LIVERPOOL is known for its thriving music scene and rich history, and attracts thousands of dedicated Beatles fans from across the globe every year.

The Fab Four’s roots and legacy is firmly embedded within the architecture and culture of the buzzing maritime city.

But 'over the water' in Wirral there are also plenty of places and landmarks that played their part in the Beatles story.

To mark the beginning of International Beatleweek Festival -which kicks off on Wednesday, August 21 – here are five spots in Wirral every Beatlemaniac should tick off their bucket list…

The Tower Ballroom, New Brighton

(Image: Newsquest)

The Beatles played here on a staggering 27 occasions which apart from the Cavern was the venue they appeared at the most. It was also the venue that saw them perform before their largest live concert audience on the UK mainland. The Tower also played host to many other outstanding performers including The Rolling Stones and Little Richard. It originally sported an iron tower which, was second only in height to the Eiffel Tower. The tower was dismantled in 1921 but the ballroom remained. Sadly, that was was destroyed by fire in 1969. Today, a blue plaque commemorates where the ballroom once stood.

Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight

(Image: Newsquest)

The Beatles appeared here on four occasions in 1962 but it was their third appearance which was the most significant for on August 18 that year, Ringo Starr made his official debut with the band.  Hulme Hall is situated in the delightful model village of Port Sunlight which was built by Viscount Leverhulme to house his factory employees.

Majestic Ballroom, Conway Street, Birkenhead

The former Majestic Ballroom was most recently used as a Chinese restaurant, but it is most famous for the role it played in the Liverpool and Merseyside music scene when it was a dance hall in the 1960s. The Beatles played here on 17 occasions between 1961 and 1963. The venue was also the site of Cilla Black’s first, unsuccessful, audition for Brian Epstein and the backdrop to gigs by the Rolling Stones, the Searchers and many others. A plaque marks the spot. 

The Grosvenor Ballroom, Wallasey

Virtually unchanged today, The Beatles performed at the Grosvenor Ballroom on 14 occasions between June 1960 and September 1961. On the Whitsun bank holiday in June 1960, the band played a  ‘rock and roll jive’ session promoted by Les Dodd’s Paramount Enterprises. This was the first of many occasions over the next couple of years where the Beatles shared the bill with Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Liscard audience getting an early glimpse of the two Liverpool groups who would achieve the greatest success during the Mersey Beat boom.  

Albert Marrion's Photography Studio, Wallasey Village, Wallasey

Now home to Bella Pizza, this was the venue of The Beatles' first official photo shoot in December 1961.

New Brighton is hosting a series of events to celebrate Liverpool International Beatleweek Festival this weekend. Twist and shout to two of the greatest bands the UK has ever seen at ‘The Beatles vs The Stones’ at Floral Pavilion on Friday night, 7.30pm (tickets £29).

Learn more about the Fab Four on Saturday (1pm) at the Oakland Gallery’s ‘The Cultural and Social Revolution That Was The Beatles’ You’ll be saying yeah, yeah, yeah as Rock Point Records provide live music on Friday & Saturday at the Victorian Quarter.