The findings are being released alongside a new interactive map of Great Britain containing 200 places featured in the songs, music artwork and music videos of our favourite artists - from The Smiths’ ‘Cemetery Gates’ to Taylor Swift’s ‘Black Dog’ pub - that people can visit by train.
The National Rail study analysed the lyrics of the top 100 songs in the UK chart every year since 1960 - over 6,000 different songs and millions of individual lyrics - looking for mentions of real places in Britain that can be visited today. The analysis covered chart-toppers from decades past such as The Beatles and The Kinks, through to contemporary megastars such as Ariana Grande and Lewis Capaldi.
Camden came top of the charts, featuring in the lyrics of seven hit songs including ‘Sorted for…’ by Pulp, ‘No Regrets’ by Dappy and ‘CRG’ by Central Cee and Dave.
Second in the study is Brixton - a home to artists including Dave (the rapper) and Mick Jones of The Clash. Brixton is included in songs including ‘Electric Avenue’ by Eddy Grant and ‘Scandalous’ by Mis-teeq. Liverpool is third on the list and featured in songs including ‘Rotterdam’ by The Beautiful South and ‘Long Haired Lover from Liverpool’, by Jimmy Osmond.
The study is being released as National Rail launches a new series of audio guides, presented by legendary broadcaster Jo Whiley.
The guides cover key geographical areas of Britain and reveal the links they have with a range of homegrown and international acts - plus how eager music fans can explore these locations by train. The London and the South East guide takes a deep dive into the area's connections to megastars like Taylor Swift and Elton John. Meanwhile Manchester, Liverpool and the North West includes stories behind the record stores, streets and railways that inspired Northern legends from Oasis to the Beatles.
Narrated by Jo Whiley, the series features contributions from DJ Yinka Bokinni and former All Saint Melanie Blatt. Listeners will be taken on a journey through All Saint's early days in London’s Notting Hill, where the iconic 90s group found their voice, and hear of the untold stories behind some of music's most memorable moments, including the Cromford railway station which acted as visual inspiration for one of Oasis' biggest hits.
National Rail also researched Brit’s love of music and how many travel to places related to their favourite artists by train. Nearly one in five (19%) say they have previously visited a place linked to a musician or artist - with three in ten (28%) making a pilgrimage of 250 miles or more. Some of the most popular locations with fans included venues the artist or band played before they were famous (36%), the artist’s hometown (35%), or famous locations from their album artwork (32%).
Jo Whiley, DJ and broadcaster said: “Locations in Britain and the railway have been a source of inspiration for music artists for as long as I can remember. There's no better way to connect with the music and artists you love than going to see the locations that inspired them in person, which is why I've worked with the rail industry on a new series of audio guides, and encourage people to use their new interactive map to plan their next musical adventure by train."
Jacqueline Starr, Executive Chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group, explained: “With this year marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway we wanted to highlight the role rail has played in inspiring music artists and how it continues to help connect Britons to the people, places and experiences they love. It was great to team up with Jo again on a new series of audio guides, which are now available alongside an interactive map that highlights 200 locations that have inspired some of the nation’s favourite songs, music videos, album artwork and are easily accessible by train.”
Music and fandom expert Dr. Lucy Bennett, who helped analyse the study said: “This incredible research gives us a fascinating insight into how surroundings fundamentally influence music. Whether it’s a pub, a castle, or a city street, these real-world locations ground our favourite songs in memory, place and emotion. And the good news is most are easily reachable by train. We see Camden at the top due to its enduring and long-term connection to music, with it being a mainstay in music lyrics from the 60s right through to today. The places that shape our music are more than backdrops - they’re part of the story.”
Discover the audio guides and the musical map of Britain on the National Rail website: www.nationalrail.co.uk/inspiration/musical-routes