Prince is planning a series of intimate UK shows later this year.

The 'Purple Rain' hitmaker will return to Britain for the first time since his headlining appearance at Hop Farm Festival in 2011 to play a series of smaller venues, much like his current US tour, which has seen him play runs of four or five nights at mid-sized concert halls in different cities.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Prince has gone back to basics this year, playing in front of 300 people at the South By Southwest festival in Texas. He's now on a US tour of small club shows and wants to do something similar in the UK later this year."

Prince, 54, previously played a record 21 shows at London's The O2 in 2007 - performing to around 400,000 fans - but the musician now wants to surprise fans creating a more intimate feel at smaller venues.

The source added: "It's still to be decided if he'll stay at one small venue and play 20 or more gigs or split his time between a few places around the country.

"Prince has asked his team to find unusual venues his fans wouldn't expect him to play."

Prince has also been making sure ticket prices for his shows are kept low in order for people to afford them and often continued his performance at after-parties in clubs around the arena.