In her latest album, Taylor Swift bid farewell to London, but she is now ready to reignite her connection with the city later this month. The 34-year-old pop star is gearing up to thrill fans with three back-to-back performances at Wembley Stadium starting on June 21 as part of her hugely successful Eras Tour, which has already amassed over $1bn in ticket sales globally.
Following this, Taylor will make a triumphant return in August for five more sold-out shows, promising to entertain over 450,000 dedicated Swifties. Despite her previous declaration of affection for her ‘London Boy’ Joe Alwyn, the singer’s relationship with the UK’s capital has been complex and storied over the years.
Taylor first mentioned London in her 2012 track ‘Come Back… Be Here,’ expressing her yearning for a certain someone by lamenting, “You’re in London and I break down ’cause it’s not fair that you’re not around.” It is speculated that the songstress’s introduction to the city came around 2012 during her romance with Conor, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy.
With the tremendous success of her 13th album, Tortured Poets Department, which shattered streaming records upon its release in April, Taylor Swift’s upcoming performances in London are sure to be unforgettable and continue to solidify her special bond with the city.
In 2017, the singer relocated to London during the early stages of her relationship with her actor ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn. Over the course of six years, Taylor, who is rumored to be staying in the Cotswolds while touring the UK, found several favorite spots around the city, including a surprising kebab shop in Kentish Town. Here’s Taylor’s personal guide to London, a city that holds memories of her famous British ex-boyfriends. In her song ‘London Boy’ released in 2019, Taylor shared her top boroughs and must-see tourist spots, although she chose to keep one location undisclosed. Despite singing about her fondness for Highgate in North-East London, Taylor actually lived in Crouch End for a period. After her public dispute with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in November 2016, reports suggest that Taylor temporarily stayed in her ex-boyfriend’s apartment in North London, a residence also known to host celebrities like Gillian Anderson, David Tennant, and James McAvoy. An inside source informed The Sun in May 2017 that Taylor and Joe were spotted out and about in London, trying to conceal their identities with scarves and hats.
Photo: Generic image of Crouch End, the neighborhood where pop star Taylor Swift resided with her former beau Joe Alwyn starting in 2017.
In February 2019, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn were spotted leaving the Spaniards Inn pub in Hampstead. Surprisingly, no one recognized the music superstar, not even their new neighbors.
The following year, Taylor worked on her album Lover and recorded tracks like Daylight and London Boy at Metropolis Studios in Chiswick.
In March 2021, Katie Hint from The Daily Mail’s showbiz section revealed that Taylor and Joe spent most of lockdown at Joe’s flat in Crouch End before moving to Primrose Hill. Around the same time, they moved into a spacious six-bedroom townhouse in North London.
This move potentially led to some awkward encounters for Taylor, as her ex Harry Styles lived nearby in Hampstead and Tom Hiddleston, whom she dated in 2016, was believed to reside just a mile away from the couple.
Photo showing Primrose Hill, the rumored new neighborhood of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn in 2021.
On the left, we have Taylor Swift and Harry Styles strolling around New York City back in 2012. On the right, there’s Taylor Swift alongside Tom Hiddleston in Los Angeles in 2016.
Seen leaving British Vogue’s Fashion and Film BAFTA party in February 2019 were Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn. According to a source, the couple had originally planned to spend a short time in London but decided to extend their stay due to lockdown. For this reason, they decided to move to a more spacious location. They were said to be renting a large townhouse with six bedrooms, located near Joe’s childhood home. Over the years, Primrose Hill has been a popular spot for celebrities to reside, with past locals including Noel Gallagher, Kate Moss, Sadie Frost, and Jude Law. Recent residents in the area include Claire Foy and Vanessa Kirby.
In 2012, Taylor Swift, who had just released her album “Red,” explored the city and visited Alice’s antique store on Portobello Road in Notting Hill. The Sun reported that Taylor went on a shopping spree at the store, thinking of her ex-boyfriend at the time. The singer was dating Conor Kennedy, the grandson of Robert F. Kennedy. During her brief visit to Alice’s, she spent a total of £50,000, purchasing items like a drawing of a shark, old medicine bottles, and a pinball machine. Taylor’s shopping spree at the store would surely be a memory she won’t forget.
