E

ven if you haven’t heard of Nick Drake, chances are you probably know and love at least one of his songs (Pink Moon - used on the VW commercial about 10 years ago).

The acoustic singer-songwriter died tragically from an overdose in 1974, when he was just 26-years-old, but has since been hailed as one of the most influential musicians of the last 50 years - despite not experiencing any real commercial success in his lifetime.

But even if you’re not a fan of his music (and trust us, you should be), you’ll love the cute Midlands village where he grew up. Tanworth-in-Arden – which formed the backdrop for the 80s soap opera, Crossroads (that other British cultural ‘treasure’) – is basically a hotchpotch of cottages huddled around a village green.

Once you’ve called in at the 14th-century church to visit Nick’s grave, why not nip to The Bell for a plate of venison sausages and a pint? You could even stay the night – the rooms upstairs are lovely…