Taylor Swift fans have begun pouring into Wembley stadium as the superstar returns to London to kick off the last leg of her European tour.
It comes just over a week after the pop star was forced to cancel three concerts in Vienna after police uncovered a foiled ISIS terror plot.
Meanwhile in the UK, a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club was targeted by a knifeman in Southport last month in an attack which killed three young girls.
Swifties in London, however, have insisted they feel ‘safe’ with a ring of steel being erected around the stadium with hundreds of security staff wearing yellow-jackets on guard.
The Met Police have also reassured the public that they are ‘well prepared’ for the five gigs taking place over the next week, with additional ticket checks taking place.
Around 90,000 fans will pack themselves into the venue each night, dressed in their themed outfits, often full of glitter.
‘After Vienna, it’s good to hear that they’ve upped the security’, student Brodie MacArthur, 23, said. ‘In the back of your head, there’s still worries. But there are a lot of people here to keep it safe.’
Excited Taylor Swift fans pose for photos outside Wembley Stadium as the superstar returns to London
Sophie and Angela Hutton outside Wembley Stadium ahead of the superstars gig
Taylor Swift fans flock into Wembley Stadium this evening to watch the mega star perform
Fans show their Taylor Swift bracelets ahead of her concert, following the cancellation of three Taylor Swift Concerts in Vienna
Swifties raring to go outside Wembley Stadium as the popstar kicks off the first night of five gigs
A Swiftie dressed up as ghost and Ivy – a reference to one of her songs – heads into Wembley
Little Sophie Hutton, who has been in Great Ormond Street hospital with cancer for 72 days, said she could not wait to see Swift perform tonight.
She said: ‘They just called us up and said ‘would Sophie like to go’ and I was like, yes! I won a Taylor Swift colouring book and we have been wanting to go ever since
‘(Being in Great Ormond Street) it was quite scary and what got me through was colouring.’
Her mother Angela Hutton, called her daughter ‘super brave’ and said: ‘This is the best first place to go when you’re out of hospital. It’s absolutely fantastic.’
Meanwhile four siblings have travelled from all across the world to see Swift’s show tonight.
Kiki Heath, 34, has travelled from Canada, student Bailey Heath, 23, from Bristol, Indi Heath, 36, from Surrey and China Heath, 26, from Budapest.
‘When the doors open we will be sprinting,’ Indi said, adding that they would ‘run as fast as they can’.
The first person in the queue arrived at 11am on Wednesday to try and get ‘the best spot’ in the stadium.
Coco, 19, said the experience of her first Swift concert had already been ‘really fun’, adding that the atmosphere had been ‘really nice’ with fans making friendship bracelets together.
‘We wanted to come as early as we could, we wanted to be the first ones because you get the best view and you have the most space’, the teen who travelled down from Surrey said.
‘It’s way more relaxed. Lots of people find it uncomfortable to camp out but I think it’s really fun. You get to meet other people.
‘We were the only ones there until 8pm yesterday. We were relaxing, making bracelets but once people started arriving, the atmosphere was really nice. Everyone has common interests and it was really nice speaking with everyone.’
In a bid to make fans feel even safer tonight after the scare in Vienna, police are expected to be much firmer with fans who do not have tickets, and will ‘move on’ anyone who tries to gather outside the stadium to listen.
The foiled terror plot in Vienna, Austria, involved a car, knives and explosives and was reported to have targeted those gathered outside the stadium.
Following the Southport tragedy the singer posted a tribute to Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
Swift said she was at ‘a complete loss’ over the horror. Police have said the attack is not being investigated as terrorism related.
But events haven’t put a dampener on fans’ spirits, with some waiting in line for as long as 30 hours until doors open.
‘It doesn’t feel real, that it’s actually happening!’ excited ticket-holder Katie Moulson, 24, said this afternoon.
The shows will have a different support act each day starting with instrumentalist Sofia Isella and also including Brit Award-winner Raye, Daisy Jones & the Six star Suki Waterhouse and rising stars, Maisie Peters and Holly Humberstone.
Indigo Wilde, 28, says she has been a fan of Swift, 34, since she was 12, and considers the star her ‘best friend’.