Seen in the photo is Taylor Swift and Conor Kennedy enjoying a summer romance in 2012. Despite their five-year age difference, the couple decided to part ways in September of that same year.
According to author J. Randy Taraborrelli’s book ‘The Kennedy Heirs’, Conor started feeling ‘nervous’ when Taylor bought a $5 million home near the Kennedy family compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts in 2019. A friend of Kennedy mentioned to the author that while Conor did like Taylor, her purchase of the house seemed to make him uneasy. It appeared as though she was becoming too attached, spending a significant amount of money just to be close to him.
Image: A photo capturing the stunning scenery at Hampstead Heath, a favored spot for Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn to take romantic strolls together.
Taylor Swift and her former boyfriend Joe Alwyn were seen enjoying a hike together in Los Angeles in March of 2019. In her emotional song ‘So Long, London’, Taylor seems to reflect on the end of her relationship with Joe by singing about leaving behind everything she knew, with him leaving her at the house by the Heath.
Despite their breakup, the couple did have some happy times in London, particularly taking romantic walks around Hampstead Heath. This expansive green space, covering 320 hectares, lies between Highgate and Hampstead, both areas that have been mentioned in Swift’s songs.
Looking to capitalize on Taylor Swift’s connection to the area, ToursByLocals is now offering a Taylor Swift walking tour that will include stops at Hampstead Heath. During the Eras Tour, the pop star expressed her fondness for London, calling it a “second home” while performing for a massive crowd at Wembley.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Joe Alwyn spoke about how significant Hampstead Heath is to him, mentioning that he enjoys walking around the city. When asked about his final resting place, the actor from Conversations with Friends shared that he would like to be cremated and have his ashes scattered on Hampstead Heath, among the dog walkers.
Image: Houses in Highgate, the hometown of Taylor Swift’s former beau Joe Alwyn, is shown in the stock photo.
In her 2019 hit song “London Boy” from the album Lover, Taylor Swift professed her love for the neighborhood of Highgate, singing, “Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates. So I guess all the rumors are true, you know I love a London boy.”
At the time, Taylor’s then-boyfriend expressed his affection for Highgate as well, mentioning that he would like to be laid to rest in its picturesque cemetery if he isn’t scattered over Hampstead Heath. He admires, “Highgate Cemetery is really beautiful.”
In a rare public outing in February 2019, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn were spotted leaving The Spaniards Inn pub in Hampstead. Taylor opted for a cozy look, covering her head with a red scarf and sporting a black longline jacket over grey trousers. Joe looked stylish in a black and yellow print coat, paired with a grey jumper and black straight-leg jeans.
Prior to this, Joe had expressed in an interview that he didn’t feel their relationship should be deemed as excessively private, contrary to what fans believed. He explained that just like anyone else, he preferred to keep certain aspects of his personal life to himself, as it’s not something people readily share with strangers on the street.
In February 2019, Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn were spotted attempting to discreetly leave the Spaniards Inn pub, adding to their reputation of being “strangely private” – although some argue it is just normal behavior. This historic London pub is a popular hangout for celebrities like Harry Styles, who celebrated his 20th birthday there in 2014 with family and friends. Not just for the young stars, but also enjoyed by veteran celebrities like Cat Deeley, who was seen on a date with her husband Patrick Kielty at the pub last year, and Richard and Judy who are known to frequent the establishment.
Image of Camden Market, well-known for its appearance in Taylor Swift’s 2019 track ‘London Boy’
Taylor Swift gave a nod to Camden in her hit song ‘London Boy’ back in 2019.
With Idris Elba making an appearance in the track, Taylor croons about her love for strolling through Camden Market in the afternoon.
Thanks to this mention, Camden Market vendors have seen an uptick in visits from Swift fans eager to explore the area.
On TikTok, there’s a whopping 12.2 million videos showcasing people flocking to Camden in search of ‘Taylor Swift jackets’ – adorned with the singer’s likeness and album-inspired artwork.
Even back in October 2017, Taylor shot the End Game music video in London, briefly featuring the Kentish Delight Kebab Shop.
