Taylor Swift will be returning to London for her Eras Tour, playing eight dates at Wembley Stadium in June and August. A guide to the city through her lyrics reveals her favorite haunts, including Highgate, where she was spotted at The Flask pub, and Hampstead Heath, where she walked with Alwyn. Other locations mentioned include Brixton, Shoreditch, Hackney, Soho, and the West End, with references to specific places like The Bull and Gate pub and The Savoy hotel. Swift’s song “The Black Dog” has fans speculating about its inspiration, with theories ranging from a pub in Vauxhall to locations in Budapest, Cork, or Amsterdam.
Touring Taylor Swift’s London: a guide to the city through her lyrics
Taylor Swift may sing “So long, London” on her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, but she will be returning this June and August to play eight dates at the city’s Wembley Stadium as her Eras Tour continues. Their relationship ended last year but, thanks to the 2019 song, Swift’s favourite haunts in the city have been preserved in perpetuity. Although you would have to be madly in love with someone to “enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon”, Swift evidently ventured further. If you want to take in Taylor Swift’s London, here is a guide, based on “London Boy” and other lyrics by the American singer. But do not attempt to do this in one day because, as Swift would tell critics, “You’d never make it”.
Highgate Hideouts: The Flask and The Bull and Gate
“Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates” Highgate is a discreet, leafy neighbourhood in northwest London, between Hampstead Heath (as in “you left me in the house by the Heath” in “So Long, London”) and Crouch End, where Alwyn lived. Here, the couple were spotted at The Flask, a picturesque pub dating back to 1720 with real fireplaces and snug corners. If the pub in question was screening rugby matches, it is likely to have been The Bull and Gate, just south of Highgate, in Kentish Town. The spruced up Victorian era pub (which boasts “live sport coverage over three TV screens” and “real ale, craft beer and cocktails”) featured in Swift’s “End Game” video.
Hampstead Heath Hues: The Spaniard’s Inn
“Like a Tennessee Stella McCartney on the Heath” Here, Swift is undoubtedly referencing Hampstead Heath, the vast green public space that separates Highgate from Hampstead. The space includes woods, meadows and bathing ponds. Swift was photographed walking on the heath with Alwyn and his mother. And Swifties believe she was referring to swimming in the mixed bathing pond in her song “Paper Rings”. On the northern edge of the heath is the quaint Spaniard’s Inn, where Swift and Alwyn were also spotted. The 16th-century pub feels like it is in the countryside; it has a cosy, wood-panelled interior and is known for its Sunday roasts.
Brixton Beats and Shoreditch Sights
“I enjoy nights in Brixton, Shoreditch in the afternoon” Swift gave Brixton Academy a shout-out after attending the NME Music Awards at the live music venue in 2020. Her writing partner Jack Antonoff’s band, The Bleachers, are playing at the Brixton Academy in August. Shoreditch, back north of the river, is a creative, urban area of East London full of street art, boutiques and restaurants, the best of which can be found on Redchurch and Boundary streets.
Hipster Hackney and Sophisticated Soho
“Please show me Hackney, doesn’t have to be Louis V up on Bond Street” Hackney, in the East End, has gone from being one of the most deprived areas in London to the hippest. It is centred around Mare Street and London Fields, an open green space to which residents flock. Nearby Broadway Market is lined with cafes and other places to drink, plus market stalls at the weekend. “I enjoy walking Soho, drinking in the afternoon” No longer the louche epicentre of London, compact Soho’s small streets are now mostly occupied by great restaurants, bars and pubs as well as shops. Swift and Alwyn dined at Bob Bob Ricard, known for its leather booths and “Press For Champagne” buttons. And Swift attended her friend Lena Dunham’s wedding (as a bridesmaid) at the private members’ Union Club. She has also said she was inspired to write “Clean” (2014; thought to be about Harry Styles) while “leaving Liberty in London”, a reference to the whimsical department store of the same name.
Exploring London through the lens of Taylor Swift’s lyrics offers a unique and exciting way to experience the city. From Highgate to Brixton, each neighborhood mentioned in her songs has its own charm and character waiting to be discovered. Whether you’re a die-hard Swiftie or simply a curious traveler, following in Taylor Swift’s footsteps in London is sure to be a memorable adventure filled with music, history, and a touch of celebrity glamour. So grab your map, put on your favorite Taylor Swift playlist, and get ready to tour London like never before.
