Paul McCartney Opens up his Childhood Home to Inspire new Artists


The birthplace of The Beatles will become a place to support a new generation of talent

Paul McCartney is opening his childhood home for unsigned artists to write, perform, and gain inspiration. The home is located at 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool, and is now owned by the National Trust. It’s where John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote hits including I Saw Her Standing There and When I’m 64.

Backed by Paul McCartney’s brother Mike, The Forthlin Sessions initiative will see artists selected by local partners and Mike to write music at the same place where John and Paul molded their songwriting club. The opportunity is open to any unsigned, UK-based music artist aged over 18. The resulting sessions will be recorded and publicized. 

Earlier this month, The Trust announced the initiative will allow budding artists to visit, write, and perform at the exact same spots where roughly 30 of the world’s most famous songs were written and rehearsed—Love Me Do, I Saw Her Standing There, Hold Me Tight, I’ll Follow The Sun and When I’m 64. It is also where Paul wrote his first-ever song, I Lost My Little Girl.

Hilary McGrady, National Trust Director General, shared that it’s a pleasure to care for the Beatles’ childhood homes—and to use the story of what happened there to continue this legacy. “What the Beatles did was inspire a generation to feel free to be creative, regardless of who or where they were. Much of that started at 20 Forthlin Road with the songs that were written under this roof.”

The charity will be celebrating Paul McCartney’s 80th birthday in June and the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ debut single ‘Love Me Do’ in October by opening a place rich in music history to continue the legacy and spark creativity in new music and artists.

Watch the below video of “The Forthlin Sessions” that includes a new poem called ‘An Ordinary House, An Ordinary Street’ which tells the story of the house that changed the world.

For more information, visit nationaltrust.org or if you’re not a musician but would love to tour The Beatles’ childhood home, click here.