Kentish Delight, a kebab shop, made an appearance in Taylor Swift’s music video for the song End Game, which came out in 2017.
The food shop located in North London revealed that Taylor Swift would frequently visit with her friends and order a variety of dishes to take away.
After finishing her filming work, Taylor decided to have a chicken kebab priced at £7.50 and specifically asked for extra chili.
When the Mail on Sunday’s Diary Editor Charlotte Griffiths paid a visit the following week, the shop owners excitedly mentioned that they had created a kebab in honor of the singer.
Named the Swift Kebab, this special dish includes chunks of meat seasoned with garlic, turmeric, paprika, and a secret ingredient.
As a result, Taylor began to frequent the humble kebab shop regularly, leading the owners to proudly display a selfie she took on the window alongside a ‘Swift Kebab’ poster featuring the star at the establishment on different occasions.
Earlier this year, TikTok user Emily Talbut attracted a lot of attention from her followers after visiting Kentish Delight and sharing her experience on the popular video-sharing platform.
The food establishment proudly displays photos of Taylor Swift and even a selfie she took while visiting. According to a TikTok post by Emily, Taylor Swift filmed at this kebab shop for her “Endgame” music video, which prompted them to check it out. The staff mentioned that Taylor used to visit regularly before filming, as it was her boyfriend’s favorite spot, and she was always kind and friendly. When asked about Taylor’s order, the staff mentioned that she would usually order a bunch of food to take home. #taylorswift #kebabshop #musicvideo #celebspotting #friendlyceleb
Here is a photo of the Laylow Club, where Taylor Swift hung out in January 2023 along with Cameron Diaz, Lena Dunham, Stella McCartney, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
In January 2023, Taylor Swift was spotted leaving the Laylow Club in Notting Hill, using an umbrella to shield herself from the paparazzi. Known for its South American-inspired restaurant and hosting musical artists, the private members club seemed to have attracted a glamorous crowd that night. Taylor was seen mingling with the likes of Cameron Diaz, Lena Dunham, Stella McCartney, and Sacha Baron Cohen, sparking speculation about a possible collaboration among them. Lena Dunham, who previously appeared in Taylor’s Bad Blood music video and dated Taylor’s friend and co-producer Jack Antonoff, has close ties to the singer. Additionally, Taylor has been known to wear Stella McCartney designs, even featuring them in the lookbook for her Lover album.
In the photo, Taylor Swift and British musician Tom Odell are captured as they exit the Groucho Club back in February 2013.
The Groucho Club, as shown in the picture, was originally created as a casual alternative to traditional members’ clubs and recently changed ownership for just the third time in its 37-year existence in 2020. In February 2013, Taylor was seen leaving the Groucho Club in Soho with British singer-songwriter Tom Odell, sparking dating rumors. The two were first spotted chatting at The Brit Awards and then spotted together the next evening. The Groucho Club was initially established in the 1980s by a group of publishers including Carmen Callil, Ed Victor, Liz Calder, and literary agent Michael Sissons who desired a relaxed and stylish space to gather, work, and socialize. The venue, once a renowned Italian restaurant called Gennaro’s, had deteriorated before transforming into The Groucho Club in 1984. The official Groucho Club history mentions rumors of mysterious occurrences, including a shooting that reportedly left a haunting presence in one of the rooms. Some notable members of the club include Princess Eugenie, Jack Brooksbank, Kate Moss, Courtney Love, and Sienna Miller.
Seen in the image is Boxpark in Shoreditch, a location mentioned in the song ‘London Boy’ from 2019. Taylor Swift also mentions her love for exploring Shoreditch and Brixton in the same song. She sings, ‘I enjoy nights in Brixton, Shoreditch in the afternoon.’ Critics raised concerns about Taylor being able to visit all the London sites she mentioned in one day. During an interview on BBC Radio 1, Taylor clarified that the events in the song were meant to take place over three years, not just one day. She humorously remarked, ‘You wouldn’t make it in one day, you’d make it in three years!’
Seen in a photo is The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall, London, a spot referenced in a track on Taylor Swift’s recent album, The Tortured Poets Department. The song alludes to Joe Alwyn possibly spending time at this pub following their breakup. In the lyrics, Taylor sings about the betrayal of trust and watching her former partner walk into the establishment, symbolizing the end of their relationship.
