The best The Beatles statues from Kazakhstan to Liverpool

The Beatles are a lasting band with historical significance and remain a top draw to tourism.

Many fans of The Beatles will flock to Liverpool, England and New York City, and Abbey Road in London to stand where the Fab Four have stood.

For some reason, The Beatles have been on my mind a lot lately. I grew up with their music having listened to my father’s original LPs and getting yelled at for dragging the needle across the record. A few days ago I wrote a piece on some of the best historical places to visit if you are The Beatles fan. You can read that here. 

My research into the “places I remember” uncovered a slew of statues that honestly, I didn’t know existed and now I have to find a way to go and see them. That won’t be easy with a wife and four kids. Still, maybe you can and I can at least enjoy the fact you read this and said, “oh hell yeah, I’m going”.

Naturally, as you would expect, many statues are in Liverpool, United Kingdom because that is where they started. Heck you could say the entry to the Cavern Club should just be considered a statue. We will get to the statues in Liverpool but first, we want to jump around the world.

The Beatles Statue at Almaty, Kazakhstan

When you think of the Fab Four you don’t typically think of Kazakhstan but this is exactly why The Beatles remain one of the most world-renown rock bands in history despite not playing a single note together since the late 1960s.

Commissioned in 2007 but artist Eduard Kazaryan, this Beatles statue is outside of the Almaty Tower in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty. It’s a bit more cartoonish than some and reminds me a lot of The Beatles cartoon that aired in the mid-1970s.

John Lennon, Havana Cuba

In 2000, Fidel Castro unveiled a simple monument in honor of the peace-loving John Lennon. The sculpture is of Lennon sitting on a park bench. It’s a beautiful piece of art and not as hard to visit anymore with travel restrictions to Cuba more relaxed for U.S. travelers.

Castro had once banned all music by The Beatles as he called their music “rebellious” but after Lennon was somewhat shunned by the U.S. Government, Castro turned his attention to him as a hero. It would take 20 years after Lennon’s death to change his tune and while I can’t speak of knowing Lennon, his peaceful attention to the world doesn’t seem to be something he would have enjoyed. Still, John Lennon Park in Havana is a beautiful addition to The Beatles lore.

Walnut Ridge, Arkansas

The Beatles made a quick stop in Walnut Ridge, Ak, to change planes and a tip brought the community out in full to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo. The extremely short stay is the only time The Beatles stepped foot in Arkansas, at least recorded. The community holds an annual event and festival to mark the short stay.

In town, there is The Beatles cutouts featuring the Fab Four and a big Yellow Submarine. There are cutouts, murals, and apparently a statue.

Houston, Texas

It’s not clear how long these four 36 foot concrete statues will be in Houston. They are for sale and currently sit behind the 8th Wonder Brewery. Crafted by artist, David Adickes, who has done large oversized concrete monuments of presidents and more, are pretty cool sculptures that include guitars and Ringo’s drums.

Chicago, Illinois

 The Rock and Roll McDonalds in Chicago features a plaster cast of The Beatles in the front window. The McDonalds also features a music museum for customers to enjoy.

Liverpool, England

There are a lot of The Beatles statues to see in Liverpool. Outside of The Cavern Pub, a leaning John Lennon bronze statue sits which is a play, off his album, Rock ‘N Roll album.

Downtown at the A Hard Days Night Hotel, stone characters adorn the corners with each member of The Beatles.

John Lennon Airport

The airport in Liverpool, England was renamed John Lennon Airport in 2002 and the Queen herself was in attendance along with Yoko Ono on the day of it’s opening. The cast bronze statue features the lead singer and founding member of the group depicted in his later years with the group.

The John Lennon Peace monument is also located in Liverpool and features a round sphere on a pedestal with ribbons of dove’s flying from the top.

At the International Garden Festival, several statues of The Beatles exist including a Yellow Submarine, a Paul McCartney statue, and even sometimes a full band topiary.

Matthew Street – home of the Cavern Pub/Club

Along Matthew Street in Liverpool, The Beatles are featured everywhere. From the street to this Cavern Walk.

Penny Lane, Liverpool

Yes, it is a real street and atop the community center, a sculpture of The Beatles from the album H.E.L.P sits on the roof.

Eleanor Rigby Statue – Stanley Street, Liverpool

The statue of the famed Eleanor Rigby sits on a bench on Stanley Street. The sculpture was designed by Tommy Steele. It features the woman from the famed The Beatles song sitting on a bench against a wall.

There are Beatles statues all around the world from Japan, to Peru, and even in Russia where a wall mural and sculpture exists. It showcases the popularity of the band that has pressed through generations and still lives on.

Perhaps the best The Beatles statue, however, is the one that is indeed located in Liverpool on the edge of the river. There really doesn’t need to have a lot said about it. The pictures do a lot of justice but I have to “imagine” that standing there, is a whole lot different.