Liverpool is the birthplace of many famous faces and influential figures who have also been laid to rest here.
From Cilla Black to Sir Ken Dodd and Brian Epstein, these individuals helped to shape the city's history before they were all laid to rest in Liverpool and the wider Merseyside region.
Whether you're looking to pay your respects or experience history for yourself, we've rounded together where there graves are. It was impossible to include every Liverpool legend on this list but we've chosen a selection that you can visit.
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Cilla Black
Cilla Black was buried just feet from her parents’ graves with a headstone that describes her as a “devoted mother and grandmother”.
The Surprise! Surprise! star died from a stroke at her villa in Spain in August 2015 after losing her balance and falling while sunbathing, aged 72.
Her headstone at Allerton Cemetery carries her name ‘Cilla Black OBE’ above the single word: “Singer”. The headstone also gives her full name, Priscilla Maria Veronica Willis, nee White, and gives her date of birth and death: May 27, 1943 and August 1, 2015.
It reads: “Beloved wife of Bobby, Devoted mother and grandmother. She celebrated life to the living of it and loved to entertain.” The headstone also features lyrics from some of Cilla’s most famous songs, Step Inside Love, Alfie and You’re My World.
Allerton Cemetery, 192 Woolton Rd, Allerton L19 5NF
Ken Dodd
Cilla Black is not the only Liverpool celebrity to have a grave at Allerton cemetery, with Sir Ken Dodd's remains also being buried there.
Sir Ken died on March 18, 2018, aged 90, at his home in Knotty Ash, the same home in which he was born and raised.
He was laid to rest, alongside his mother Sarah and father Arthur, in a private burial service at Allerton Cemetery in Liverpool.
The graves of Sir Ken Dodd and Cilla Black were defaced by vandals back in October 2020, who are believed to have scrawled 'offensive' graffiti on their headstones.
Sir Ken's headstone had to be removed from his final resting place in order to be further cleaned, while Cilla's headstone was able to be repaired on site.
Pat Phoenix
A legendary Coronation Street star was laid to rest in a cemetery in Crosby.
Patricia Phoenix first graced TV screens in 1960 as the iconic Elsie Tanner in Britain's longest-running soap opera.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1986 and went on to marry her husband Tony Booth at Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle where she was receiving treatment.
Pat died a week later on September 17, 1986 but her character in Coronation Street wasn't killed off-screen until decades later in 2011, when Elsie was said to have died in a car accident.
You can find Pat's grave in St Peter and Paul cemetery on Liverpool Road in Crosby.
Bill Shankly
William ‘Bill’ Shankly was appointed Liverpool’s ninth manager in 1959.
He oversaw a total of 783 matches with the Reds, leading them to victory in over 400 of them, winning three league titles, two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup.
Anfield stadium’s Shankly Gates bear the immortal words 'You’ll Never Walk Alone'.
He was cremated at Anfield Cemetery and his ashes scattered at the Kop end of the famous ground.
Tom Watson
This triumphant Liverpool FC manager was the first to lead the club to their first two titles during his tenure between 1896 and 1915.
He previously lay in an unmarked grave at Anfield Cemetery. In 2015, on the 100th anniversary of his death, the Reds unveiled a headstone to mark his final resting place.
Dr James Clement Baxter
Dr James Clement Baxter is one of the founding fathers of Everton Football Club and served the Blues for more than 50 years, including a spell as chairman.
His grave is a grand, towering monument at Anfield Cemetery. He is joined by a staggering 30 Everton footballers, managers and officials who have been laid to rest in the 57 hectare site - the equivalent of 70 football pitches.
You can find a list of them here.
Eleanor Rigby
It's believed the name of the popular Beatles song was used after Paul McCartney saw Eleanor Rigby's name on a gravestone in St Peter's Church yard in Woolton.
Regardless of whether this Eleanor was the inspiration for the song or not, her tombstone has become a landmark to Beatles fans visiting Liverpool. Stone mason Lee Dillon, from Netherley, carefully restored the gravestone to its original condition back in 2009 and has helped to keep it in good condition since then.
Eleanor Rigby’s headstone reads: “Also ELEANOR RIGBY The Beloved wife of THOMAS WOODS granddaughter of the above Died 10th Oct 1939 Aged 44 years ‘ Asleep’.”
Brian Epstein
Another notable grave you can visit in the city is that of the Beatles’ famous manager Brian Epstein
Mr Epstein, was born on Rodney Street in September 1934, was described by Sir Paul McCartney as “the fifth Beatle” after managing the band from 1962 until his death in 1967.
Having first met the group at the Cavern Club, Mr Epstein secured a deal with EMI to produce the Fab Four’s records and turned them into a clean-cut style. Among the other acts Mr Epstein managed were Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cilla Black and Tommy Quickly.
He is buried in Everton Cemetery on Long Lane.
Stuart Sutcliffe
The original Beatles' bassist accompanied John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison on their early tours to Hamburg.
Sutcliffe suffered a brain haemorrhage aged just 21 and died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. He is buried in Huyton Parish Church cemetery under a gravestone which reads ‘Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe – artist’.
Other notable graves to visit:
William Lynn, founder of the Grand National - St James’s cemetery
Michael James Whitty, the first chief constable of Liverpool police and fire brigade and founder of the Liverpool Daily Post - Anfield cemetery
George Toogood Smith, husband of John Lennon’s Aunt Mimi - St Peter's Churchyard, Woolton
James Picton - architect and surveyor who gave the city Wavertree's Picton clock - Toxteth Park Cemetery
Samuel Graves - famous Liverpool MP commemorated by a statue in St George's Hall - Toxteth Park Cemetery
Liverpool MP William Huskisson - St James Cemetery
