How to bump into the singing star at pubs, parks and Portobello Road.
The Taylor Swift effect has become a worldwide phenomenon. As the American singing star brings The Eras Tour to Europe, hotels are brimming with bookings. And the restaurants and bars she has visited—and even named checked-in songs—have seen a surge in visitors.
Taylor will be playing Wembley Stadium in London on 21, 22 and 23 June, and 15, 16, 17, 18 and 20 August 2024. If you haven’t got tickets, here’s the next best thing – her hangouts. Note: a Taylor sighting is not guaranteed, but a Swiftie sighting is highly likely.
Taylor has penned many a lyric to London, from the song London Boy with its geographically challenged itinerary, to her 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department that put The Black Dog on the map. Her love for London is real, as she bought homes in Crouch End and Primrose Hill. Her list of ex-lovers – à la Blank Space – includes local lads: Joe Alwyn, Harry Styles, Matt Healy and Tom Hiddleston.
FACT listened, logged and learnt from the hits. Here is a glorious guide to Taylor Swift’s London.
Abbey Road Studios
The Beatles put Abbey Road Studios on the musical map with their album, Abbey Road. In 2021, Taylor visited the studio and recorded her song Christmas Tree Farm. Visitors are welcome to recreate John, George, Paul and Ringo’s famous zebra crossing pose, and sign their name on the wall. The Abbey Road Studios Shop includes music memorabilia from stars who have recorded in the world-famous venue.
GO: Visit https://shop.abbeyroad.com for more information.
Bob Bob Ricard
Champagne at the press of a button sounds like a luxury limited to celebrities. At Bob Bob Ricard, you can feel like an A-lister. Taylor, Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn visited the restaurant’s Soho branch, and it was rumoured that it was to celebrate her then-boyfriend’s birthday. The menu combines British and French influences, and boasts beautiful booths, which are perfect for privacy. Other locations include Bob Bob Ricard in the City, and Bebe Bob on Golden Square is coming soon.
GO: Visit www.bobbobricard.com for more information.
Camden Market
Camden has been home to some of Britain’s most famous musicians including Amy Winehouse, Dua Lia and Oasis. Taylor is an Anglophile, and sang in London Boy: “I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon”. The north London area is home to more than 1,000 shops and stalls, punk fashion and vintage items. The iconic music venues include The Dublin Castle, KOKO and Roundhouse.
GO: Visit www.camdenmarket.com for more information.
Charbonnel Et Walker
No trip to London is complete without souvenirs. In 2012, Taylor was seen stocking up on Charbonnel Et Walker on Old Bond Street. The British brand is famous for its sweet treats, which are made from the finest ingredients. Take your pick from chocolates, hampers, truffles and more. London locations include Broadgate Circle, Canary Wharf, Harrods and Selfridges.
GO: Visit https://charbonnel.co.uk for more information.
Hampstead Heath
Taylor is a country kid, after all, so it comes as no surprise to find that she loves Hampstead Heath. Spanning 320 hectares, it includes wild woodlands, meadows and ponds, and the fans believe she has taken the plunge. In the song Paper Rings, she sings: “In the winter, in the icy outdoor pools”. And, in London Boy she states: “Stella McCartney on the Heath”.
GO: Visit www.hampsteadheath.net for more information.
Hyde Park
Taylor has gone from striding solo in Hyde Park, to playing a sell-out show at BST Hyde Park. In 2012, she was spotted under an umbrella, as visited the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. She then smiled at the swans, and stopped at Simon Gudgeon’s Isis Statue. The park is home to cafés, restaurants, cyling and, of course, concerts in the summer.
GO: Visit www.royalparks.org.uk for more information.
Kentish Delight Kebab Shop
When you have a favourite kebab shop, you know you’re a Londoner. Taylor earned her red, blue and white stripes when she visited Kentish Delight in Kentish Town. The unassuming store includes the sensational sign “the best kebab in London”, and welcomed the star and her then boyfriend, Joe. After she visited, the fans followed. The joint sells burgers, fish and chicken dishes, and, of course, kebabs. Apparently, she likes a chicken shish kebab with chilli sauce.
GO: Visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/CdJtVKfQwnByHjmG6 for more information.
Laylow
Notting Hill has always been popular with A-listers. Not only did it spawn a romantic comedy of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, but it welcomed Taylor in 2023. She was spotted eating at the South American restaurant with Cameron Diaz, Sacha Baron Cohen and Lena Dunham. The venue also hosts live music nights.
GO: Visit https://laylow.co.uk for more information.
Liberty London
Liberty London is one of the city’s most beautiful shops. Located on Regent Street, the mock Tudor building dates back to 1875. Taylor shared that she wrote the song Clean after “walking out of Liberty in London”. While lyrical inspiration might not strike in the same way, clothing inspiration should. The store is famous for its luxury fabrics, designer clothing, stationery and beauty products.
GO: Visit www.libertylondon.com for more information.
Portobello Road Market
Portobello Road Market is bustling with antiques, vintage fashion and food. Established in 1865, it is home to a treasure trove of items. Visit on a Saturday to see the half a mile long shops and stalls. In 2012, Taylor visited the antique dealer, Alice’s, which sells period furniture. She spent the day with a friend, and was spotted exploring the West London area. Make sure you visit the vibrant streets, which are lined with homes in pretty pastel colours.
GO: Visit https://visitportobello.com for more information.
Spaniard’s Inn Pub & Restaurant
If the walls of Spaniard’s Inn Pub & Restaurant could talk, we would listen. Not only does it date back to 1585, but it is rumoured that Taylor would visit with her then-boyfriend, Joe. Located in Hampstead, it is filled with legends, which we are sure a lyricist would love. John Keats wrote Ode to a Nightingale here, and it featured in Charles Dickens’ The Pickwick Papers. Don’t leave without eating the Battered Fresh Atlantic Haddock and Chips.
GO: Visit www.thespaniardshampstead.co.uk for more information.
The Black Dog
If Taylor were to be North and South Londoner, it’s more likely she’d be north of the river. That changed, however, with her 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department. The song The Black Dog is not only a reference used by the former Prime Minister Winston Churchill about depression, but also a South London pub. After the line, “into some bar called The Black Dog” entered the airwaves, the Vauxhall pub has been descended on by Swifties.
GO: Visit https://theblackdogvauxhall.co.uk for more information.
The Flask
What do Lord Byron, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Taylor Swift have in common? Sure, they all know how to write a line, but they were also all regulars at The Flask. Located in Highgate, the pub dates back to 1663 – just three years before the Great Fire of London. Taylor has been spotted drinking pints of London Pride at the pub. Plus, the menu puts British produce in the spotlight, from a Battered Haddock to English Pea Ravioli.
GO: Visit www.theflaskhighgate.com for more information.
The Savoy
The Savoy is one of London’s most luxurious hotels. Located on the Strand, it dates back to 1889. The five-star hotel has welcomed celebrities including Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, The Beatles and, of course, Taylor. She held a Vanity Fair photoshoot in the Beaufort Bar, and shot the Endgame music video in the Royal Suite. The hotel is also home to the American Bar and Savoy Grill, which has a 100-year-old menu.
GO: Visit www.thesavoylondon.com for more information.
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