There’s no bad seat at the Eras Tour.
Taylor has created a show that looks great from every angle. Whether you’re up against the barrier or in the top-tier seats, it’s one heck of a show that reaches every Swiftie in there.
Don’t say it too loudly, but the best views are actually from higher up —you get the full view of the stage and screen and fewer heads in your way. And in the ‘pit’ standing towards the back will get you a better overall view of the show (and less sweaty pushing and shoving), so if you don’t get ‘barricade’ or your seats are ‘nosebleed’ don’t worry, Taylor puts on a show that everyone can have the time of their lives (chasing dragons with you).
Get there early (but not too early).
There will be huge crowds at Wembley, as there always are, so arriving just before Taylor is due on stage or right at the doors opening will be quite chaotic, take forever and in August, be very hot.
So what time should you get there?
For seated tickets, the best time to arrive is in the gap between the initial doors opening stampede and with enough time to see Paramore (you don’t want to miss Paramore). So aim for perhaps 5.30 pm. That gives you time to wait for the toilet, get a drink, and get a bit lost at Wembley without it being an issue.
For standing, it really depends on where you want to stand. If you want to be in the first few rows, then yes, spending a chunk of your day beforehand waiting in the queue will be needed, if you’re happy enough just to breathe the same air as Taylor, get there shortly before doors open. This ensures you’ll get in the main thick of the action, but you won’t have to spend your day camped out at Wembley.
Tip:
The very back of the standing areas isn’t actually that far away, and you get a clear, unobstructed view without the pushing and shoving. So, if being a ‘barrier’ isn’t important to you, stick to the back instead.
Visit the Merch Store at Wembley.
Getting Merch is something a lot of people want to do. So many so that Wembley created the Taylor Swift megastore! The great news is that means not having to spend a long time queuing on the day of your concert, or having to hold onto it for the whole show.
Instead, stroll on up to Wembley the morning before your show or the morning after, follow the signs to the megastore and save yourself the pre-show scrum for merch.
Directions and opening hours can be found here.
Figure out your route (and plan how you’re getting home)
This is both to and from Wembley and also in the stadium. Firstly, for Wembley, the TFL website is your new best friend. There are three stations at Wembley:
Wembley Park Station (London Underground Jubilee and Metropolitan lines)
Wembley Stadium Station (Chiltern Railways)
Wembley Central Station (London Underground Bakerloo line, London Overground, London Midland and Southern lines)
Driving or taking taxis isn’t advisable as the roads get very congested, but buses also frequently operate in the area and can be used to get to a less congested area. The best route is to use the train or tube.
Ensure you know what gate you need (in your tickets email) and where it is.
The same applies for getting home; train and tube are your best options. You will be waiting a little while, and crowds are bad at Wembley on the way out. The best plan is to plan for it to take a while, be patient, and ride it out. Don’t attempt to walk away from Wembley, as transport links are poor away from the station. And if crowds are a worry, wait it out in the stadium vicinity until they die down.
Pack a bag…
Of useful things. Make sure you have your phone, a power bank (which must be smaller than your phone), and cables—both for capturing the moment and for your tickets and in case of emergency on the way home. Bring earplugs, too, as nearly 80,000 Swifties? That’s loud.
Other things to think about bringing:
Plasters (for blisters)
Hand sanitiser
A small amount of cash (the stadium is cashless, but it’s still handy)
Painkillers (Swifie excitement headache)
ID and Bank cards.
And of course, make sure your bag and what’s inside it comply with Stadium requirements.
Make friends with the Swifties around you.
Wherever you’re standing or sitting, in the queue on the Tube or wherever, making friends with the Swifites around you is helpful and will add to the experience. The Swiftie takeover for a concert is unlike anything else, and stopping to speak to the people nearby will make memories but also help you out. Do you need someone to watch your spot while you get a drink? Unsure where the loos are? Making friends will make everything run a bit smoother.
Plus you never know, if someone proposes to you in ‘Love Story’ if you’ve made friends, they might video it.
Eat and Drink!
Yes, you’re excited. Yes, it’s 3 p.m., and you’re going into the stadium or helping across London. But it’s a long show. There will be a lot of dancing and sweating, and it will be at least 11.30 before you get home or to McDonalds. Eat.
