Tourists from all over the world flock to famous UK street after it was immortalised in a 1967 hit song – and the area remains a pilgrimage site for diehard fans almost 60 years on
Residents living on one of the world’s most famous streets say people are often left shocked they get to call the iconic spot home.
Tourists from all over the world flock to Penny Lane in Liverpool, which was immortalised in the 1967 tune by The Beatles, and remains a pilgrimage site for fans of the band almost 60 years on.
66-year-old Bernie Morrom, who has lived on Penny Lane since 1987, said life is “great” on the street, adding: “It’s good to live here, I’ve lived on Penny Lane for a long time, since 1987. Penny Lane doesn’t change. Shops change and there are tour buses coming, a lot of tourists, but the lane doesn’t change.
“It’s one of the most famous lanes in the world so if you have anybody asking where do you live and you say Penny Lane they say ‘what the famous Penny Lane?’ Yes.”
As well as its many trendy shops, cafes and bars, the area is unsurprisingly filled with tourists keen to explore the spot described in the hit song. Looking back at some of the “interesting” encounters he’s had on Penny Lane, Bernie said: “A lot of interesting things can happen with tourists.
“I remember one occasion when I was having some work done in the house and the builder who was here said to me ‘there is someone outside asking questions about The Beatles, can you go and speak to them?’ So I went out and the guy was asking where the zebra crossing is and I told him about 200 miles away. He couldn’t understand it. You do get interesting things happen.”
He added: “I did the bus tour when I had family visiting and there was a guy from Ireland and his wife sat in front. I had told the driver I live on Penny Lane, so when we came down Penny Lane, the driver announced it and the Irish guy came up to me and asked for a photo with me so he could show people he got a photo taken with somebody who lives on Penny Lane.”
Penny Lane has also welcomed a number of students in recent years, including Emma Gibson, 22, who is originally from North Wales, and loves living on the famous street.
She said: “It’s a really nice part of Liverpool, there is no trouble or anything, it’s quiet, we’re close with our neighbours. We’re not far from Smithdown, Sefton Park and Greenbank Park. We’ve got pubs over the road, it’s really nice to have everything on your doorstep. It’s a lot quieter than the Smithdown area and safer.”
While the street carries with it a legendary status, Emma says it doesn’t feel like anything out of ordinary to her. She added: “My friend from back home is obsessed with Penny Lane – she’s even got a dog called Penny – so when I told her I lived on Penny Lane she was like ‘oh my god’ but I feel like it seems bigger than it is. You think it’s going to be more, but we always get tourists coming down to take pictures. It doesn’t feel like we live anywhere out of the ordinary, it just feels like a normal street to be honest, apart from the tourists.”
But recent graduate, Maisie Cooper, 22, from Leeds, said everyone loves living on the lane. She added: “It’s Penny Lane, everyone just loves Penny Lane. It’s cool to be able to say we live on Penny Lane. We always get tourists coming down to take pictures and the tour buses come past. We love it, it’s a lovely area.”
