Home of the blues and birthplace to a couple of men known as Mr Presley and Dr Luther King, it's fair to say that Memphis is steeped in 20th century history.

Located in the deep south of the country, Memphis is situated 200 miles west of Nashville and 300 miles south of St Louis and is undoubtedly one of the must-see destinations in the US.

Visitors to the city will enjoy a host of cultural delights with arguably the main draw being the great musical heritage of the place. Birthplace of the blues, soul and rock 'n' roll, a trip here allows you to sample the various and frequent festivals and also the fast-paced night life that is a great slice of Memphis culture.

Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee and has a population of 1,056,000 people. The city was founded in 1819 and named after Egypt's ancient Nile capital with its history centring on the rise and fall of the cotton trade.

A trip to Memphis would simply not be complete with a visit to the hallowed Graceland, Elvis Presley's home for 20 years. It is a wonderful, over-the-top spectacle and a walk around its grounds will allow visitors to take in fascinating sights including an all-white living room, a 16ft couch, an interior waterfall and green shag carpeting on the ceiling.

Following on the musical theme, the well-known blues corridor of Beale Street in the downtown area is an entertaining place to stroll and take in the sights. It is also home to the famous Gibson Beale Street Showcase, a great side trip if you're looking to take in some rock history amidst the cool setting of the Gibson guitar factory.

In this vein, Sun Studio is a great venue to visit with its claim as "the most famous recording studio in the world" backed up by the heavy list of alumni that played there in the past. All the names you would expect are in there including BB King, Ike Turner, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and the king himself Elvis Presely - the studio runs tours where you can listen to vintage recordings.

Just a few blocks south of Beale Street is another wonderful museum that covers another hugely important chapter of the city's history. The National Civil Rights Museum tells the important story of the civil rights movement led by Dr Martin Luther King and is situated in the Lorraine Motel, where he was assassinated in 1968.

Visitors to the city in May will enjoy the large scale Memphis in May celebrations, which includes a diverse range of entertainment while the Carnival Memphis in the early summer is similar to Mardi Gras and provides an awesome spectacle.

Memphis is an essential destination for any city lover. The music and cultural heritage will continue to ring in your ears long after you have you have left. So don your blue suede shoes and check in at the Heartbreak Hotel because Memphis is irresistible.