Woolton Village - where young Beatles took a swim
Woolton Village is a scenic and treasured middle-class Liverpool suburb, part of a Woolton district with a well-preserved architecture of old terraces, cottages on cobbled streets, old masonry walls, and other historic buildings. In a small walking area, you can find a place for every taste, literally. From colonial dining rooms, old stylish pubs, atmospheric bar, contemporary taverns with outdoor seating space all bring a variety of dining experience. And there is a lot of history packed in lavish greenery.
It is best known as a place where John met Paul, starting a route to international fame as the Beatles.
It was 6 July 1957 at St. Peter's Church garden fete. The church (below, upper left and lower right) is located on Church Road and it is a good starting point to explore the area. In the graveyard there is a mysterious tomb of Eleanor Rigby, a person immortalised in The Beatles song. As you might discover she wasn't so lonely. For football fans, it is worth noting that Bob Paisley, the legendary Liverpool F.C. manager from 1974 to 1983, is buried in the churchyard of St Peter's.
Another historic spot, also connected to the lives of John and Paul and early days of the Beatles is the Bathhouse on Quarry Street South (below, upper right). Now it stands quiet but both boys used to come here for a swim and refreshment. It is built in Baroque Revival style, with signature red sandstone from the nearby Woolton Quarry. It has been given to the community by H. Gaskell, a philanthropist, owner of the Widnes chemical manufacture, in the mid 19th century when bathrooms were far away from being invented. This sanitary institution was for all the local populations regardless of sex and provenance, quite uncommon act in those days of sharp class division.
Woolton Village centre (below upper left) spans along Woolton Street and here you can find several cosy eateries, cafes, excellent bars and restaurants, shops, bank, post office - all nicely nestled together.
The Crust is a well know Liverpool pizza expert, also offering wraps, pasta, burgers, all straight from the oven or grill. It also serves crafty drinks. Next to it, on Allerton Road is Dostana, an Indian restaurant where you can spice your day or go vegetarian.
The best route to take from St. Peter's Church to the village centre is through Mason Street. You will find here a jewel of a cinema. Woolton Picture House (below, upper right) was built in 1926 and is an iconic feature in the Art Deco style of Roaring Twenties, not only for Woolton Village but the whole of Liverpool - it is the one and only continually working cinema in the region. True, original, vintage feel inside-out. The award-winning 2009 biopic of John Lennon’s teenage years, Nowhere Boy, used the Picture House as a set location.
Maturing in fame, the Liverpool Cheese Company and its cheese shop are based on the edge of Woolton Street. There are some people who admire this product as much as a good wine, so the location is quite perfect. This grade II listed old dairy has been opened for nearly two decades now.
The Elephant Pub & Bakehouse (upper, lower right, below lower right) on Woolton Street, is one of the best places to have the roast dinner, in one of the best beer gardens in Liverpool, so they say. But they also serve tea and coffee and cocktails and organize wine and gin tasting events.
The Victoria pub (below, upper left) is farther away, on Quarry Street, a stand-alone building on a verge of the old Quarry, very nice setting. There is a small parlour room with original Edwardian fireplace, walls adorned with pictures of Old Woolton and of Queen Victoria herself.
Another independent local favourite is the Coffee House (below, upper right) with a warm community feel, to indulge in the Village Omelette, Prosecco Afternoon Tea, freshly made sandwiches and much more.
Woolton Village has been the recipient of many ‘Village in Bloom’ awards. Going further down Allerton Road is where the old village feel is at its best. 
Woolton Village is like being in the countryside without leaving the city. There is a farmer's market, every second Saturday from 9am to 2pm on Allerton Road.
The house prices are the most expensive in the whole metropolitan Liverpool zone. No wonder Woolton has always been popular with Liverpool FC's players, especially the Brazilians. Though we cannot imagine one of them living in one of those above ;)
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Woolton Village Map
