God, she loves the English: As Taylor Swift releases her latest album, how the megastar and her high-society set have made London's most exclusive spots their playground

It feels like a perfect night … to go to Annabel's?

TAYLOR SWIFT LEAVING ARGENTINEAN RESTAURANT CASA CRUZ IN NOTTING HILL

So long, London? Not half. Taylor Swift may have left her London Boy behind, but when you’re arguably the most famous woman in the world, is there really anywhere better for a night out than the Big Smoke?

Back in New York, the princess of pop is often crossing paths with, well, princesses – Beatrice and Taylor are known purveyors of private members’ club Zero Bond in Lower Manhattan – but god, she loves the English. The chatelaine of the high-society squad, Swift has been rubbing circles with the great, the good, and the glamorous of Britain’s glitterati all from the comfort of their natural habitat. From backstage at the Playhouse Theatre with Cara Delevingne to clandestine getaways to Chiltern Firehouse with her latest muse, here’s all the places Taylor Swift has been spotted in the capital.

So enamoured with London was the songstress that she brought her record-breaking Eras Tour back to the city for round two. Where to kick off the billion-dollar festivities? It was only ever going to be Annabel’s. The Mayfair members’ clubs played host to over 200 of Swift’s concert crew, who partied alongside the star at the only nightclub ever frequented by the late Queen Elizabeth. Reportedly, drinks were on a Vivienne-Westwood-clad Taylor at this most hedonistic of hideaways, and when the embers of the night finally died down at 3am (no vocal rest for this Grammy winner), it’s said she organised private coaches to bus her partygoers back to their London abodes. It beats an early morning Uber.

THE ROSE ROOM BAR OF ANNABEL'S, WHERE TAYLOR SWIFT RECENTLY HOSTED A 200-STRONG THANK YOU PARTY FOR HER ERAS TOUR ENTOURAGE

Swift’s love of that most storied British institution, the private members’ club, stretches all the way back to 2013, when eagle-eyed fans were convinced they caught her on a date with singer Tom Odell at the Groucho Club in Soho, and in 2021 she was on the guest list when Lena Dunham tied the knot with Luis Felber at the Union Club – Swift has long been close to the Girls writer, and was invited to London as a bridesmaid.

The summer wasn't even the first time Taylor Swift has been spotted at Annabel’s. Back when she was with Joe Alwyn, the pair found time to rest what must have been very weary legs at the members’ club for Vogue’s BAFTA afterparty in 2019. She dodged the Grammys for the celebration of British acting talent – no wonder she’s become a darling of the West End scene. Of course, when it comes to bagging front row tickets for the hottest shows in town, it helps to be best friends with the leading lady. Swift swung by the Kit Kat Club to watch supermodel chum Cara Delevingne tread the boards as Sally Bowles in Cabaret earlier this year. The pair have been thick as thieves since Delevingne’s runway days, sharing the runway during the 2013 Victoria’s Secret show and accompanying each other to Super Bowls and secret dinner parties ever since.

TAYLOR SWIFT AND JOE ALWYN SEEN ATTENDING THE VOGUE BAFTA PARTY AT ANNABEL'S IN 2019

BACKSTAGE AT THE SHOW: TAYLOR SECRETLY FLEW TO LONDON TO SUPPORT BEST FRIEND CARA DELEVINGNE DURING THE SUPERMODEL'S STINT AS SALLY BOWLES IN CABARET

New money, suit and tie? Not at Casa Cruz. The last time Taylor Swift stepped foot in the capital, she brought her clique to the most fashionable spot in Notting Hill. Kate Moss, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Chrissie Hynde and a substantial fraction of the Haim sisters – all made their under the cover of black cabs and trench coats to the Chilean-born Juan Santa Cruz’s restaurant. Also invited? Andrew Scott, alleged founding member of the Tortured Man Club. Alongside Paul Mescal and one Joe Alwyn, this most lugubrious of WhatsApp group chats is supposedly the inspiration behind Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets’ Department.

Casa Cruz is beloved by the upper echelons of old money aristos: Prince Harry was once seen having a quiet dinner in the mirrored-velvet gloaming with his most trusted confidant, the polo star (and Ralph Lauren model) Nacho Figueras. At the centre of Swift’s social network in London, though, has to be Stella McCartney – Taylor has even called herself Tennessee’s answer to the high-society fashion designer. And of course, McCartney was at Casa Cruz that night, though she most certainly would not have been forking out for the £140 cote de bouef. Cocktails may well have been on the cards for Taylor and her coterie at Casa back in June 2024, though: news had just dropped that former flame Matty Healy was engaged to New York it girl Gabriette. And hey, if the superstar was feeling a little low, what better a pick-me-up than karaoke with Chrissie Hynde or a heart-to-heart in the ladies’ with ennui expert Lena Dunham?

TAYLOR SWIFT WITH SOPHIE TURNER IN NEW YORK - THE PAIR HAVE ALSO BEEN SEEN PARTYING IN LONDON OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS

Back in the days when neither man nor poet was feeling particularly tortured, when Taylor and Joe were still collaborating on such paeans to marital bliss as ‘Champagne Problems’, the singer threw her North London beau a birthday bash at Bob Bob Ricard. Ringing in Alwyn’s 29th with Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn, this French fusion spot is the first name in London decadence, and with bubbly literally available at the touch of a button, the only problem the cabal would have faced with their champagne is the next morning’s hangover. That dictionary someone gave Joe for his big day might have gathered dust on his shelves back in Highgate for a week or so.

SWIFT STEPS OUT OF CASA CRUZ AFTER CELEBRATING THE FIRST LONDON LEG OF THE ERAS TOUR

PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE AND ANDREW SCOTT JOINED THE SINGER AT THE NOTTING HILL HOTSPOT

BOB BOB RICARD IS NOTORIOUS FOR THE ‘PRESS FOR CHAMPAGNE’ BUTTONS ON EACH OF ITS TABLES

Or maybe much, much longer. The two split a few years later in what is surely one of the most polite A-list separations in living memory. There was a moment, however, when things could have gotten just a little awkward at Chiltern Firehouse this June. Arm in arm with new boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, Swift celebrated another 80,000-strong Wembley success with a night out at London’s answer to the Chateau Marmont. As ever, it was a high-society affair. Tom Parker-Bowles may once have written that ‘God would have to wait for a table’ at the Marylebone hotspot, but Taylor Swift works in mysterious ways, and she and Travis were joined by Sophie Turner, her Cowdray heir boyfriend Peregrine Pearson, and Ellie Goulding. Two days later, though, and who should walk through those red brick doors but Joe Alwyn. Such are the risks when you spend a night out in this starriest of salons.

So whether it's an amuse-bouche with the aristocracy or an all-nighter on the natty wine, this all-American pop princess certainly knows how to party like blue blooded British royalty.