Strawberry Field - Liverpool

Overview

Visitor Exhibition & Gardens An interactive experience that tells interweaving stories of the house, The Salvation Army, John Lennon's childhood, and the writing and recording of 'Strawberry Fields Forever'.

Each visitor will enter into a world where ‘nothing is real’ plunging into the 1860's era where Strawberry Field began as a Victorian house, before it transformed into a safe place where The Salvation Army supported and homed some of Liverpool’s vulnerable youth. Visitors can then experience through archival footage, photographs and timelines and our specialist media guides the world where John Lennon played as a child and what happened behind the famous red gates.

Through immersive multimedia, interviews and memorabilia, this exhibition will give unprecedented insight into John Lennon’s childhood and the inspiration behind one of the Beatles’ most iconic songs, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever.’ This intimate look at Lennon’s time at Strawberry Field, as never seen before, is a must-see for any Beatles fan.

The gardens are at the heart of the new visitor experience that includes the new exhibition, which weaves together the history of The Salvation Army, Strawberry Field and John Lennon. Exploring the landscaped area is an opportunity to walk in the same steps as John Lennon in his childhood as well as the opportunity to take time for personal reflection, spirituality and retreat from the busyness of life.

The Strawberry Field site was donated to The Salvation Army in 1936, its large Victorian house was a home for the city’s most vulnerable children. The gardens at Strawberry Field were a place of peace and refuge for the children where they could escape and enjoy themselves away from a turbulent world.

It was in these gardens that John Lennon as a child found a quiet spot where he could play with friends, climb trees and reflect. Lennon loved the gardens and Strawberry Field so much he used his memories to create the famous Beatles’ song, ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’.

The world-famous piano that John Lennon used to compose and record one of the great peace anthems of the 20th century, ‘Imagine’, is on loan to Liverpool’s Strawberry Field exhibition, courtesy of the estate of the late George Michael.

George Michael, a huge fan of The Beatles and John Lennon, composed on and played the piano which can be heard on the title song of his Patience album.

The piano, which was toured globally by George Michael as a symbol of peace in the early 2000s, has never before been placed in a location so steeped in John Lennon history.

Strawberry Field is unique in that it has wellbeing, community and ‘responsible tourism’ at the heart of its story and mission.
Under the care of The Salvation Army since the 1930s, the site was originally a children’s home that provided a place of sanctuary for vulnerable young people. This legacy continues to this day, with all profits going towards the ‘Steps at Strawberry Field’ initiative.
The programmes support local adults with learning difficulties and other barriers to work helping them to gain access to employment skills, work experience and, ultimately, paid employment.


Also on site is the Imagine More café, which includes indoor and outdoor seating and serves locally sourced food. The shop sells exclusively designed gifts and merchandise.

The exhibition and garden tour contains over 4.5 hours of meaningful and inspiring content, however most visitors spend around 1.5 hours on their first visit.


Opening hours
Monday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Friday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM



Photo credit: Ant Clausen - John Lennon Imagine piano courtesy of the Estate of George Michael on long loan at Strawberry Field visitor exhibition