Freddie Mercury memorial star

You'll find Freddie Mercury's blue plaque on a rather ordinary suburban street in Walton-on-Thames - the house where the Queen frontman spent his childhood. It's the sort of spot you'd walk past without thinking twice if you didn't know what you were looking for. The plaque itself is modest, typical English Heritage work, but it marks the home where a future rock legend was still Mary Farrokh, living a quiet middle-class life before the glitter and screams.

There's not much to do here beyond paying your respects and taking a photo. You can't go inside - it's a private residence - so this is really a five-minute stop rather than a destination in itself. What matters, though, is the pilgrimage element. For Mercury obsessives, seeing where it all began carries genuine weight. The street is pleasant enough, tree-lined and peaceful, which makes the contrast with his eventual life oddly poignant.

If you're staying at Penton Park in nearby Chertsey, this is easily manageable as a morning outing before heading elsewhere. Walton-on-Thames itself has decent high street shops and riverside walks if you want to extend the visit beyond the plaque. Go in the morning when the street's quieter. It costs nothing and takes minimal time, so there's no real downside - just don't expect much beyond a moment of reflection and a decent Instagram opportunity.