Paul McCartney surprises Beatles fans onboard Magical Mystery Tour bus

People on a Magical Mystery Tour bus were astonished to see former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney, on Monday.

McCartney was the subject of a pleasant surprise when his car stopped at a red light on Hope Street next to the tour bus. Fans were even more astonished to notice that McCartney was on a video call to fellow former Beatle, Ringo Starr, as he waved to Beatlemaniacs on the Tour. 

The iconic Beatles bassist is back in his hometown to honour Liverpool actor Stephen Graham with a LIPA companionship during a ceremony at the Liverpool Experience campus (formerly ACC Liverpool)

With or without a cameo from the Rock ‘n’ Roll legend, the Magical Mystery Tour makes a great day out, whether you’re a die-hard fan or a first-time listener.

So, why do Beatles fans ride around Liverpool on a multi-coloured bus? Well, the origins of the bus come from the group’s 1967 movie, simply titled ‘Magical Mystery Tour’, in which the four band members board a coach that takes them on a psychedelic tour through the concept album of the same name. The film isn’t especially plot-heavy, though it gave a home to a number of scenes that would later become music videos for tracks such as Blue Jay Way, I am the Walrus, and Your Mother Should Know, years before the popularity of MTV, when music videos became second nature for performers.

In 1983, Cavern City Tours, the owners of the world-famous Cavern Club, began running tours of popular Beatles sites in Liverpool on a bus identical to the one seen in the movie.

The company once owned the actual bus from the film, which is now retired and displayed outside the Hard Rock Cafe in Florida. 

Should you board the Magical Mystery Tour, you’ll begin your journey at Liverpool’s Albert Dock. The trip will take you to locations synonymous with the group, including the birthplace of George Harrison, Penny Lane, and St Peter’s Church Hall, where John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time.

The tour finishes at the Cavern Club on Mathew Street, where you’ll be granted free entry to enter the world-famous venue that the Beatles frequented to play gigs years before their explosion in popularity.

Adult tickets for the tour cost £21.95, with Children costing just £10 and family bundles available. Each tour is led by an experienced guide who knows all there is to know about the Fab Four, with some guides even having given thousands of tours.

Since first setting off over 40 years ago, the Magical Mystery Tour has welcomed more than 2.5 million passengers and immersed each of them in Liverpool’s outstanding contribution to some of the most famous music ever written.

In this year’s Travelers’ Choice® Best of the Best Things To Do Awards, the Magical Mystery Tour was ranked #1 Top Experience in the UK, #4 in Europe, and #5 worldwide, placing it alongside global landmarks such as Machu Picchu, the Inca Trail and Edinburgh Castle.

Fancy seeing what all the fuss is about? You can book your ticket for the Magical Mystery Tour below (we can’t promise any former Beatles turning up, though!)

Find out more about the Magical Mystery Tour here.

Find more music events and shows across Liverpool on our calendar.

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