The Beatles on screen and the places that shaped the story

Filming has begun on the new Beatles biopics, bringing renewed attention to the places that shaped one of the most influential bands in music history. From childhood homes in Liverpool to recording studios in London, these locations form the physical and emotional backdrop to a story that continues to resonate around the world.

Strawberry Field is proud to be part of that wider story. Not as the only place named in a song, but as one of the places that helped shape John Lennon..

A story rooted in many places

The Beatles’ story belongs to many locations, each representing a different chapter.

Mendips and Forthlin Road offer insight into early family life. Abbey Road reflects the height of creative collaboration and musical innovation. Hamburg speaks to the hard graft of performance and growth. London marks the point at which the band became a global phenomenon.

Strawberry Field sits firmly at the beginning of that journey.

Strawberry Field and the early years

Located in south Liverpool, just a short distance from where John Lennon grew up, Strawberry Field was part of the everyday landscape of childhood. It was a place of imagination, escape and observation.

For John Lennon, Strawberry Field became closely associated with memory and introspection. Those themes later surfaced in songwriting that continues to resonate far beyond Liverpool.

While the Beatles would go on to meet, rehearse and perform across the city, this part of Liverpool formed an emotional backdrop to those early years.

A neighbourhood that shaped a generation

Liverpool, like any community, was a network of schools, churches, streets and shared spaces where young people met, formed friendships and discovered creative outlets.

Strawberry Field sits within that neighbourhood context. Nearby places such as St Peter’s Church Hall in Woolton, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney first met, had no idea that they would become important landmarks visited by Beatles fans from all over the world.

From lived experience to lasting legacy

Today, Strawberry Field is a visitor attraction in Liverpool that welcomes people from across the world who want to explore the deeper story behind the music. The site includes an exhibition, gardens and reflective spaces that focus on John's childhood, creativity and social history.

Strawberry Field also continues the Salvation Army’s original mission on the site, supporting young people with learning disabilities and other barriers into employment through training and work opportunities.

As the Beatles’ story returns to the screen, Strawberry Field remains a place to step back from the headlines and consider where it all began.

Keeping this story up to date

As filming continues and interest grows, this page will be updated with context and reflections on how different locations connect to the Beatles’ story.

Strawberry Field was included in the official first-look postcard campaign for the new Beatles biopics, alongside other locations recognised for their significance to the band’s history. The campaign marked the beginning of public awareness around the films and reflected the importance of these places in shaping the Beatles’ early lives and creative influences.

The biopics are directed by Sam Mendes. The four main actors cast as the Beatles are:

• Harris Dickinson as John Lennon
• Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney
• Joseph Quinn as George Harrison
• Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr

Our aim is not to document every development, but to offer thoughtful perspective on the role of place, memory and Liverpool itself.

Some places capture moments. Others help create them.

Strawberry Field will always be one of those places.

Quick facts for visitors and media

• Strawberry Field is located in south Liverpool, close to other key early Beatles sites
• The site is best known for its connection to John Lennon’s childhood and imagination
• It operates today as a visitor attraction and social enterprise run by the Salvation Army
• Strawberry Field complements, rather than replaces, other significant Beatles locations such as Mendips, Forthlin Road and Abbey Road