Strawberry Field(s), Liverpool, England

Strawberry Field, Woolton, England (these gates are replicas of the originals)

Yes, Strawberry Fields is a real place. And, during its history dating back to 1870, it has been known as both Strawberry Field and Strawberry Fields.

The one and only Billy Shears, Strawberry Field graffiti, Woolton, England

Strawberry Field was a Salvation Army Children's home in Woolton, a suburb of Liverpool. As a child, John Lennon would attend the annual summer fair at Strawberry Field with his Aunt Mimi. He also would jump the wall and play with the children there.

Here's another clue for you all, Strawberry Field graffiti, Woolton, England

Later, of course, John wrote Strawberry Fields Forever in remembrance of one of his favorite childhood places. Today, Beatles fans from all over the world visit the gates of Strawberry Field (the public isn't allowed inside, even though the home for children closed in 2005) to take pictures.

If you go: There are lots of Beatles-themed tours in Liverpool. One of my favorites is the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. It departs several times daily from the Albert Dock in Liverpool. You ride on a colorfully painted bus and learn about each of the Beatles early days from a live guide. The tour is well done and accurate (a must for the Beatle-obsessed like myself). Note that the bus cannot stop at every famous location like the roundabout from Penny Lane because of traffic restrictions. There's also an excellent Beatles museum at Albert Dock called The Beatles Story.
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