Taylor Swift has kicked off the UK leg of her sellout Eras Tour in style in Edinburgh – after stepping out onto the stage in a trademark blue and gold sequin bodysuit and telling screaming fans: ‘What a way to welcome a lass to Scotland.’

The 34-year-old Just Say Yes singer drove fans wild as she appeared on stage at Murrayfield Stadium following a riotous warm-up from American pop-punk band Paramore.

Excitement built up to fever pitch with a two-minute countdown on the big screen before Taylor finally emerged from a stage which rose dramatically into the air in the middle of the stadium prompting screams of hysteria.

She started out with tune Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince. And as she took in the adulation of thousands, Taylor paused to tell them: ‘What a way to welcome a lass to Scotland… you’ve gone and made me feel so amazing.’

She then spun round and pointed to every part of the stadium drawing in huge screams and told the crowd: ‘That went straight to my head. That made me feel….really powerful.’

The sell-out show saw her run through a cavalcade of hits including Cruel Summer, Lover, You Belong With Me, Love Story and 22 – which saw her hand a fedora hat to a young fan in the audience, as is tradition at each show – within its first hour.

And in a nod to her Scottish audience, she gave backing dancer Kameron Saunders the opportunity to say ‘Nae chance!’ as she performed We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. 

She then told the adoring crowd: ‘My biggest regret is that I should have played in Scotland more. I should have brought every tour to Scotland. I can’t stop looking at the crowd…it’s captivating.’

And someone took the show as an opportunity to write their own Love Story – proposing to their partner at the show, and even catching the singer’s eye. She told the crowd: ‘I’m pretty sure someone just got engaged right now. They did! That’s amazing. That’s huge!’ 

All those crammed inside the stadium raised their arms into the air and activated special wristbands which sparkled whenever Taylor began singing.

Clutching a sky blue guitar, Taylor hailed the Edinburgh crowd early in the show, telling them the concerts are the biggest in Scottish history. 

She said: ‘I’ve not been to Scotland for almost a decade and I wondered what’s it was going to be like but you know what you answered it before I even got on stage. 

‘This concert is the most highly ticketed show in Scottish history.’ 

She then burst into huge hit Lover – the bombastic production values on show as the song ended with a shower of sparks raining down on the stage in front of a backdrop of a burning house.

The three-and-a-half hour show charts Swift’s near-20-year professional music career, from aspiring country singer to pop star and now global cultural juggernaut with a fandom unrivalled by almost any other musical act on the planet.

It features countless costume changes, with Swift moving from bodysuit to sequinned suit jackets, a t-shirt reading ‘this is not Taylor’s version’ and even a flowing lavender gown she wore to sing Enchanted – blowing kisses to fans as she re-emerged on stage.

She then donned yet another outfit – a snake patterned ensemble to sing Reputation and Bad Blood.

Later, her backing dancers were boxed inside transparent cases as she launched into Look What You Made Me Do – her polarising hit that riffs on Right Said Fred’s 90s hit Sexy.

And no expense was spared as she took to the roof of a treehouse, backlit by a gigantic moon on the screen behind her, to sing mellow track Cardigan, the lead single from lockdown album Folklore. As she sang in a forest-inspired green dress, the 73,000-strong crowd sang every word back.

Later, Murrayfield lit up with a sea of torches as she launched into slow-burning Evermore hit Marjorie, inspired by her late grandmother, and Willow – fans waving their phones back and forth, bright LEDs alight across the entire stadium.

The performance began just hours after the multi-Grammy-winning global megastar touched down at Edinburgh Airport – hidden beneath a series of umbrellas as she was whisked into a car and driven to the stadium in a police convoy.

Drone pictures showed the convoy weaving its way through Scotland’s capital – and passing the entrance to the rugby stadium and events venue as fans queued, unaware they were just feet from their idol.

The Cruel Summer singer is performing tonight, Saturday and Sunday in Edinburgh before heading to Liverpool, Cardiff and Wembley in London – fresh off the back of releasing her critically acclaimed album The Tortured Poets Department.

Excitement had been building ahead of the British leg of Taylor’s sell-out Eras Tour, and devoted fans, who call themselves Swifties, had queued since 3am, braving the miserable Scottish weather as they did so.

