Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the “British Invasion”; the day when four lads from Liverpool arrived in New York for their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

I became a Beatles fan in the 1980’s, and on my first trip to England in 1992 I wanted to see as many of the Beatles sights as possible. I bought a self-guided walking tour map of London & Liverpool, and I set out to retrace the Fab Four’s footsteps.

Some of the points of interest were very well-known such as the Abbey Road crosswalk, but others were quite obscure. You have to be a pretty big Beatles fan if you want to see the building where George served as an apprentice electrician, but if you are, it’s listed.

I decided to go see the famous crosswalk that The Beatles strolled across for their Abbey Road album cover. From the photo, Abbey Road appears to be a quiet two lane road, but it’s really a busy thoroughfare and I nearly got run over trying to recreate the iconic photo.

The EMI Apple Records Studio where so many of the songs were recorded is near the crosswalk with a brick wall in front covered with fans’graffiti.

I visited the exhibit room at the British Library and was so impressed to see the handwritten lyrics for the songs “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and “Help!” in Lennon and McCartney‘s own handwriting. From the page, to the stage, to the soundtrack of a generation right there in front of me.

The next day, I was able to get a ticket to ride the train to Liverpool. I started my self-guided walking tour at the new Cavern Club, a re-creation of the venue where the Beatles played so many early shows. I walked to St. Peter’s Church where John & Paul first met, and the humble row house were Ringo was born. I dropped into Ye Olde Cracke Public House for some pub grub and a few fine ales where John, his girlfriend Cynthia, and Stuart Sutcliffe used to hang-out during their art school days.

It was a Hard Day’s Night, but the next morning with Beatles’ tunes playing in my head, I followed my map as a Day Tripper on a Magical Mystery Tour through the songs of the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band concept album.

I passed through the metal gates of Strawberry Fields with great anticipation of finding a a vibrant dreamlike place, but it was January and Strawberry Fields seemed barren and unimaginative under the gray skies of winter.

I strolled over to Penny Lane, and just as the song says, Penny Lane was in my ears and in my eyes. I saw the “shelter in the middle of the roundabout,” and the barbershop where the barber had photos of “every head he’s had the pleasure to know.”

Visiting the Beatles’ locations was a window into their creative process and gave me a greater personal connection to their songs. Hopefully I can get back and see it again someday… maybe when I’m 64.