Thomas Hooker (1586-1647)

Finding anything concrete about Thomas Hooker's birthplace proves surprisingly tricky. The Puritan minister who helped found Connecticut was supposedly born in Marfield, a hamlet near Nuneaton in 1586, but there's precious little to see on the ground today. No blue plaque, no visitor centre, just countryside that's been thoroughly modernised since his time.

History buffs with a specific interest in early American colonial figures might get a kick out of standing where this influential theologian began life. Hooker went on to establish Hartford, Connecticut, and his democratic principles influenced the US Constitution. But honestly, unless you're doing serious genealogical research or have a particular fascination with Puritan history, it's more of a 'tick the box' moment than a proper attraction.

The area around Nuneaton offers better-preserved historical sites if you're after something more substantial. This works as a quick detour rather than a destination - perhaps worth a brief stop if you're staying at one of the nearby holiday parks like Bosworth Lakeside Lodges or Mallory Meadows and fancy a short drive into the countryside. Families with restless kids should probably give this one a miss though. There's simply not enough there to hold anyone's attention for more than ten minutes.