The illustrator, who says her favourite era is Fearless, says she has been to eight of her shows, which cost her around £900 for tickets.
She said: ‘Taylor has been my best friend since I was 12. For a lonely teenage girl, she is the best friend you could have to carry around in your pocket with you. I love her so much.’
The superfan says she spent 300 hours making a bedazzled bodysuit for the first Era’s Tour show and two weeks on tonight’s bedazzled white dress—which shows all the different Eras.
Following the incident in Vienna Indigo says that she still feels very safe, due to the community of fans.
She added: ‘I feel safe. The community is very close, and we look out for each other. When I am in there I will just be thinking about Taylor, not about that.’
Katie Jackson, 18, who works in care and travelled from Leeds, was wearing an outfit inspired by Taylor Swift’s song Lover, made by her mother over several months.
Regarding security, Miss Jackson said: ‘They’ve put other things in place now and bumped up the security a bit more but you can’t let it stop you. They wouldn’t go ahead if it was going to be dangerous.’
Indigo Wilde, 28, has been to eight of Swift’s concerts and said she spent two weeks on her dress, which features the names of all the Eras
Thousands of fans are gathering at Wembley stadium ahead of Taylor Swift’s run of concerts
The singer, pictured performing in Amsterdam, was forced to cancel all of her shows in Vienna after an alleged terror plot
Police officers patrol Wembley as fans gather ahead of Swift’s return to London
TV personality Dick Strawbridge, 64, most well-known for his hit show Escape to the Chateau, is attending with his daughter Dorothy
Friends Leonnie Howle, 33, Natalie Bates-Siney, 32 and Becky Scott, 32, arrived at Wembley dressed as their favourite eras
Dozens of security guards could be seen outside Wembley Stadium on Thursday as fans began to arrive
Swifties gather on Olympic Way on the way in to Wembley Stadium on Thursday
Sister super fans Melissa and Maddie Thornton travelled from Coventry for the show and are staying in a nearby hotel.
The pair say they are beyond excited for their first time seeing Swift, having spent £180 each on tickets which they bought last July.
Melissa, 17, who loves the Evermore era most, said: ‘We have been fans for a really long time, since about 2012.
‘This is our first time seeing her. We are really excited. She is very relatable.’
Sister Maddie, 19, who loves Fearless, added: ‘Her impact on the music industry has been incredible.
‘We were a bit worried that the show was going to get cancelled, but I think the Vienna incident probably just made security tighter. If anything now we should be more safe.’
TV personality Dick Strawbridge, 64, most well-known for his hit show Escape to the Chateau, was seen attending the event with his daughter Dorothy.
He said: ‘You will have to see me in my outfit later, I am just going to get changed.
‘We just went to get her hair bedazzled.’
Melissa Thornton, 17 and sister Maddie, 19, wear matching outfits as they prepare to see Taylor Swift later
Alice Garden 19, and friend Grace Hitchcock, 19, wore dozens of friendship bracelets as they arrived in north London
Other fans wore the shirt of Swift’s boyfriend and American football player Travis Kelce
Fans have been queuing for up to 30 hours ahead of Swift’s concert on Thursday
Thousands of fans are already arriving at Wembley before the stadium officially opens at 4pm
Extra security measures mean fans will not be able to gather outside the stadium to listen to the concert
The floors on the walk to the stadium were littered with jewels and feathers, with either side packed with vendors pushing merchandise.
One hopeful fan has travelled all the way from Belgium without a ticket – and says she’ll be ‘gutted’ if she has to leave.
It has become a trend for eager fans to gather where superstar Swift is playing, even if they can’t get into the show, and listen to the concert – a practice known as ‘Tay-gating’.
But Wembley Stadium said earlier this week that non-ticket holders will be moved on.
Gaellle Windy, 25, is waiting outside the venue this afternoon with a sign begging for a spare ticket.
She has been a fan for eight years and even has a Lover themed tattoo on her arm.
Gaelle said: ‘I went to a show in Paris and one in London during the reputation tour. I tried to get tickets when they first came out, but it was impossible.
‘Resellers are selling them for around £600, but they should only be £100.
