London is mentioned in a total of 6 Taylor Swift songs, the earliest being back in 2012 on her album Red (Come Back… Be Here) and the most recent on her latest album The Tortured Poets Department (So Long, London, The Black Dog). The most notable of these has to be London Boy though, from the 2019 album Lover, where she mentions a total of 9 London locations in just the one song.
With the record-breaking Eras Tour coming to London not once but twice this summer, the capital will be flooded with Swifties, and if you’re one of them here are all the places mentioned in Taylor’s songs that you’ll want to visit:
Hampstead Heath
“Like a Tennessee Stella McCartney on the Heath” - London Boy
“I left all I knew. You left me at the house by the Heath” - So Long, London
Hampstead Heath is one of the largest parks in London, famous for its swimming ponds and views of the city from Parliament Hill. On a sunny day, this is the perfect place for a walk and a picnic, or visit the Hill Garden and Pergola to feel as if you’ve stepped straight into the Love Story music video.
Hampstead Village has even more to explore like boutique shops and cafes, Keats House, the famous Le Creperie de Hampstead, and plenty of pubs including The Holly Bush, The Wells, and The Garden Gate (which is rumoured to be mentioned in the song Cruel Summer as a double meaning to the line “I snuck in through the garden gate”).
How to get there: Take the Northern Line to Hampstead or the Overground to Hampstead Heath
Bond Street
“Doesn’t have to be Louis V up on Bond Street” - London Boy
Bond Street is the home of luxury fashion in London, with brands like Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Gucci, Dolce & Gabana, Chanel, and of course, Louis Vuitton having stores here. But if your budget is more suited for window shopping rather than browsing at these locations, you might prefer to have a pre-concert brunch at sketch or a drink at Mr. Foggs.
How to get there: Take the Elizabeth, Central, or Jubilee Lines to Bond Street
Camden Market
“I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon” - London Boy
If you’re looking for independent and vintage stores then Camden Market is the place for you, with hundreds of stalls selling everything from clothes and jewellery to books and records. There are even some stalls that sell custom-made Taylor themed merchandise!
There are all kinds of interesting food stalls and restaurants too like Humble Crumble, The Yorkshire Burrito, Neat Burger, and Bagel Time.
How to get there: Take the Northern Line to Camden Town or the Overground to Camden Road
Brixton
“I enjoy nights in Brixton” - London Boy
Brixton is well known for it’s vibrant, multicultural community, with it’s large afro-carribean population represented in many of its restaurants and shops. The famous Brixton Market is home to delis, bars, boutiques and restaurants, serving everything from burgers to bao buns, while Pop Brixton round the corner is a semi-outdoor food court and event space that offers dj sets and quizzes in the evenings.
Oh, and it’s also home to the AttractionTickets.com office!
How to get there: Take the Victoria line to Brixton
Shoreditch
“Shoreditch in the afternoon” - London Boy
If you’re spending an afternoon in Shoreditch, we’d recommend visiting on a Sunday, as this is when you can experience the famous Columbia Road Flower Market. Or head to Brick Lane, where you can explore markets and the food hall, or go to the famous Beigel Shop, Britain’s first of its kind, to try a classic salt beef bagel.
How to get there: Take the Overground to Shoreditch High Street or Hoxton, or the Northern Line to Old Street
Highgate
“Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates” - London Boy
Located on the other side of Hampstead Heath to Hampstead Village, Highgate is most famously known as the home of Highgate Cemetary. This is not only the final resting place of philosopher Karl Marx, author Douglas Adams, and poet George Elliot, but it also features beautiful Victorian architecture and incredible monuments including the Egyptian Avenue, the Terrace Catacombs and the Mausoleum of Julius Beer.
How to get there: Take the Northern Line to Highgate or Archway
The West End
“And now I love high tea, stories from uni, and the West End” - London Boy
The West End is of course the home of theatre in London, with shows currently including Wicked, Sister Act, Back To The Future, Les Miserables, Six The Musical, Mamma Mia, and Guys & Dolls.
If you want to treat yourself or someone you know to dinner and a show you can purchase one of our Theatre Lovers Choice with Dinner for Two vouchers two tickets to Tina - The Tina Turner Musical, The Mousetrap, or Matilda the Musical, plus a two-course dinner at a nearby restaurant.
How to get there: Depending on which theatre you are visiting, you can get the Picadilly Line to Covent Garden, the Picadilly or Northern Line to Leicester Square, or the Central, Northern, or Elizabeth Lines to Tottenham Court Road
Soho
“I enjoy walking Soho, drinking in the afternoon” - London Boy
If theatre isn’t for you, Soho is the part of the West End that you’ll want to visit. More focused on shopping, dining, and drinking, Soho is home to Regent’s Street and Carnaby Street (and the iconic Liberty - where Taylor has said she wrote her song Clean), Ronnie Scott’s, Bar Soho, and Cahoots.
Soho also has a number of LGBTQ+ bars and clubs, and is the centre of the London Pride celebrations every year.
How to get there: Take the Bakerloo, Central or Victoria Lines to Oxford Circus, or the Central, Northern, or Elizabeth Lines to Tottenham Court Road
Hackney
“So please show me Hackney” - London Boy
Hackney is probably most famously known for being the home of the Hackney Empire theatre, where you’re likely to see some well-known names in comedy perform. Like most other areas of London, there is also a weekend market, and the green spaces of London Fields and Hackney Downs.
How to get there: Take the Overground to Hackney Central or London Fields
The Black Dog
“And so I watch as you walk into some bar called The Black Dog” - The Black Dog
Unlike the other locations on this list, this is a specific place rather than an area. The Black Dog is a pub in Vauxhall and while Taylor apparently never visited herself, plenty of fans have now that it is the subject of one of her songs. The pub serves up all the classics like burgers, salads, fish and chips, and roasts on a Sunday, and of course ales, lagers, and wine.
How to get there: Take the Victoria Line to Vauxhall
Other London attractions to explore:
- Madame Tussauds London - take a selfie with Taylor’s waxwork
- LastMinute.com London Eye - see all the sights from up above instead
- ABBA Voyage - a night of feel good music that will give the Eras Tour a run for its money
- Buckingham Palace - because what’s a trip to London without visiting this royal landmark
