London Boy: A Swiftie’s Guide to London
Today marks the one year anniversary since the Eras Tour kicked off in Glendale, Arizona. Since then Taylor Swift has performed all over the United States and has now embarked on the international portion of the tour, starting in Mexico City, Mexico last August.
Taylor will be playing Wembley Stadium this Summer and let’s face it – it’s one of the biggest events of the season. If you are planning to see her, or even if you were one of the many who couldn’t get the tickets, soak up some Taylor Swift locations around town in honour of this record-breaking star and her song “London Boy”.
Stop 1: Camden Town
“I enjoy walking Camden Market in the afternoon…”
Camden is a unique part of London known for its connections to the subversive scene of rock and roll, vintage clothes shops, its connection, diverse street food vendors and London’s enduring Punk scene. Camden market is open from 10am daily where you can find unique gifts from Salvador Dali prints to drug paraphernalia. A two-minute walk from the market will bring you to Poppies Fish & Chips, our favourite. Make sure to stop by to grab their delicious fish and chips to go or to sit-down and enjoy.
Want to explore Camden, but don’t know where to start? Book our Rock & Roll Private Tour which will take you through the subversive scene of Camden, hearing its connections to the rock and roll legends. This tour will also take you to other places of London like Soho and has an optional extension to visit Abbey Road.
Stop 2: The West End
“And now I love high tea, stories from uni, and the West End…”
We LOVE high tea, in fact our favourite place for tea is The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon located inside Fortnum & Masons Piccadilly Department Store. The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon offers some of the best afternoon tea options for a great price! This Tea Salon also offers a variety of tea menus for all types of dietary restrictions including Gluten Free, Vegetarian, & Vegan; as well as offers options that are sweet and savory. Don’t forget they will continue to fill your plates and teapots with unlimited refills. While visiting, explore the department store from the grocers on the Lower Ground Floor to the homeware department on the second floor to the wonderful array of teas, jams, Turkish Delight, and more on the Ground Floor.
The West End is one of the best places to see iconic shows like Les Miserable, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia, and more! While in London, you will want to spend at least one evening at the Theatre.
Tour Guide Tip: The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon is within walking distance of many West End Theatre’s. Book a later afternoon reservation at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon and after your tea walk to a near-by theatre to see a show. Our perfect pairing with High Tea is Moulin Rouge the Musical, located at Piccadilly Theatre [5 minute walk from Fortnums].
Stop 3: The Pub
“You can find me in the pub, we are watching rugby…”
Pubs are a London staple, and what’s better than immersing yourself in pub culture! However not all pubs are created equally and some are tourist traps. Before wandering into a pub ask yourself the following to see if it is a “proper pub”. Does it feel like home? Have its own local history? Is it independent [not a chain]? If the answer to these three questions are an astounding yes, then stop in for a wonderful pint with wonderful people, and even enjoy whatever sport is playing on the telly.
Want to visit and drink at a few pubs in London that match the requirements of a proper pub? Book our Proper Pub Experience, allowing our private, passionate guides to show and tell you exactly what it takes to be a Proper Pub!
Stop 4/5: Brixton & Shoreditch
“I enjoy nights in Brixton, Shoreditch in the afternoon…”
Just like Taylor Swift, we love Brixton and Shoreditch, especially their food! Both of these neighborhoods have been where immigrants have landed upon arriving in London.
Brixton is best known as a melting pot for African-Caribbean culture, showing how this culture has brought a different flavour and soul to London. Three days a week we offer a Private Food Tour of Brixton that allows you to enjoy this buzzing neighborhood, from visiting the Village Market to Ethiopian Coffee tasting and hearing the stories of the beginnings of Brixton you will absolutely fall in love! While in Brixton be also sure to visit the David Bowie memorial by darling of the Street Art scene Jimmy C and the Black Cultural Archives where you can learn about the Windrush generation that give Brixton so much of it’s current culture.
Shoreditch is a part of London’s East End and is best known for its amazing street art, with the newest pieces being displayed on Brick Lane. On our Private East End Food Tour, your private passionate guide will show you some of the best street art that the East End has to offer, while also getting a chance to explore the tastes of the East End from Fish & Chips to curry to Crumble. Spitalfields Market is THE best place for an interesting souvenir (think paper art skylines rather than I love London t-shirts) and it’s all small businesses- which we love.