Many social media users have made a big deal of ‘not leaving the show to pee’ online. But dehydration isn’t cool, and neither is passing out in the August heat and missing the show. Hydrate. It’s better to miss one song to pee than miss a whole show for a trip in an ambulance.
You can have water refilled at the bars and by stewards, who also hand out free water.
Enjoy it your way.
There’s been so much pressure to know all the surprise songs, to find the perfect outfit, and to plan a military-level event. Don’t forget to …enjoy it your way. Don’t worry about knowing all the words or screaming along (in fact, don’t do that; it’s much better for everyone).
Try and be in the moment. Remember, you’ve waited at least a year for this. It’s your Eras tour moment, and if you want to cry along to Folklore, dance along to 1989, or just quietly enjoy the moment, it’s fine—whatever you want to do!
Dress in your favourite Era…or whatever you feel like.
Dressing up for the Eras tour can be super fun. Planning outfits with your friends, coordinating themes, and picking your favourite Taylor-themed outfit to dress in is part of the experience for many. Some tips on picking an outfit;’ make sure it’s comfortable. Yes, the sequin floor-length outfit looks stunning, but if you’re spending 4 hours of the concert getting stuck on your sequins or unable to dance along to Shake It Off, you’ll regret that decision. Pick something fabulous yet comfortable; it’s a long show, and more important than your outfit is enjoying it.
The same goes for shoes. Take pictures in your cowboy boots at home and swap for trainers for the show. Your feet will thank you on the way home!
But don’t forget, if you simply want to wear your Eras tour t-shirt and jeans or your regular clothes, that’s fine too. Whether it’s your own Era or one of Taylors, anything goes!
Factor in Eras recovery!
People are talking about ‘Eras tour amnesia’ but there’s also ‘Eras tour exhaustion’. It’s a long show, especially if you’re standing. Factor in too, that you’ll likely have a long journey back to where you’re staying on crowded hot public transport…plan some rest in for the next day. If you’re staying in London perhaps a slower start. If you’re local, maybe ask to start work late the next day.
Eras hangover is real, you’ve waited for a year for this moment, the emotional comedown is not to be taken lightly…remember though you got to be in the same room as Taylor Swift, and thousands of other Swifties.
Make the most of Taylor’s London!
That said, having finally experienced the concert, you could also make the most of Taylor’s London. She’s mentioned London 17 times in songs over the years, and you could use the time in the city to try and cover all of them. Warning though, trying to cover all of London Boy in one day is pretty impossible (even if you’re Taylor).
Instead, why not settle for a post-tour kebab from her favourite kebab shop Kentish Delight in Kentish town? Or maybe a pint in The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall as mentioned in the recent song…
Visit the V&A exhibition.
While staving off the post-Eras tour come down, or maybe as a warm-up for the show you could also visit the V&A ‘trail’ of Taylor outfits and artefacts. Free to enter, the trail takes you through some of teh V&A gallery spaces with outfits like her folklore cardigan or Reputation tour outfit.
Switfies also have their eye on it because rumour has it something is going to disappear during the London dates, which could be a clue to the Reputation Taylor’s Version announcement….
Make the Friendship Bracelets.
Finally, make the friendship bracelets. The line in ‘You’re on Your Own Kid’ inspired Taylor fans to start making and exchanging bracelets at her concerts and it’s become a central part of fan experience. You don’t have to make loads, you don’t have to make elaborate ones…but having bracelets to exchange will get you talking to fellow Swifties, making friends and exchanging stories. As Taylor said
‘Make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it’
Take the opportunity to make the friendship bracelets, take the moment with your fellows Swifties and enjoy the moment.
Taylor Swift performs at Wembley from: 15th to 20th August 2024.
Tickets ranged from £110 standing, VIP packages from £350.
All concerts are SOLD OUT. Resale tickets are available via Ticketmaster and AXS but require a registration code to buy. Resale tickets are also available through Stub Hub, Vivid Seats, and Viagogo.
About the Author – Dr Emily Garside
Emily Garside is a researcher, writer and all round nerd. She spent many years as an academic and lecturer, beginning with her PhD on theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis and the evolution of LGBTQ theatre. Since leaving academia, she has worked with organisations like Bishopsgate Insitute and London Playwrights to share Queer history and culture. As a journalist, she is a regular contributor for The Queer Review and has written for American Theatre, Slate, BBC and The Stage.