entry, so check what your tour actually gets you before you assume you're going inside. The exhibition also uses multiple screens and projections throughout, which is fine for most but worth bearing in mind if anyone in your group has visual sensitivity or is prone to migraines.
There's free on-site parking, including accessible bays within 50 metres of the entrance, and the Imagine More Café does breakfast and lunch with local ingredients, open to visit even without an exhibition ticket. Access has clearly had real thought put into it, with step-free routes, a lift, Changing Places toilets, and sensory aids like ear defenders and fidget toys available on request.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Good for families with under 16s, who go free with a paying adult
- Booking
- Book online for advance booking or buy on-site
- Parking
- Free on-site parking including accessible spaces
- How long to allow
- Typically 1.5 hours on first visit
- Food
- Imagine More Café serves breakfast, lunch and hot drinks with local ingredients
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair accessible with clear pathways and exhibits at comfort level
- Dogs
- Only guide dogs permitted
- Getting there by bus or train
- Bus: 76 to Menlove Ave/Beaconsfield Rd stop, or 75/86C to Menlove Ave/Comptons Lane (10-15 min walk)
- Worth knowing
- Children under 16 go free with a paying adult
- Coach and bus tours sometimes only stop at the gates for photos, not full entry, so check what your tour includes
- The exhibition uses multiple screens and projections which may not suit anyone with visual sensitivity or migraines
- Media guides come in five languages plus a One-Touch version that auto-plays an hour of content
- Photos are allowed throughout the exhibition
- Closed on the morning of Saturday 27th June, opening at 1pm that day
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£12.45 for an adult, £9.45 concession. Under 16s go free as long as they're with a paying adult.
Do we need to book in advance?
No, you can book online or just buy on arrival. If you do book ahead and need to cancel, you get a full refund up to 24 hours before.
How long does a visit take?
Most first-time visitors spend around 1.5 hours going through the exhibition and gardens. The media guide has over 4.5 hours of content if you want to linger longer.
Is it suitable for children?
Many kids enjoy playing the virtual Mellotron and Swamandal, and the projections are a big draw. Under 16s get in free with a paying adult.
Is there parking on site?
Free parking on site with accessible spaces within 50 metres of the main entrance.
What's there to eat?
The Imagine More Café does breakfast, lunch and hot drinks using local ingredients. You can visit the café without buying an exhibition ticket.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
With clear pathways, exhibits set at comfort level, a lift and accessible toilets including Changing Places. The bandstand has wheelchair access via a rear door.
Can we bring the dog?
Only guide dogs are permitted.
Is the exhibition guided or do we go round ourselves?
It's self-guided, but you get a media guide to lead you through the exhibition and garden tour.
Is it good for autistic visitors or those with sensory needs?
Sensory fidget toys, fidget muffs and ear defenders are available on request, and media guides take standard headphones.
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