‘I love Taylor because I relate to the lyrics. They are so moving, and they helped me get through some hard times.’
The adoring fan said she had hoped to listen to the songs from outside but has heard rumours that security will be moving people on who try.
Official and unofficial merchandise stalls have popped up around north London
Many Swifties arrived at Wembley in cowboy boots and hats, wearing outfits themed around the tour’s Eras
A person signs a Taylor Swift fan’s dress ahead of her concert, following the cancellation of three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna
Fans pose for photographs at Wembley ahead of the first show later on Thursday
She added: ‘I understand why they are doing it after what happened in Vienna, the security is going crazy.
‘If they tell me to move on then I will, but I will be gutted. I am going to try to stay.’
Lifelong fans Alice Barden and Grace Hitchcock, both 19, have also arrived at Wembley early on Friday.
Alice, who says her favourite eras are Fearless and Folklore, said: ‘I have been a fan as long as I can remember.
‘I am so excited. This is my first time seeing her and I can’t wait. We were a little worried before because of Vienna, but I feel really good now we are here.
‘I am really hoping for the other side of the door as a surprise song, but I could go on all day I love her music so much.’
Grace added: ‘I love Taylor because she is just so positive and kind. Her music is amazing.’
A trio of besties who have been Swift fans since her debut album more than 15 years ago, showed up in homemade bedazzled outfits inspired by Taylor’s performance costumes.
Leonnie Howle, 33, who wore a hand stitched white dress, said: ‘I love Fearless because I was crying in my bedroom to it when I was 15.
Many fans arrived in coordinated outfits as excitement builds ahead of tonight’s show
Security has been beefed up ahead of the London shows, with the Met Police saying they are ‘well prepared’ for the event
Swift also did a run of concerts in London in June, and returns as the final leg of her European tour
‘It is so nostalgic. We are around the same age as her, so the music has always been reminiscent of what we were going through in life at the time. We grew up with it.’
Natalie Bates-Siney, 32, spent two months making her bedazzled bodysuit, said: ‘I flew to America to see one of her shows.
‘She is just so relatable. It is really like a community now. When we were younger it wasn’t seen as cool to be a Swiftie, we were mocked. But now it’s super cool.’
Becky Scott, 32, who wore a black bodysuit and loves The Tortured Poets Department the most, said: ‘We flew to Paris just to see her perform. The lyrics are the reason I love her so much.
‘When we saw her in Paris, I have never been to a concert like that before. Everyone is so nice.’
Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police have said they are ‘well prepared’ ahead of Swift’s run of concerts at Wembley.
It comes after the Grammy-winner paid tribute to victims of the Southport attack in which three young girls were killed in a mass stabbing in July at a holiday club event themed on the singer.
Swift had been touring to packed stadiums across the continent this spring and summer but her three shows at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium were called off last week after police uncovered an alleged plot by suspected terrorists.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan had promised at the time that the UK capital would ‘carry on’ hosting Swift’s concerts, despite the threat.
Commander Lou Puddefoot of the Metropolitan Police said: ‘A series of concerts will begin at Wembley on Thursday evening and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of people to the capital.
‘Over recent months, we have been working very closely with the stadium, event organisers and other partners, to ensure that all visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.
‘We are well prepared for this event and the public should expect to see officers, security staff and stewards working together in and around the venue and at transport hubs.
‘The Met is regularly involved in the policing of these types of events and as always, we have a flexible plan in place to ensure everyone can enjoy themselves safely.
‘Wembley Stadium has provided detailed advice on its website to ensure ticketholders travelling to the venue have a great experience.
‘We continue to ask the public to remain vigilant and if something doesn’t feel right, to report it to a police officer or in an emergency call 999.’
The stadium has put a guide online for fans attending the shows, which warns them not to bring chains, chain wallets, studded jewellery or spurs, noise-making devices such as air horns, bells, bullhorns, thunder sticks or aerosol containers – including sunscreen, pepper spray, bug spray, or spray paint with them.
Additionally, ticketless supporters will be unable to congregate outside the stadium, thwarting an often common practice among the singer’s fans known as ‘tay-gating’.