Swiftie or not, there’s no denying the fact that Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm. The Eras Tour exploded onto the scene in March 2023, and since then, the musical icon has been touring the world, sharing her music and stories with enamored fans around the world. In the midst of this tour, Swift also casually dropped her latest release: The Tortured Poets Department and The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, a double album released two hours apart. In her 11th album, she continues to intricately weave stories of past relationships, longing, and heartbreak into her lyrics. Songs off this album reference several actual places that played a significant role in Swift’s life at the time. From pubs in London to hotels in New York, here are five places Taylor Swift sang about in The Tortured Poets Department that you can actually visit.
Hampstead Heath, London
In her previous album Lover, Swift sang about walking through Camden Market and Shoreditch and enjoying nights in Brixton in her song “London Boy.” In her latest album, it’s, “So Long, London.” The emotional ballad lists possible reasons that led to the end of a relationship. With the lyrics, “I left all I knew, you left me at the house by the Heath,” she sings about being left behind by a former lover at the Heath.
Located a few miles from Trafalgar Square, Hampstead Heath is one of London’s most-loved green spaces—a wide expanse of woodland, butterfly houses, and ponds. Rumor has it that this was the area where Taylor and her former boyfriend Joe Alwyn either shared a home or were house-hunting while they were together. Whether or not that’s true, Hampstead Heath was meaningful enough to warrant a mention in Taylor’s newest album.
Tip from a local: Grab a coffee from Redemption Roasters, then walk into the Heath on South End Road. In the summer, you can wild swim in the ponds (there's ladies, men's, and mixed ponds) or, for the less adventurous, at Parliament Hill Lido. After taking in the view from Parliament Hill itself, walk up over the top of the Heath and pop into the beautiful Pergola gardens—this route spits you out near some of the biggest houses, much like the ones Taylor herself may just be singing about. —Sarah James, deputy digital editor, Traveller UK
The Black Dog, London
“The Black Dog” is not just the title of the 17th track on the double album, but also a pub in London where Swifties descended in massive swarms after the release of the album. In the song, Taylor Swift sings about how someone she knew (speculation is that it’s either Joe Alwyn or Matty Healy) visited the bar, with lines like, “And your location, you forgot to turn it off / And so I watch as you walk / Into some bar called The Black Dog.” On April 19, the day her album released, The Black Dog offered a free half lager to the first 100 customers who could quote a lyric from the song. Since then, the pub’s Instagram following has increased significantly, and they launched a merch shop with shirts, totes, hats, and mugs, including one that nods to the aforementioned location services. Fans have also reported that they’ve added a Taylor Swift-themed ‘Swiftburger’ to its menu.
Chelsea Hotel, New York
New York has been at the center of many Taylor Swift songs. “Cornelia Street” is a track on the Lover album, and a very real street in the city where fans have belted out lyrics and laid bouquets under the road sign after her latest release, mourning the breakup between the singer and Joe Alwyn. In the title track “The Tortured Poets Department,” Swift references the city’s iconic Chelsea Hotel, a 12-story hotel in Manhattan which was built in the late 19th century and famously housed writers, painters, authors, and socialites.
With lyrics like, “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith / This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots,” Swift insinuates that their romance, unlike the Chelsea Hotel, is not legendary, but childish. The rest of the lyrics talk about her disillusionment with one of her previous relationships.
Tip from a local: El Quijote, known for Spanish classics, remains the gem of Hotel Chelsea with its famous paella, vermouth-rich cocktails, and ever-present cool crowd. Just be sure to book a reservation ahead of time. —Megan Spurrell, senior editor, Traveler US
The Lake in Central Park, New York
Swift makes a reference to Central Park in the song “The Bolter,” the 29th track in her 31-track double album. In the song she alludes to people calling her a ‘bolter’, someone that gets frightened and runs away from relationships.
She sings about how, at the start of a relationship, it’s charming to rent rowboats in the Central Park Lake, with lyrics that go, “When it's all roses, portrait poses / Central Park Lake in tiny rowboats / What a charming Saturday.”
Tip from a local: Enter the park at 77th street on the west side or 72nd street on the east side for the most direct path to the lake; walk over the Bow Bridge (no relation to Clara, but it is named after its shape, which resembles that of an archer's bow) for a great photo op. —Madison Flager, senior commerce editor, Traveler US
Destin, Florida
A collaboration with British alternative band Florence + The Machine, “Florida!!!” references the city of Destin, home to stunning white sand beaches, emerald green water, and often referred to as the ‘World’s Luckiest Fishing Village.’ The lyrics mention people having to work their whole life “For a time-share down in Destin.”
Unlike other locations mentioned in the album, it's unlikely Swift herself has spent much time in Destin. Recently, on an Amazon Music playlist titled Taylor Swift Track by Track, Swift revealed the inspiration behind the song stemmed from a desire to escape life’s hard choices and start anew in another city. She chose Florida as it’s the place people in movies go to when they want to escape. “I’m always watching, like, Dateline,” Swift says in the playlist. “People have these crimes that they commit. Where do they immediately skip town and go to? They go to Florida.”
Tip from a local: Slurping oysters harborside at Boathouse Oyster Bar is more quintessential Destin than owning a timeshare. Expect no frills at this dollar bill bar, but plenty of oysters (served fresh or baked) and cold beer, plus live music daily. You know what makes you forget about a broken heart? Dolphins. Captain Bryan of Sail Away Destin knows where to spot them off of Destin which is why a charter on his tri-hull pontoon is simply the best way to spend a morning, afternoon, or sunset. —Lia Picard, Traveler US contributor
This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller India.