Transport for London has released a reworked Tube map to mark the singer’s concerts at Wembley Stadium – with City Hall claiming the shows could boost the capital’s economy by £300 million.
The map transforms the Tube system and Elizabeth Line into a collage of Swift’s songs – although with several stops missing, it may not be wise to use it as a journey planner.
North Greenwich station, at the other end of the Jubilee Line from Wembley, becomes Dress, from her sixth album Reputation. On the Elizabeth Line, Woolwich becomes Illicit Affairs and Abbey Wood becomes Invisible String, both from her eighth album Folklore.
Neither the Docklands Light Railway nor London Overground appear on the map, and nor does Thameslink, leaving southeast London Swifties to ponder what songs Deptford Broadway, New Cross Gate or Plumstead could have been.
The map also highlights locations mentioned by Swift, although as the singer is not known to have enjoyed the sights of Greenwich Park, a midweek match at The Valley or a pint at the River Ale House, the nearest she comes to southeast London is Brixton.
The mayor’s office is going all out to welcome Swift and her fans to London, with the Spanish Steps at Wembley Park Tube station being adorned with a mural featuring the singer and a “Taylor trail” being launched across the capital with locations for fans to visit.
Swift’s shows at Wembley, which start on Friday, are expected to bring 700,000 people to the stadium. City Hall is hoping to use the excitement generated by the Eras Tour to boost the capital’s cultural and hospitality venues, as well as grassroots music venues, which have all suffered since the pandemic.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “The Eras Tour has broken records and created huge excitement so I’m delighted that Taylor Swift has chosen to perform more nights in London than anywhere else in the world.
“We are proud to give her and her fans a big London welcome, with celebrations across the capital including a special Tube map. I encourage Swifties to not only enjoy the fantastic shows, but also make the most of everything London has to offer, and hope that even more people are encouraged to enjoy the incredible live music available in our city.”
Sophie Anderson, a UK-based writer, is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
