Gerald Finzi

The home of composer Gerald Finzi sits just outside Newbury, a modest red-brick house that feels more like a musician's sanctuary than a museum. Walking through the rooms where Finzi lived and worked from 1937 until his death in 1956, you get a genuine sense of how the man operated - his study crammed with manuscripts, the garden where he found inspiration for his pastoral works.

This place works best if you actually know Finzi's music or have at least heard his 'Clarinet Concerto' on Radio 3. If you're coming cold, expecting grand tours and theatrical displays, you'll find it rather quiet and introspective. But that's rather the point. Finzi was serious about his craft, and the house reflects that - there's nothing glitzy about it.

You'll want a couple of hours here if you're genuinely interested. The garden is particularly worth seeing, especially in spring when the apple trees are in bloom. Finzi was passionate about orchards, and it shows. The nearby Hollington Park Glamping offers comfortable base accommodation if you're planning a longer stay in the area.

Check ahead before visiting - opening times are restricted and admission details aren't always clear online. It's the kind of place that rewards a phone call. Not for everyone, certainly, but if you're a Finzi devotee or serious about English classical music, absolutely worth the drive from Newbury.