London braces for economic boom as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour attracts 640,000 fans

Swifties are set to inject a staggering £300 million into London's economy as they flock to the city for Taylor Swift's unprecedented Eras Tour, experts predict.

The 34-year-old songstress is gearing up to perform three consecutive sold-out gigs at the iconic Wembley Stadium starting this Friday, with a return slated for an additional five performances in August.

London has snagged the title for hosting the most Eras Tour concerts globally, with an estimated 640,000 fans anticipated to attend over the span of eight shows.

In anticipation of Swift's arrival, the capital is rolling out the red carpet with murals, a bespoke Tube map, a dedicated 'Taylor trail', and a host of events all crafted to delight the Swiftie community.

Wembley Park is unveiling two spectacular public art pieces, including a vast mural adorning the Spanish Stepstemporarily rechristened as the "Swiftie Steps", reports the Mirror.

These steps, bridging the gap between Wembley Stadium and the OVO Arena Wembley, will showcase Auras by artist Frank Styles, a digital amalgamation of over 30 unique physical paintings.

Nestled beneath these steps, fans will discover the Ready For It mural, a collaborative creation by MurWalls and HUMOR, featuring a portrait of Swift entwined with her song lyrics.

Launching on Friday, a Taylor trail will highlight various London hotspots mentioned in Swift's songs, with participating venues sporting vinyl stickers to greet the throngs of fans.

Key stops on the trail include the West End, Soho, Bond Street, Camden Market, Highgate, Hampstead Heath, Vauxhall, Shoreditch, Hackney, Brixton, and Kentish Town.

Swifties are in for a treat as they can now embark on a Taylor Swift-themed trail across London, accessible via QR codes at select locations and detailed on the Visit London website. The site features a comprehensive guide to various themed events, including brunches, singalongs, and quizzes.

Even Transport For London (TfL) has joined the celebration, reworking the iconic Tube map to pay homage to the pop sensation. Each line is renamed after one of her albums and colour-coded accordingly, while stations take on the names of her hit songs.

London's Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his excitement: "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."

He added, "Her eight performances will bring nearly 700,000 fans from across the country and beyond to Wembley Stadium, providing a huge boost to our hospitality industry and further proof that London is the greatest city in the world to watch live music."

Khan continued, "As Taylor prepares for Friday's opening performance, we are proud to give her and her fans a big London welcome, with celebrations across the capital including a special Tube map, trail and mural in her honour."

He also encouraged fans: "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."

Taylor Swift recently launched the UK leg of her blockbuster Eras Tour with three spectacular concerts at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium.

Following her performances in Liverpool and Cardiff, the singer's tour has proven to be a powerhouse.

The Greater London Authority estimates that the 640,000 fans attending the Wembley shows will spend an average of £471 each, providing a significant boost to the capital's economy.

According to UKInbound's Tourism Statistics for 2018, each domestic and international tourist contributed approximately £396 to the UK economy.

This figure was then adjusted for inflation to calculate the estimated £300 million total boost to London's economy.