Adam writes… I’ve been trying to think of a way to say Thank You to all of you who support my guided tours in London. And I’ve come up with this… every month a free map! I hope you enjoy them and find them useful. Each month, on or around the 1st, I’ll post a new map. They’ll be curated around a band/act/singer/composer, or a theme, or a neighbourhood, period or genre. Each one will have at least 5 locations for you to explore. Most of them will deal with the London area, but from time-to-time I’ll head off a little further afield as well. Where relevant, I’ll add playlists and links for further reading as well.
London Music Tours Map of the Month No.10: Taylor Swift in London
More-and-more often these days I’m asked: do you do a Taylor Swift tour of London? I was even invited on to BBC Radio London a couple of years ago to discuss The Black Dog pub in South London, as referenced in Taylor’s Tortured Poets Department.
The thing is… when I lead a Beatles tour, or a Handel tour, or a Camden tour or a Punk tour, I’m very much at home with the subject matter. And by that I mean I can engage with fans on (I think) quite a deep level about these topics. My tours are all about the to-and-fro of conversation. I really go out of my way NOT to be a pub bore lecturing you in the street!
With the music of Taylor Swift, as much as I enjoy her music and admire her as a performer and business woman and role model, I lack any truly deep understanding of her work.
Always Get The Right Guide!
I suppose I could memorise the facts and the places spout them out in Kentish Town and Vauxhall. But if I know music fans (and I really, really DO know music fans), you’d see through me in a matter of minutes. And I don’t think Swifties want that from a tour guide.
So… thanks for all the offers, but music fans deserve the right guide for their beloved music. Maybe I’ll make it a project to learn and absorb her work a bit more. Perhaps one of you could teach me!
In the meantime… here’s a map of Taylor Swift locations in London for your own explorations. It is by no means comprehensive. And, as usual, if you have anything to add or correct, just drop me a line using the form at the bottom of this page.
You can check out the full London Music Tours schedule HERE. Private tours are available the whole year round – use the form at the bottom of this page to arrange a tour for your party or group.
To join one of my non-music-themed walking tours, visit the London Walks website HERE.
