Pay Highgate Cemetery a visit, where writers such as George Eliot are buried, and stop for lunch at pub The Flask.
Where to find it: Highgate Station, Archway Road
Bond Street
Of course, Swift is a billionaire superstar, so it checks out that she references one of London’s flashier enclaves in her songs too. She doesn’t wax too lyrical about Bond Street, one of central London’s most exclusive shopping streets: “Doesn’t have to be Louis V up on Bond Street, just wanna be with you,” she sings.
But if you fancy a photo opportunity outside the glossy Louis Vuitton shop, you’ll find some great Mayfair restaurants nearby. We especially like Humo for wood-fired cooking or Mount St. Restaurant for one of the best brunches in this part of town. Be warned, this is a posh bit of the capital; you won’t find any cheap-ass screw-top rosé in these parts.
Where to find it: Bond Street, W1S 1SP
Brixton
There are some location references in Swift’s songs that I just can’t believe she’s ever actually visited. Destin, Florida—from Swift’s more recent track “Florida!!!”—is one such locale, but I’m also not convinced that the world’s biggest pop star has ever set foot in Brixton, a neighborhood south of the river known for its eclectic energy, food scene, and squares named in honor of the Afro-Caribbean community’s contribution to the area. Still, Swift claims, “I enjoy nights in Brixton”—and who am I to call her a liar? When you visit, try the cocktails by the folks at Hacha, who make the best margarita in London.
Where to find it: Brixton Underground Station, Brixton Rd, SW9 8HE
Shoreditch
In the same breath as claiming to enjoy a night on the lash in Brixton, Swift drops another dubious reference: “Shoreditch in the afternoon.” When the song was released in 2019, the internet lost its mind at the idea of Swift pounding the pavements of the once-edgy, now very much cleaned-up East London neighborhood. But if she does, she’s got good taste; some of London’s best restaurants are here. Book a table at Brat for a pre-concert lunch.
Where to find it: Shoreditch High Street station, Braithwaite Street, Shoreditch, London, E1 6AE
