✨Tay-Tay in the UK
The Taylor Swift Eras Tour in the United Kingdom
Summer 2024
💳 Points Notes
This trip started as a summer trip to Costa Rica… but Taylor Swift had other plans! When The Eras Tour hit Edinburgh, we pivoted and made the UK our summer destination instead. Using points strategically for flights and hotels allowed us to make this a memorable family adventure, full of city walking, castles, trains, and Taylor.
✈️ Flights: Points + Transfer Strategy
We booked our RDU → London flights with JetBlue using Amex Membership Rewards points. We stacked a nice transfer bonus which helped us stretch our points even further.
🏨 Hotels & Logistics
TWA Hotel (JFK) — Great stopover on the first night before flying to England
Park Plaza Riverbank (London) — Walking distance to main London sights and perfect for a family base
Wilde Hotel (Edinburgh Grassmarket) — Amazing views of Edinburgh Castle and a short bus ride to the stadium
Roomzzz Hotel (York) — Charming stay with a full kitchen and local walking access
Another favorite credit card is my Amex Gold. Membership Rewards points are powerful transferable point that can be used for flight and hotels. Plus it earns 4X points on my biggest spend— Groceries!
💖 If you sign up for a credit card through my link, I may receive a referral bonus. Thank you for supporting the blog, it means so much!
✨ Trip Highlights
📍 London (June 2–5)
We landed in England and dove straight into London’s iconic scenes:
Westminster & Big Ben — Perfect first-walk along the Thames
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace — Classic royal pageantry!
River Taxi to Tower of London — A scenic waterway ride to history
Sky Gardens + Theatre Night — Urban gardens with a view and Hamilton!
💡 Tip: Book early train tickets — First Class seats on the LNER London → Edinburgh are surprisingly reasonable and comfy.
🎤 Edinburgh (June 6–8)
The reason for the trip:
Edinburgh Castle Morning Hike — Great views and castle history
Rainbow Street Walks & Local Spots — Fun places to explore between concerts
The Eras Tour at BT Murrayfield Stadium — A daylight concert!
🏙️ York (June 8–10)
A charming detour between cities:
Clifford’s Tower & Roman Walls — Explore York’s medieval charm
York Minster Cathedral — Majestic and historic
Riverfront Walks & Local Pubs — Slow travel at its best
🏁 Back to London + Home
After a quick return to London near Heathrow for easy flights home, we wrapped up a truly unique UK experience — thanks points + flexibility!
📌 Lessons Learned
Flexible itineraries pay off — pivots are more doable with points
Book early for trains & tours — UK rail gets busy in summer but affordable the earlier you book
Points + Cash = Power Combo — You don’t need all-points travel to make it a “points trip”