Inside Taylor Swift's favourite places in London
The US singer has been spotted out in the capital many times
With just one day to go until Taylor Swift's Eras Tour touches down in the UK, excitement is building.
The Shake It Off singer will be onstage at Wembley Stadium in June, performing her hits for those lucky enough to get their hands on tickets. But it's unlikely to be all work and no play for the US star, who has been known to take in the sights in the capital on previous visits.
So where might she head when she’s in town this time? We take a look at some of the star’s favourite London haunts.
Crouch End and Primrose Hill
Swift spent plenty of time in Crouch End during her long romance with actor Joe Alwyn, as that was where he had his own property. Rumour has it that they hunkered down there together in 2020 amid the coronavirus lockdowns.
After that it was reported that the pair headed to celeb-heavy Primrose Hill, renting a lavish six-bedroom townhouse that wasn’t a million miles from where the singer’s former flames Harry Styles and Tom Hiddleston both lived.
Hampstead Heath
The singer was said to have enjoyed walks on Hampstead Heath when she was in the UK, often managing to go incognito as she wandered.
Swift – who is no stranger to writing music about her love life – gave it a mention in her track So Long, London, which is on her massive new album The Tortured Poets Department and is thought to be about Alwyn.
It includes the line "I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath", an apparent reference to the Heath. Nobody seems to know which house she might be referencing, but some fans think it might mean that Swift and Alwyn had been sharing a property there when they broke up in 2023.
Some people suspect Swift may even had taken a dip in the chilly swimming pond at the Heath at one point, as in her 2019 song Paper Rings she sings: “When you jumped in first, I went in too. I'm with you even if it makes me blue.”
The Black Dog
Swift named a song on her new album The Black Dog, apparently after the pub in Vauxhall. In the song she mentions a love interest – thought to be Alwyn – and sings: "And so I watch as you walk/Into some bar called The Black Dog/And pierce new holes in my heart."
The name-check sent Swifties flocking there in their droves, with event manager Lily Bottomley telling the BBC that the response had been “amazing”.
The pub is now offering burgers and cocktails themed around the Cruel Summer star. Bottomley said the whole thing had been "so fun", adding: "All of the attention has been pretty overwhelming but we can't be happier."
Rumour has it that Swift may have frequented the pub herself when she had a UK base, but nobody knows for sure.
Kentish Delight kebab shop
Taylor is said to be a big fan of a low-key kebab shop in Kentish Town, and it even featured in the video for 2017's End Game.
At the time, the shop’s Mahmut Ciniviz told the Camden New Journal what the star tucked into. “Taylor went for the shish – and all the rest of the film crew also tucked into our kebabs too,” he said after he video was filmed there. “She asked for chilli sauce and plenty of salad.”
One person previously said on TikTok that the star used to pop in there often with her boyfriend at the time, who again, is thought to have been Alwyn. “The guy working there said she actually came a lot before the video as it was her boyfriend’s favourite, and that she was so lovely,” they said.
Laylow, Notting Hill
Swift was spotted enjoying an evening at trendy Laylow in London last year.
She was with a bunch of fellow A-listers like Cameron Diaz, Stella McCartney and Sacha Baron Cohen at the nightspot, which offers a restaurant and live music.
The Notting Hill eatery is known to attract a creative crowd and big stars, with the likes of David Beckham and Madonna apparently having been seen there in the past.
The Spaniards Inn
Built in 1585 by two Spanish brothers, the wood-panelled Spaniards Inn by Hampstead Heath was said to be a favourite of Swift’s when she was with Alwyn.
The pair are thought to have visited the pub on a few occasions, as it was close to where they lived. Swift apparently donned a black wig to make sure that she could enjoy some food and a drink without being seen by anyone.
The Savoy
The singer is known to have stayed at the Savoy, the latest in a long line of celebs to check into the plush five star hotel.
She also did a photo shoot for Vanity Fair in the Beaufort Bar and one of its lavish suites can be seen in the End Game video.
Camden Market
The chart-topper gave nods to lots of places in the capital in her 2019 track London Boy, sharing her love of Brixton and Shoreditch.
And she also revealed that, like countless other 30-somethings, she also loved a leisurely weekend stroll around Camden Market. "I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon," she sang, possibly appreciating the fact the crowds made it easier for her to browse unnoticed.