Simon Calder’s Top Tips for Getting to Taylor Swift’s Wembley Concerts

Taylor Swift will be playing five gigs at Wembley Stadium as part of The Eras Tour. The global superstar is set to perform in the northwest London arena on the following dates:

• Thursday, 15 August
• Friday, 16 August
• Saturday, 17 August
• Monday, 19 August
• Tuesday, 20 August

Wembley Stadium, known for hosting tens of thousands of spectators for major events, can hold up to 90,000 attendees, making it the largest arena in the UK. There are several ways to reach Wembley Stadium, though some are more convenient than others.

Driving can be extremely slow and stressful, and finding parking may add to the challenges. “If you have to come by car, you should only use official stadium parking, and a parking space must be booked in advance,” advises Wembley Stadium.

Public buses serve Wembley, but they are likely to be caught in traffic as well.

If you prefer cycling: “We love pedal power and Wembley Stadium is a bicycle-friendly stadium. You’ll find bicycle parking on street level on the north-east side of the Stadium, under the concourse.”

For the vast majority of fans, the most efficient way to reach the stadium is via London Underground or rail. You can pay your fare using a contactless card or phone, unless you are traveling in from outside Greater London.

The London Underground to Wembley Park is the most popular route from central London, though not necessarily the easiest. The Jubilee Line runs every few minutes from Stratford, London Bridge, Waterloo, Westminster, Green Park, Bond Street (the Elizabeth Line interchange), and Baker Street to Wembley Park.

The Metropolitan Line from Baker Street (with some trains starting back from Aldgate, Liverpool Street, and King’s Cross) is less frequent but faster.

For fans starting from the northwest quadrant of the suburbs, from Watford around to Uxbridge, Wembley Park is the natural choice – and the trains are likely to be much quieter.

Chiltern Railways to Wembley Stadium is another option, with the station located very close to the arena and featuring a dedicated exit that is far less crowded than the main drag from Wembley Park. The journey from London Marylebone, which is on the Bakerloo Line of the Tube, is a nonstop nine minutes.

The reason for this relative calm is also its drawback: There aren’t many trains. In a good hour, there might be six. Traveling in from the opposite direction, the frequent service comes from Oxford and High Wycombe, though some Aylesbury and Birmingham trains also serve Wembley Stadium.

The London Overground to Wembley Central Station is also an option. While the station is central for Wembley, it isn’t particularly close to the stadium, requiring a minimum 15-minute walk, crowd permitting. Additionally, the stadium notes: “Wembley Central Station is step-free from street to platform, but not from platform to train.”

You can reach Wembley Central on the Bakerloo Line of the London Underground, but the journey often requires a change to the London Overground at Queen’s Park.

Wembley Central is the best option for fans arriving from East Croydon, Clapham Junction, or Shepherd’s Bush, thanks to regular direct trains via the West London Line.

Regarding non-ticket holders, Wembley Stadium has confirmed that “taygating” – the practice of Taylor Swift fans gathering outside venues – will not be permitted. “No one is allowed to stand outside any entrance or on the Olympic Steps at the front of the stadium. Non-ticket holders will be moved on,” a statement said.

As for what you can bring inside, Wembley Stadium states, “Each person can only bring one small bag into the stadium, A4 size and 21cm (8 inches) deep.”

Bags that are half-full and folded over won’t be accepted. Anyone carrying bags that do not meet the criteria above will not be allowed into the stadium.

Those with seating tickets can take in a “clear, soft plastic water bottle” with a maximum capacity of 500ml. However, anyone with a standing ticket will not be allowed to bring a bottle inside the stadium.

The list of prohibited items includes aerosol containers (such as sunscreen, pepper spray, bug spray, or spray paint), laptop computers, tablets, iPads or digital readers, and handcuffs or other restraint items.

Source: The Independent