Taylor Swift, the embodiment of the American dream, has made no secret of her love for London and its pubs. Her latest album, which earned her a twelfth No.1 hit, includes a track named after the South London pub, The Black Dog, which has seen a surge in popularity among Swift’s loyal fans. The song depicts Swift observing her ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, entering the pub after he neglected to disable his location sharing following their breakup in 2023. The quaint establishment has since experienced a spike in reservations from fans eager to visit during Taylor’s record-breaking eight sold-out shows at Wembley Stadium in June and August. An impressive 720,000 fans will attend her concerts, with tickets fetching prices exceeding £600. Swift’s initial performance in the UK occurred in 2008 at the King’s College student union in London, where she promoted her second album, Fearless. Since then, she has graced the UK with four world tours, including the 1989 World Tour in 2015, where she headlined Hyde Park, and the Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018. Her Eras Stadium Tour will touch down in the UK in June, commencing with three sold-out nights at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh. Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, released last Friday, is replete with references to her former partner, Joe Alwyn. The pair dated for six years, beginning in late 2016. In June 2017, Taylor relocated to North London to be with Alwyn, who was then a rising actor. Taylor divided her time between Primrose Hill and the United States. Other British celebrities she has been romantically linked to, and subsequently written songs about, include One Direction’s Harry Styles, actor Tom Hiddleston, and Scottish DJ Calvin Harris. The Tortured Poets Department also delves into her brief fling in 2023 with The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy, son of Loose Women’s Denise Welch and actor Tim Healy. Expressing her fondness for British slang, Swift, who is currently in a relationship with American football player Travis Kelce, remarked, ‘Some of my favorites are ‘cup of Rosy’, ‘chuffed’, ‘knackered’, ‘gutted’, and ‘taking the p*ss’. Oh, and ‘well fit’. I love it when someone says someone is ‘well fit’. You guys are really fun.’ She added, ‘I especially love it as they all pronounce my name ‘Tay-la’ here.’ Given her affinity for British expressions, men, and pubs, we present the ultimate guide to Taylor’s London. During her residence in Crouch End, North London, Taylor often indulged in drinks and meals at the quirky, wood-paneled Spaniards Inn. The singer reportedly donned a black wig to avoid detection by unsuspecting locals. Just a short distance from her home, Taylor frequently enjoyed leisurely walks on Hampstead Heath, which she immortalized in her 2019 song, London Boy, and this year’s So Long, London. The latter song includes the lyrics, ‘I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath.’ Taylor gave a nod to the pub, situated near her former residence with Joe Alwyn, in her 2019 song, Cruel Summer. She sings, ‘And I snuck in through the garden gate. Every night that summer just to seal my fate.’ She is said to have been spotted savoring a late-night kebab at Kentish Delight in Kentish Town. In fact, Taylor was so enamored with the modest takeaway that she filmed a scene for her 2018 single, End Game, there. According to staff, it was her then-boyfriend Joe’s favorite spot for a chicken shish. A popular hangout for artists and musicians, Camden Market boasts a rich musical heritage, which undoubtedly appealed to Taylor. In London Boy, Taylor sings, ‘You know I love a London boy/I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon.’ Aptly named Laylow, this Notting Hill restaurant, renowned for its South American cuisine and live music, provided Taylor with a discreet sanctuary. She enjoyed a lavish dinner there in January 2023 with Cameron Diaz, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Lena Dunham. Taylor made sure to pay homage to the vibrant streets of East London in London Boy. Simply stating how she enjoys ‘Shoreditch in the afternoon,’ she left fans speculating whether she favored the neighborhood’s lively pubs or frequented the exclusive members’ club, Shoreditch House. Over the years, she has been spotted at the members-only venue, The Groucho Club. In 2013, Taylor managed to slip into the exclusive haunt for a date with British singer Tom Odell. Taylor has been known to stay in the Royal Suite at the Savoy, a luxurious hotel in central London. The hotel has hosted a long list of A-listers, including Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. At a staggering £17,500 per night for the Royal Suite, most can only dream of such extravagance, but for the billionaire Taylor, it’s a mere trifle. In 2015, she posed in the Savoy’s Beaufort Bar for Vanity Fair. An entire song on Taylor’s latest album is dedicated to the pub in Vauxhall. On the track, titled The Black Dog, she sings about watching her ex, Joe, enter the pub after he inadvertently left his location sharing enabled following their breakup last year. The lyrics include, ‘And so I watch as you walk/Into some bar called The Black Dog/And pierce new holes in my heart.’ Brixton, one of the most diverse and vibrant boroughs in London, has earned Taylor’s praise for its nightlife, particularly its lively music scene. On London Boy, Taylor sings, ‘I enjoy nights in Brixton.’
Taylor Swift’s Love Affair with London: A Guide to Her Favourite Haunts
