{"id":418839,"date":"2026-02-10T23:14:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T23:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/418839\/"},"modified":"2026-02-10T23:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T23:14:13","slug":"taylor-swift-puts-croydon-shopping-centre-on-the-map-in-opalite-video-news-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/418839\/","title":{"rendered":"Taylor Swift puts Croydon shopping centre on the map in Opalite video | News UK"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Taylor
\n\t\tTaylor Swift and Domhnall Gleeson run into their exes \u2013 a cactus and a rock in the surreal video (Pictures: Taylor Swift Productions Inc. & Merman)<\/p>\n

Flocks of Taylor Swift fans are making the pilgrimage to a run-down shopping centre in south London<\/a> after her latest video was filmed there in a \u2018top secret shoot\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The star-studded video for Opalite, destined for the top of the charts, was filmed in the Whitgift in Croydon<\/a>, once a thriving state-of-the-art shopping mall but now past its glory days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Swift and her film crew identified the centre as the perfect backdrop for her 90s Rom Com themed video released at the weekend, which already has amassed nearly six million views.<\/p>\n

The Shake It Off songstress even paid for the workers at the 1970s built shopping mall to take the day off when they shot the video last year.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"The
\n\t\tThe Whitgift escalator has become a hotspot for Swifties (Picture: Taylor Swift Productions Inc. & Merman)<\/p>\n

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In one scene, Swift descends the Whitgift escalator with Domhnall Gleeson and goes into a shop front where Graham Norton<\/a> is giving out samples of a fictional Opalite spray, giving the video a slightly surreal but romantic\u00a0edge.<\/p>\n

Tourists and shoppers have been taking selfies in front of the escalator which has now become a major attraction.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the video, Swift comes down the escalator with her on-screen beau Gleeson eating a pretzel. Some fans were spotted by Metro recreating the iconic scene.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"?Depressing?
\n\t\tFans are eating pretzels and riding the same escalator in honour of Queen TayTay.
(Picture: Taylor Swift Productions Inc. & Merman)<\/p>\n

Swift exits the escalator and enters the shop which is, in reality, a Clarks shoe store.<\/p>\n

Clarks manager Jo says she had noticed people turning up to take a picture of the escalators after the video was released.<\/p>\n

She said: \u2018It was only our store that was used. It was mad. Obviously, it was all secret, so it was a relief when it all came out.<\/p>\n

\u2018We didn\u2019t know who it was at the time, though. It all looked mad.<\/p>\n

\u2018I like Taylor Swift. We were here on the day, but I didn\u2019t really see her.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tCillian Murphy showing up in Taylor Swift\u2019s music video was not on our bingo card<\/p>\n

\u2018Our windows were turned into the spray bottles. It was great. It looked like there was some soul and life in here.<\/p>\n

\u2018I think it was a real boost for Croydon<\/a>. People have come to take pictures of the escalators.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was nice for the town that they chose here, but I think it was only chosen because it was empty.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Taylor
\n\t\tSecurity guard Charlie Tomkins with the escalator in Taylor Swift video (Picture: John Dunne)<\/p>\n

Charlie Tomkins, a security guard for Croydon\u2019s Business Improvement District, was on patrol in the centre on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He told Metro: \u2018It\u2019s really getting loads of attention, it\u2019s a big deal. It was top secret filming no-one was allowed to speak about. <\/p>\n

\u2018The security staff were asked to sign non-disclosure agreements. Some of the stores had to close to make way for the filming so the staff stayed home and their wages were paid by Swift\u2019s company.\u2019<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old added: \u2018There are lots of people taking pictures since they found out, and it\u2019s gone crazy. I\u2019m not a Swift fan but good for them. They pose by the escalator for pictures.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"An
\n\t\tOpened in 1970, it was the largest covered shopping development in Greater London until Westfield opened in 2008. (Photo by: Chris Harris\/UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Tess Donovan, 23, took a picture of the escalator along with dozens of others.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She told Metro: \u2018I love Taylor Swift and I\u2019m local so when I saw the chat about the video being at the Whitgift I thought \u2018no way\u2019 so had to come to see for myself. <\/p>\n

\u2018Having grown up in the area to think Taylor has been at my local shopping centre is crazy.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n

