Visits to the Wembley Park entertainment and retail complex have smashed through pre-pandemic levels with the sell-out Taylor Swift concerts helping to drive footfall to 18% above pre-pandemic levels over the summer.
Footfall data provided by Transport for London reveals that there were 2.87 million exits at Wembley Park Underground Station between June and August 2024, up nearly a fifth on the 2.43 million in the summer of 2019.
The meant Wembley Park - which is the gateway to Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, and the Troubadour Theatre - ranked within the top 5% busiest out of 434 stations operated by TfL.
As well as Tay-Tay’s eight sell out Wembley Stadium dates, which drew nearly 700,000 fans performers included Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, AC/DC and Green Day. The OVO Arena Wembley also hosted acts such as Troye Sivan, Scorpions, and Garbage.
In 2025 artists booked to perform include Coldplay - who are set to break a new record with 10 concert dates - Oasis and Dua Lipa.
On the theatrical front, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express made its London return at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre - newly renamed Starlight Auditorium - with sold-out shows throughout the summer.
Punchdrunk Enrichment, known for their immersive experiences, began a significant three-year residency in Wembley Park in June. Their debut production, Enitan’s Game, staged five shows daily.
Wembley Park’s shops and restaurants also boosted visits, with London Designer Outlet hitting peak sales of £28.7 million this summer — its best since opening in 2013.
PFM Intelligence data reveals that year-to-date visitors to Wembley Park are up 9.3% compared to 2023, 44.8% compared to 2022, and 144.4% since pandemic blighted 2021.
Claudio Giambrone, head of marketing and cultural programming, Wembley Park, comments: “Wembley Park has truly blossomed into a vibrant creative neighbourhood for London. From world-class stages to street art, we’re showcasing incredible talent - both global stars and emerging local performers. We’re grateful to the artists and our amazing venues for making this possible. It has been anything but a ‘Cruel Summer’ for Wembley Park!”
Justine Simons, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries said: “London has had a spectacular summer of music, arts and sports, and Wembley Park has been right at the heart of it. Wembley Stadium hosted more nights of Taylor Swift’s record-breaking The Eras Tour than any other venue, while the Starlight Auditorium hosted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express and there were fantastic free open-air performances on Olympic Way.
2I look to 2025 with excitement as the area welcomes more high-profile gigs, including the long-awaited return of Oasis, and the new home of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, building a better London for all.”