Stop 6: Hackney
“So please show me Hackney…”
Hackney is a beautiful district of east London known for its alternative vibe and wonderful canal walk that takes you along Hertford Union Canal to Regents Canal and to the beautiful Victoria Park. Along the canal you can find many houseboats, which allow people to live on the water at a slower pace than most Londoners. The best time to visit Hackney is a Sunday when you have the choice of two amazing markets- Broadway Market and Victoria Park Market. Top it all off with a museuem with a difference, the Vagina museum – the world’s first bricks and mortar museum dedicated to vaginas, vulvas and the gynaecological anatomy.
Stop 7: Bond Street
“Doesn’t have to be Louis V up on Bond Street…”
We love shopping just like Taylor. Bond Street is where all the high-end, luxury shops are located like Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Prada, and many more. Right off of New Bond Street you can also find the Burlington Arcade, home to such shops as luxury perfumers and fashion houses. Close by is also Saville Row where you can find bespoke high-end tailors.
On our Fashion & Shopping Private Tour we can tailor the day to your shopping interests! Want to visit some of the most luxurious shops in London? See vintage clothes shops? We can do all of this and more during your tour alongside your private fashionable guide.
Stop 8: Soho
“I enjoy walking Soho, drinking in the afternoon…”
The streets of Soho village can be found in London’s West End. From jazz to rock’n roll to unique food and drink, you can find it all here in Soho. On our Private Soho Saunter Tour you can experience it all! See the connections to the Italian immigrants who landed here, the jazz bars where legends like Jimmy Hendricks and Amy Winehouse performed, amazing street art, and subversive nightlife. After the tour we will end Taylor style, with an afternoon drink at a local Soho pub that became a home away from home. We recommend the Old Coffee House pub on Beak street for lovely oak interiors and atmosphere.
Stop 9: Highgate
“Took me back to Highgate, met all of his best mates…”
Highgate is a scenic residential area of North London, graced with 18th-century buildings, gastropubs, tea rooms and if you’re lucky, Harry Styles. Our very own “London boy” bought one of his first homes here and can often be seen walking on the epic Hampstead “Heath” another place that Taylor mentions in her song.
A great attraction in Highgate Kenwood House–a hidden gem of London. Kenwood House is surrounded by landscaped gardens and is known for its Georgian Architecture and great collection of art.
Highgate is also home to one of the spookiest cemeteries in London, Highgate Cemetery. The cemetery is so large that it has been separated into two sections, the East and West Cemetery. The East Cemetery is the final resting place of people like Gene Simmons, Karl Marx, George Michael, and can be wandered freely. The West Cemetery however, is only accessible with a guide, but is known for its Terrace Catacombs, Egyptian Avenue, and Victorian atmosphere. Located within the Egyptian Avenue is the Circle of Lebanon, which was featured in the Wizarding World film Fantastic Beasts the Crimes of Grindelwald!
Stop 10: See Taylor at Wembley
The day of your Eras Tour show you will want to make sure to be down at Wembley Stadium a few hours before the show starts, not only to make sure you see Paramore open for Taylor but you will want enough time to grab merch, take photos, and eat!
The area surrounding the stadium has a modern mall type vibe (not very London) with many of the restaurants being chains. Of these restaurants, we recommend Zizzi and Wagamama as the best of those all within a short walking distance of the show. It’s worth mentioning that the Wembley area is home to a lot of South Indians. If you have a bit more time and are looking for something more local, we recommend grabbing curry at Station 31 or at Wembley Tandoori. Both restaurants are about a 25 minute walk from the stadium, but are definitely worth the walk.
Whether you are coming to London to see Taylor Swift at one of her many Eras Tour dates or just coming to explore this wonderful city, we hope to see you on one of our Private London Tours!
Written by Gabriella Venditto
Featured Image Photo Credit: Paolo Villanueva “Taylor Swift The Eras Tour The Folklore Set Era (53108930417).” 9 August 2023. / CC BY 2.0 DEED
Swift, Taylor. “London Boy.” Lover, Taylor Swift, Concord Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, 2019, track 11. Spotify, https://open.spotify.com/track/1LLXZFeAHK9R4xUramtUKw?si=232d1e74c82c48c1. All lyrics credits for “London Boy” go to Taylor Swift & Republic Records. The use of these lyrics fall under the US/UK Fair Use Copyright Law.
