As excitement builds for Taylor Swift‘s dazzling return to London today for the final leg of her Eras tour — swifties have been getting up at 4am and sprinting down Olympic Way in order to get prime positions in the queue.
It marks the US pop star’s first concert since an alleged terror plot was foiled in Vienna, in which she was forced to cancel three of her shows amid safety concerns.
The singer-songwriter, 34, paid tribute to victims of the Southport tragedy, which saw three girls die after a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
Following the attack in Merseyside last month, Swift said she was at a ‘complete loss for how to ever convey my sympathies to these families.’
In a statement posted to her Instagram story, she added: ‘The horror of yesterday’s attack in Southport is washing over me continuously and I’m just completely in shock.
‘The loss of life and innocence, and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families, and first responders. These were just little kids at a dance class.’
Now, fans have said they are hoping she will dedicate one of her songs during her London gigs to the victims of the attack — Bebe King, six, Alice Dasilva Aguiar, nine, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven.
Fans don merchandise as they walk to the queue forming outside Wembley stadium
One fan queuing outside Wembley today with a foil blanket to keep warm
Fans have been seen queuing outside Wembley Stadium today ahead of the concert tonight
Excitement is building among fans waiting outside the stadium with lots of glitter in sight
Alice Dasilva Aguiar (L), seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed in the Southport attack in July
Taylor Swift returns to Wembley tonight for the first of five shows to mark the end of her Eras tour
One superfan has come well-prepared for the wait with a blanket, food and bracelets to share with her new friends in the queue.
Gabriela Padilla, 26, was the first person in the queue when she arrived at 11am yesterday despite the fact that doors don’t open until 4pm today.
The long-time Swiftie, who is from Madrid but lives in London, said: ‘I did it for her concerts in June and I made the most amazing memories.
‘I actually got my ticket for from one of the people I met in the queue. Fans were here from all over the world and the vibes were great. I still chat daily to the people I met that night.’
Marketing executive Gabriela arrived prepared for her near 30-hour camping stint with her sisters Chloe, 21, and Coco, 19.
She said: ‘I’ve got a blanket to sit on and a thermal blanket to keep me warm. I’ve got food, water, my outfit for tomorrow. Plus friendship bracelets to make and trade.
‘I’ve also got some lanterns to hold up as a fan project during Taylor’s ‘evermore’ set.’
Gabriela Padilla, 26, from Madrid but lives in London, who is the first is line for Taylor Swift tour
Taylor Swift fans huddled outside the stadium as they wait for doors to open
Taylor Swift fans take pictures on the “Swift Steps” outside of Wembley stadium
A Swiftie takes a photograph at the Swiftie Steps and murals at Wembley Park, north west London, ahead of Taylor Swift’s Era’s Tour concert
BBC Breakfast spoke to fans outside the stadium this morning as excitement builds for the concert tonight
Fans heading to the front of the queue to watch Taylor Swift live tonight
Gabriela, who has been a fan of Swift since 2009, admitted she was ‘surprised’ that there weren’t already more people queueing for tomorrow’s concert.
‘When I did this last time I was around 13th in the queue when I got here,’ the Swiftie said. But I think people are a bit more cautious this time after the terrorist threat in Austria.
‘I know there has been a lot of stuff about how fans won’t be allowed outside the stadium.’
Sister Chloe agreed and said: ‘I was sure there would be more people. But yeah. I think people are more scared at the moment so that might be why. I feel safe, though. There are going to be more police because of what happened.’
Chloe added: ‘I camp quite a lot for concerts. I’ve got my essentials – food, blankets, tent, water, portable charger. I did the same for Olivia Rodrigo.’
But for Gabriela, there’s only one artist she would brave the elements for.
She said: ‘I never camp for any other concerts. But for Eras, it’s worth it.. I would only do it for Taylor Swift.
‘Last time, I only got about an hour of sleep. But I ran on adrenaline, got barrier exactly where I wanted, so it was worth it.’
Elsewhere in Wembley Stadium grounds, fans were queueing for early access to Swift’s merchandise yesterday.
The queues were sizeable for a day before the concert – but no one had to wait for more than an hour.
Many chatted away and sang along as Swift’s tunes rang out through the warehouse.
Security were checking people’s bags before they entered and a few Met Police officers were seen roaming the site.
However, there will likely be a much larger presence today.
Swift has been touring to packed stadiums across the continent this spring and summer until earlier in the month when her three shows at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium were called off as a result of a suspected plot.
Taylor Swift was recently pictured at a party thrown in London for her Eras tour staff
Taylor Swift performing at her first London concert at Wembley Stadium, during the Eras Tour
Francesca Abela, right, and Kylie Micallef both from Malta show off their Taylor Swift merchandise they have just purchased at Wembley Stadium in London
Members of the community arrive ahead of a vigil to remember the victims on August 5
Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged seven, was also fatally wounded during the attack at a Taylor Swift themed dance class
The family of Bebe King thanked their community for the outpourings of support
Alice da Silva Aguiar pictured on her last day, heading to the Swift-themed dance class
Earlier in the month, London Mayor Sadiq Khan told Sky News the UK’s capital will ‘carry on’ with hosting Swift’s concerts.
‘We have a huge amount of experience in policing these events, we’re never complacent, many lessons were learned after the awful Manchester Arena attack’, he said.
The stadium has put a guide online for fans attending the dates which says there should be no chains, chain wallets, studded jewellery or spurs, no noise-making devices such as air horns, bells, bullhorns, thunder sticks and no aerosol containers – including sunscreen, pepper spray, bug spray, or spray paint.
Additionally, ticketless supporters will be unable to congregate outside the arena on show day, thwarting a usually common practice among fans known as ‘tay-gating’.
The 14-time Grammy winner performed a slew of shows at Wembley in June watched by famous faces including Tom Cruise, the Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan.
The Anti-Hero singer has said that her August set of shows will be supported by Brit Award winner Raye, Daisy Jones & the Six star Suki Waterhouse and rising stars, Maisie Peters, Holly Humberstone and Sofia Isella.
Swift’s billion-dollar Eras Tour takes fans through her back catalogue, including hits from albums 1989, Red and Midnights.
To mark her previous arrival in the capital, murals, a special Tube map, a Taylor trail and a series of events were created.
This time, a giant mural of the megastar has appeared on steps next to the venue.
Ahead of her shows, a merchandise site opened in Green Car Park, near the stadium, on Wednesday.