A shop worker told Metro: \u2018There are people from all over the world taking pictures of that escalator. Whitgift has seen better days, but this is putting us back on the map. <\/p>\n

\u2018Some people have even gone to extremes buying pretzels to take on the escalator like Taylor.\u00a0\u2018<\/p>\n

Such was the veil of secrecy over the Swift video even managers at the centre were unaware who the star who required such high-level security was.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One told Metro: \u2018I had no idea at all. I thought it was maybe Tom Cruise<\/a> for Mission Impossible \u2013 we had no idea.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Whitgift
\n\t\tSwifties are flocking to Whitgift Shopping Centre in the London Borough of Croydon (Picture by: Chris Harris\/UCG\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
\nLocals reflect on Whitgift Shopping Centre<\/p>\n

The Whitgift Centre in the centre of Croydon was built between 1968 and 1970.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The site is more than 1,300 square feet and was a busy town centre hub but has been hit by a drop in footfall and has struggled to recover from Covid<\/a> lockdowns.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some locals praised Swift for putting Croydon \u2018on the map\u2019, though others fumed at reading articles describing the shopping centre as \u2018abandoned\u2019.<\/p>\n

Most agreed, however, that it was a strange choice of location for the international pop star.<\/p>\n

Friends Laura Williams and Eve Burgess both remembered the Whitgift Centre being abuzz with shoppers and had come down to reminisce after spotting it in Swift\u2019s video.<\/p>\n

\u2018Croydon used to be the place to be,\u2019 23-year-old Laura, a manager at Costa, said.<\/p>\n

\u2018We used to come here every weekend. We saw online it was an \u2018abandoned shopping centre\u2019.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Taylor
\n\t\tSwift and Gleeson perform a cringey dance routine at a north London working men\u2019s club
(Picture: Instagram\/@taylorswift)<\/p>\n

\u2018When we were kids, it was busy all the time, but I guess it kind of is abandoned now.<\/p>\n

\u2018We haven\u2019t been back in years, so we came to see it.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018I thought [Swift\u2019s video] was made with AI,\u2019 25-year-old Eve, who works as a nanny, added. \u2018It\u2019s so weird. Why would she come to Croydon?\u2019<\/p>\n

Other quirky London venues used in the Opalite video include a dancing competition held at the Mildmay working men\u2019s club in Newington Green, north London.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How was the Opalite music video created?<\/p>\n

In an Instagram<\/a> post, Taylor shared \u2018that first spark of an idea\u2019. She wrote, \u2018It can happen at any time, for any reason. The idea for the Opalite music video crash landed into my imagination when I was doing promo for The Life of a Showgirl. I was a guest on one of my favourite shows, [The Graham Norton Show].\u2019<\/p>\n

The singer recalled enjoying the show\u2019s relaxed, dinner-party-like atmosphere, explaining, \u2018For those of you who aren\u2019t familiar, it\u2019s a UK late night show where Graham Norton (the insanely charismatic and lovable host) invites a random group of actors, entertainers, musicians, etc. to be on his show and we all sit there and chat like it\u2019s a dinner party. They even serve wine.\u2019 <\/p>\n

She added that she felt \u2018ridiculously lucky\u2019 with her fellow guests, including Cillian Murphy<\/a>, Domhnall Gleeson, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith<\/a>, and Lewis Capaldi.<\/p>\n

According to Taylor, the concept took shape when Domhnall joked about wanting to appear in one of her music videos. <\/p>\n

\u2018He\u2019s Irish! He was joking! Except that at that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an idea,\u2019 she said, revealing that she sent him a script for \u2018Opalite\u2019 just a week later, with the actor in the starring role.<\/p>\n

\u2018To my delight, everyone from the show made the effort to time travel back to the 90\u2019s with us and help with this video,\u2019 Taylor added.<\/p>\n

\u2018I had more fun than I ever imagined, made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: Travis Kelce\u2019s ex stars in advert that takes thinly-veiled swipe at Taylor Swift<\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: \u2018Depressing\u2019 London spot from the 70s that Taylor Swift is making famous <\/a><\/p>\n

Arrow
\nMORE: The New Balance sale is packed with must-have styles \u2013 here\u2019s everything I\u2019m eyeing<\/a><\/p>\n


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