The Naming of Liverpool John Lennon Airport
                     THE NAMING OF 
LIVERPOOL JOHN 
LENNON AIRPORT

Many cities have strong associations with celebrities, ensuring that iconic figures of the past have a folk 
hero status. In England, the power of music is particularly illustrious. Birmingham gave us Black 
Sabbath, Manchester is intrinsically linked to the Gallagher brothers, London will remain the home of The 
Rolling Stones, and John Lennon and Liverpool will always be connected.
 
Memories of John Lennon Liverpool are all around us. Tourists can visit John's childhood home on 
Menlove Avenue, pay their respects at the statue on Mathew Street (or The Beatles Pier Head on the 
waterfront), and drink in The Cavern Club's atmosphere. As a lifelong friend of John's, I love this – it 
helps make sure that memories of my old pal surround me everywhere I go in the city!
 
Perhaps the iconic memorial in John's name is the city's airport, though. Liverpool airport was officially 
renamed Liverpool John Lennon in 2001. Overseas, it's relatively common to find airports named after 
people – JFK is the primary airport in New York City, after all. Here in Blighty, though, that remains quite 
rare. 
 
When The Queen officially re-opened the airport in 2002, Liverpool John Lennon was the first travel 
destination in the UK named after an individual. Even now, 20 years later, it's one of just three. If you're 
ever in a pub quiz and need to know the other two, they're George Best Belfast City and Robin Hood 
Doncaster-Sheffield!
Liverpool boasted an international airport long before it was renamed. The city's airport was first opened 
in 1930 and was one of the first to re-open to the public after World War II. In 2000, work started on an 
extension, with a plan to build a new terminal that would allow triple the number of passengers to come 
and go from this great city. That's when the idea came up the rename the building after John Lennon. 
Liverpool will never forget the legacy of its favourite son!
 
In the unlikely event that you don't know who John Lennon is, Liverpool airport will quickly educate you. 
There's a seven-foot statue of my old friend in the hall when you check in, and lyrics from Imagine are 
painted on the roof.
 
If that's not enough Lennon for you, there's a traffic island dubbed the Yellow Submarine at the entrance 
and a display of photographs of The Beatles' trip to India in 1968 in the departure lounge. It's somewhat 
fitting that the first and last thing you'll see when visiting Liverpool is John Lennon – he and this city will 
be connected forever.
Helen Anderson Designs
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