PHOTO: The iconic Penny Lane in Liverpool. (photo courtesy of Trafalgar)

With the 50-year anniversary of the Beatles invasion of February 1964 looming, a new wave of Beatlemania is propagating a new crop of books, articles and news stories about the Beatles, and tour operators are on hand to supply the hands-on version of the Beatles experience in England.

Globus offers a Classic Rock and Beatles Tour as an optional excursion in London for people traveling on its London, Paris, Barcelona and Madrid tour. It explores places that figured into the rise of the Beatles and 1960s rock in general.

The tour includes stops at EMI records, the studio where the Sgt. Pepper cover photo was shot, the place where the Beatles played their last live performance, the street crossing of the Abbey Road album cover, Brian Epstein's flat, Ringo's Kings Road apartment, John and Yoko's first home and Paul's current London home.

It also looks at places that figured into later rock history, such as the Clash’s neighborhood, the place the Sex Pistols were formed and homes of major rock stars like Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and David Bowie.

Collette Vacations’ England’s Treasures flies into Manchester and out of London and includes a two-night stay in Liverpool with a visit to the Beatles Story museum and time to explore the lively city that gave birth to the Mersey Sound and the British invasion.

Trafalgar’s 15-day Best of Britain tour for 2014 includes a walking tour that explores Liverpool with an expert Liverpool guide well-versed in Beatles lore and history.

CIE Tours International offers a Liverpool-Beatles trip on its 10-day Best of Britain tour. It includes a stay in Liverpool and a visit to the Beatles Story museum.

Liverpool Beatles Tours offers a series of Beatles tours of Liverpool, including three-hour, four-hour or all-day tours that visit many parts of the Beatles' Liverpool, such as Penny Lane, Strawberry Field, The Cavern, The Casbah, and all the Beatles’ childhood homes and schools.

The Beatles Pilgrimage Tour company offers a variety of Beatles-themed trips of both Liverpool and London, including a special Sir Paul McCartney Birthday that includes three nights at the Hard Days Night Hotel in Liverpool and five nights at the London Premier Hotel. A special edition London-Amsterdam package is also offered. The Beatles Pilgrimage Tours have been offered offered since 1996.

London Beatles Walks with Richard Porter are offered in conjunction with London Walks. Porter is the author of “The Guide to the Beatles’ London.” Australia’s The Age called Porter  “the smartest man in Britain - at least when it comes to The Beatles.”

Visit Liverpool, the destination marketing association for the city, offers many resources for Beatlemaniacs visiting Liverpool on its website. See also Visit Britain's special Beatles page. See also Visit England for special Beatles-themed activities.

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