Overview

A fun, interactive exhibition on John Lennon, the Beatles, and the place that inspired the iconic song, Strawberry Fields Forever. There is the piano on which Imagine was composed and a striking mural of John himself, complete with a digital replica of a Mellotron (famously used by the Beatles on this track) that I was able to get my manual wheelchair under and play to my heart's content on. I didn't cause anybody else discomfort while playing because they give you headphones. This was the quirkiest part of the exhibition for me. The lush gardens surrounding the Strawberry Fields centre provide a lovely setting to daydream in that John thought of as a magical place when he was a kid. I think he'd appreciate it if he visited today – the beautifully landscaped gardens are a perfect place to daydream in and get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Ramps are everywhere in the centre and make access to the garden easy for PWD with power or manual wheelchairs. There's also a nice café with drinks and snacks that offers employment training to PWD. Other treasures include lyrics to discover around the gardens and the opportunity to see the original handwritten lyrics of the song that gives this place its raison d'être. A very spacious Changing Places facility with long handled taps, grab rails, a handheld shower, and a red cord. If you are using the bathroom by yourself and happen to slip or fall, this is very important. There is also a large changing bench which can be moved up and down, as well as a ceiling hoist. The hoist sling was unable to be found when I visited, and I mentioned this to staff who assured me they will look into what has happened to it. I have suggested a few improvements to the space, including a shower chair and slide sheet. Staff were lovely and very receptive to my feedback, and I'm sure they will act upon it. They went out of their way to be nice to me, thanked me for my feedback and even gave me a nice present as a thank you for the feedback I gave them. Ginette and Sue are very keen to hear visitor feedback so they can provide disabled people with a much needed five-star shower and bathroom experience as well as a unique way to celebrate the legacy of the Beatles and John Lennon.

Transport & Parking

I used public transport – it was about a 20 minute ride from the Indigo Hotel in Liverpool. Getting on the bus was easy as it was equipped with a ramp. I took the number 76 bus to the Menlove Avenue/Beaconsfield Road stop. Once I got off, I just had to go around the corner of the street and there it was. As I didn't travel by car, I can't comment on disabled parking facilities. The website tells you what bus you need to get and when the centre is open which is helpful.

Access

Everything is accessible and there is a handy audio guide available when you go around the exhibition. This guide is available in many different languages, including BSL if I remember rightly. There is plenty of seating in the garden and lift access to every floor of the centre. Signage is pretty clear and there are always staff available if you get lost or need someone to open the door for you if the doors are too heavy or you can't do it yourself. The gift shop is packed full of knick-knacks and interesting books on the history of Strawberry Fields. It's also accessible and easy to get around.

Toilets

The toilets are very big and well-maintained so it is clean and tidy, as well as easy to manoeuvre. There are grab rails on the side of the toilet, as well as a back rest. You could have two or three support workers in there with you if you wanted. There's a toilet with a ceiling hoist and changing table that can be raised or lowered, but unfortunately, the hoist sling could not be found. I mentioned this to staff who assured me they will fix this problem. In the meantime, you could always bring your own sling if you use a ceiling hoist, and see if it works. I would ask about the make and model of the hoist to see if it is compatible with your sling before doing so, however. There is also a handheld shower if you can stand and have a shower, but no shower chair as yet. I have suggested that it would be useful to purchase a shower chair for those who can't stand – just a simple plastic one that is height adjustable.

Staff

Very friendly, courteous, and willing to listen to feedback. Don't hesitate to make suggestions and give feedback, as the team at Strawberry Fields wants to create a world-class facility for everyone. I really appreciate them giving me a chance to provide detailed feedback on the Changing Places bathroom when I visited. Service at the café is fast and everything is made to order. What I like about the café is that it also provides opportunities for PWD and others to access employment training and job opportunities.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I would definitely visit again and highly recommend this attraction.

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