In April, the 34-year-old artist broke streaming records with her latest album, Tortured Poets Department, making waves in the music industry.
A hoodie is up for grabs on The Black Dog’s website for £50! The pub is making the most of its recent rise to stardom.
Seen in the picture above is Taylor Swift performing at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh as a part of her Eras Tour on 7 June 2024.
The newfound fame brought in a lot of business for the beer house. However, the huge crowds of fans have led the Vauxhall pub to increase their security personnel and stock up on more branded glasses. They’ve even had to repaint the walls of their bathrooms because fans of the American singer have been leaving messages like ‘We love TS’ in the cubicles.
Despite the challenges, the pub is making the most of its popularity by introducing official merchandise such as hoodies, caps, and t-shirts featuring the pub’s logo. Fans started pouring in after the album release, and keen Swifties noticed the nod to the Victorian-era pub in the music.
The pub’s popularity has skyrocketed to the point where it has surpassed iconic London landmarks in terms of interest. Studies have shown that the local pub receives more Google searches than Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.
Due to the pub’s fame, staff has been on the lookout for over a hundred missing pint glasses that are appearing on eBay, being traded by devoted fans. Some fans have even auctioned off a food menu and a business card from the pub on the same website.
Photo: Taylor Swift spotted at Casa Cruz eatery in Notting Hill on June 12th, taking a breather from her Eras Tour.
The London eatery (shown in the picture) was chosen as the venue for Rita Ora’s 30th birthday bash during the pandemic. Recently, Taylor Swift was sighted enjoying a fun night out with pals at the Argentinean eatery Casa Cruz in the picturesque Notting Hill neighborhood. The singer was accompanied by her longtime buddies Lena Dunham and Cara Delevingne, as well as other well-known faces like Kate Moss, Stella McCartney, Phoebe Waller Bridge, and Andrew Scott.
Dressed elegantly in velvet trousers, a matching corset, and a stylish grey checked coat, Taylor was seen entering the exclusive London hotspot with Este and Danielle Haim. This restaurant was also where Rita Ora had her controversial birthday celebration, leading her to publicly apologize for her ‘regrettable error.’
As a consequence, the Notting Hill restaurant had its license suspended for six weeks due to breaching social distancing regulations. Among the restaurant’s notable fans are Princess Eugenie and Natalie Pinkham, as well as Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. On their menu, a slow-cooked lamb shoulder is priced at £48, a beef fillet steak at £50, and a plate of potato gnocchi at £25.
According to sources, 34-year-old Travis Kelce, a professional football player in the NFL, will be accompanying his girlfriend to a rural countryside retreat for some relaxation. The couple was photographed sharing a kiss at the Super Bowl following Kansas City’s victory.
The Cotswolds region is situated in close proximity to the exclusive private members’ club Soho Farmhouse, a popular hangout spot for numerous celebrities. Pop sensation Taylor Swift began her UK tour in Edinburgh on June 7th, continuing on to Liverpool, Cardiff, and several live performances in London from June to August. Reportedly, Taylor has secured a £3.3million cottage in the picturesque Cotswolds for her stay during the UK portion of her iconic Eras tour. It seems her NFL star boyfriend Travis Kelce will also be accompanying her for a relaxing getaway in the countryside.
According to a source cited by The Sun, Taylor desires a serene place to unwind away from the hustle and bustle of her tour, as she finds solace in the tranquility of the countryside. Despite her glamorous on-stage persona, Taylor is most comfortable in muddy boots, reveling in the fresh air and natural surroundings.
Taylor’s highly successful tour is predicted to positively impact the economy by nearly £1billion with her 15 shows. However, fans are facing challenges with the escalating prices of Airbnb accommodations during the tour dates. The average cost per night in Edinburgh is approximately £769, a significant increase from the usual rate of £237.88 the weekend prior to her shows. Similarly, prices in Liverpool have doubled from £99.64 to £202.59 per night during the concert dates. Cardiff, where Taylor is set to perform her only live show in the city, experienced a more moderate 18% increase in Airbnb prices, rising from £185.07 to £156.44.