The key facts
- The Beatles Story will move from the Albert Dock to the former St Johns market in 2028, with an area of 9,290 sq m (more than 4 times larger)
- St Johns Beacon will host a 360-degree panoramic Yellow Submarine-style experience
- Ticket proceeds will go to the Apple Corps Liverpool Trust to support young Liverpool artists
A new home for The Beatles Story
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr have backed plans to create a major Beatles tourist attraction in Liverpool. Apple Corps, the company that manages the band's creative and business interests, announced that The Beatles Story museum, which has operated at the Albert Dock since 1990, will move in 2028 to the site of the former St Johns market in the St Johns shopping centre opposite Liverpool Lime Street station. The market closed in 2024, and the site has stood empty. The new venue, covering 9,290 sq m (100,000 sq ft), will be more than four times larger than the current exhibition.
The Yellow Submarine at the tower
The former Radio City tower, St Johns Beacon, will host a new Yellow Submarine-style experience — according to euronews, it will be a 360-degree panoramic viewing platform overlooking the city. The attraction itself is billed as a 'multi-hour experience' with immersive technology, authentic artefacts and recreated sets tracing the band's journey from post-war Liverpool through Hamburg, the Cavern Club, Beatlemania, the Abbey Road studios, Shea Stadium (the 1965 concert) and Savile Row. According to euronews, the exhibition will use sets and props from Sam Mendes' four Beatles films, which will be released simultaneously in April 2028, starring Paul Mescal as McCartney, Harris Dickinson as Lennon, Joseph Quinn as Harrison and Barry Keoghan as Starr.
Reactions from those involved
McCartney said he loves Liverpool, that it is 'part of who I am, part of what The Beatles are', adding that he finds it 'incredible and touching' that the band's story still interests people, and that he 'can't wait for people to be able to step into our story'. Starr said: 'Liverpool was and remains a city of music', noting that 'deep down I am still a Liverpudlian'. Apple Corps CEO Tom Green compared the future venue with Graceland and Dollywood, calling it a 'world-class facility' for the city where the band's story began.
Funding and government support
The project is being delivered in partnership between Apple Corps, Liverpool City Council and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with support from the central government. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the charitable Apple Corps Liverpool Trust to support emerging local artists. Metro mayor Steve Rotheram called the future venue 'the defining Beatles experience', which should be located where the band's story began. The BBC quotes 'Prime Minister Andy Burnham', who called The Beatles 'one of the greatest examples of what Britain can give to the world'; according to euronews, he added that the project reflects the ambition to turn cities' global reputations into jobs and growth. Apple Corps will take over the management of The Beatles Story in 2027, a year before the move.
Image source, Apple Corps Ltd Artist's impression of plans for a Yellow Submarine experience at St John's Beacon
Image source, Apple Corps Ltd The attraction will tell The Beatles story using immersive technology, Apple Corps Ltd said
Image source, Apple Corps Ltd The plans will transform the former site of St Johns Market in the city centre
Image source, Apple Corps Ltd The experience will chart The Beatles' journey from the streets of Liverpool to the world stage
