A sports lover’s guide to one week in Tennessee

The NFL is once again making its way over to London this October, bringing with it some all-American cheer, excellent teams and plenty of entertainment. The Tennessee Titans will be one of the teams visiting this year, facing off against the Baltimore Ravens at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London. Tennessee may be known as the home of Country Music, but there’s plenty to keep the avid sports lover entertained too, from thrilling car races to high octane ice hockey.

Memphis

With pro basketball, golf and college football, Memphis is a great place to start your Tennessee adventure. AutoZone is often considered one of the best baseball parks to catch the minor leagues, so start your day here with a picnic (or their famed barbecue nachos) before catching the Memphis Redbirds in action.

Meanwhile, the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies play their matches at FedExForum in Downtown Memphis in the evenings. The University of Memphis men’s team, the MemphisTigers, also plays here if you’re looking for a match on a bit of a smaller scale. The arena is right by the historic Beale Street, so follow the fans after and celebrate in one of the many restaurants and bars (including sports bars, if your itch for the day isn’t fully scratched). If it’s quality live blues bands and a bowl of gator gumbo you’re after, be sure to take your post match hype to the Rum Boogie Cafe.

Start the next morning by catching some golf at the FedEx St. Jude Classic, where there’s a PGA tournament every June at the beautiful TPC Southwind private club in Shelby County. Alternatively, play a round yourself at the Tunica National golf course or Mirimichi.

Nashville

The drive from Memphis to Nashville is a beautiful and simple one, staying on Route 40 for around three hours until you reach the famous Parthenon in Centennial Park. If time is on your side, make a slight detour at the Loveless Cafe for a plate of it’s famous biscuits, country ham and red-eye gravy; or if you’re really hungry opt for a pit-cooked pulled BBQ platter with eggs. Whatever you choose, be sure to call ahead to book a table; this place is very popular, and for good reason.

While some of the big sporting events that take place here are relatively new, having been established within the last two decades, they still play a big part in city life. The NFL Tennessee Titans (American football), NHL Nashville Predators (ice hockey) and Nashville Soccer Club…