A simple but touching tradition takes place at John Lennon’s childhood home in Liverpool every year to mark the birthday of one of the city’s most celebrated musicians.

Today, Friday 9th October 2026, would have been John Lennon’s 86th birthday, and a special tribute at his former home in Woolton continues to keep his memory alive.

Every year on his birthday, the National Trust leaves a light switched on overnight in Lennon’s childhood bedroom at Mendips, the house on Menlove Avenue where he spent much of his early life.

It’s a small gesture with a powerful meaning, honouring the Liverpool musician whose music and influence continue to be felt around the world.

A Light Left On for John Lennon

The tradition takes place at Mendips, the semi-detached house at 251 Menlove Avenue where Lennon grew up with his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George.

Now cared for by the National Trust, the property has been preserved to reflect how it would have looked during Lennon’s childhood in the 1950s.

Each year, the light in John’s former bedroom is left glowing overnight on two significant dates: 9th October, the anniversary of his birth, and 8th December, the anniversary of his death.

The touching tradition is believed to have begun in December 2010, when Mendips custodian Colin Hall switched on the bedroom light at the suggestion of his wife, Sylvia, as a quiet tribute to Lennon. What began as a personal gesture has since become a meaningful way of remembering the Liverpool musician and his lasting legacy.

Speaking about the tradition in 2022, Simon Osborne, then General Manager of the National Trust’s Liverpool properties, described the gesture as a simple tribute to Lennon and the cultural legacy he left behind.

It’s a fitting way to remember someone whose journey to worldwide fame began in an ordinary Liverpool home.

The Bedroom Where Musical History Began

Long before The Beatles became a global phenomenon, Mendips was where a young John Lennon discovered his passion for music.

His bedroom became a place where he could listen to music, develop ideas and spend time with friends, including fellow future Beatle Paul McCartney.

The pair worked on some of their earliest compositions at the house, including songs such as Please Please Me and I Call Your Name.

What began as two young Liverpool musicians experimenting with melodies and lyrics would eventually help shape the sound of popular music for generations.

Today, visitors to Mendips can step inside the house and discover the surroundings that played an important part in Lennon’s early years.

Preserving John Lennon’s Liverpool Roots

Mendips became part of the National Trust’s care in 2002 after Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, purchased the property and donated it to the conservation charity.

The house was subsequently restored to reflect the period when Lennon lived there, helping preserve an important part of Liverpool’s musical history.

Alongside Paul McCartney’s childhood home at 20 Forthlin Road, Mendips offers visitors an insight into the early lives of two musicians who would go on to change the world.

Both properties are now open for guided tours, allowing Beatles fans to experience the places where the foundations of the band were laid.

As a mark of respect, Mendips closes to visitors each year on Lennon’s birthday and on 8th December, the anniversary of his death.

Remembering John Lennon on His 86th Birthday

Born in Liverpool on 9th October 1940, John Lennon became one of the most influential figures in music history through his work with The Beatles and his subsequent solo career.

Although his life was tragically cut short in December 1980, his connection to Liverpool remains an important part of the city’s cultural identity.

From Penny Lane and Strawberry Field to the childhood home where his musical ambitions began, Liverpool continues to celebrate the life and legacy of one of its most famous sons.

And on his birthday each year, one illuminated bedroom window at Mendips serves as a quiet reminder of the boy from Liverpool whose music reached the world.

Happy 86th birthday, John Lennon.

For more information about visiting Mendips and Paul McCartney’s childhood home, visit the National Trust website.