In true Scottish fashion, fans have covered their sparkling outfits with waterproof coats and resorted to wearing plastic bags over their shoes to stay dry ahead of the show beginning.

Inside the stadium, they could be seen exchanging friendship bracelets – a trademark sign you’re at a Taylor Swift Concert – and singing every word of the 40-plus song setlist back at the American superstar. 

And while buckets of chicken nuggets and chips were being sold for an unappealing £14 at a time – in both meaty and vegan forms – the bar was selling wine for a far more palatable £6.70, while a gin and tonic was £7.50.

Such is the draw of a Taylor Swift concert that fans have been trying to stream it on TikTok from inside the stadium – with thousands tuning in on TikTok and other piggybacking streams on YouTube in order to watch it, despite such streams being a breach of copyright law.

Ellie Simmonds has been spotted in the queue wearing a t-shirt with the words I Love Taylor written across it.

The British Paralympian swimmer was seen with a film crew speaking to fans who had been waiting for hours in line.

Some Swifties pitched up tents to make an impromptu camp outside the home of Scottish rugby overnight. 

At least 12 tents were set up close to the stadium gates as fans travelled from all over the country to be among the first in line to see the Anti-Hero star.

Other Swifties have packed out hotels in Edinburgh’s historic centre having jetted in from the far corners of the globe – controversially forcing the city to house homeless-presenting people elsewhere.

One fan told MailOnline Swift is rumoured to be staying at the popular Balmoral Hotel. They claimed she has booked out two entire floors after offering an entire wedding party £10,000 to move.

This morning the first few hardy souls began gathering in Roseburn Park to wait for the entrance gates to open at 3pm this afternoon.

First in to the stadium tonight is Amber Small, 19, from Aberdeen, who was at the front of the VIP section.

She said: ‘I can’t wait. I got here for 3am to be first in queue. I didn’t go to bed last night because I was so excited.

‘It was quite cold and dark but I’ve got my poncho on and I’m from North-East Scotland so I’m made of stern stuff.

‘I stayed the night at my friend’s aunt’s house as she lives in Edinburgh and sneaked out quietly about 2am.

‘Nothing was going to stop me from getting here early, she’s incredible, the best artist in the world. I’ve seen her twice, in London and Glasgow a few years ago.

‘A few other fans came after me. We got chatting and we’ve all marked our hands with marker pen to show our place in the queue.

‘I’m thrilled I’m number one! That feeling of being the first in the stadium this afternoon when the gates open at 3pm will be indescribable. And it’s only going to get better.’

As Swifties queued, they could belt out their favourite hits thanks to local nightclub Boho, which set up a karaoke machine with which to entertain themselves. 

Zoe Blair and Sophie Anderson, both 21 and from Stirling, took to the mic. Zoe said: ‘I can’t wait, Taylor is amazing.

‘We managed to get last minute tickets last week and wouldn’t miss this for the world. My favourite songs are Illicit Affairs and Better Than Revenge.

‘It’s going to be an incredible night. That’s not the only singing we’ll be doing tonight, we’ll be singing along to every song.’

Natalie Patience, Vicki Farish, Ella Farish and Emma Patience turned out in style to celebrate Vicki turning 44 today.

The birthday girl said: ‘It’s been an amazing birthday so far and this is just incredible being here.

‘We got the train from Carlisle earlier today and cannot wait for Taylor to come out on stage. The excitement is building.

‘My daughter and niece are huge Swift fans. This concert is the cherry on top of my birthday cake.’

Friends Aidan Nicholson, 27, Zoe Wick, 22, and Alana Johnstone, 22, have travelled from Orkney to attend the concert in Edinburgh on Friday.

Mr Nicholson said: ‘We got a boat and drove for about six hours to get here. We’re also flying out to Denmark tomorrow on holiday.’

Asked what he is most excited about, he said: ‘I’m looking forward to her playing You Belong With Me, because it’s vintage Taylor, the best Taylor, and that’s the way to go.’

Ms Wick said: ‘I’m excited to hear Love Story because it’s a classic and everybody grew up listening to it.’

And Ms Johnstone said she is looking forward to the song All Too Well, adding: ‘I can’t wait to hear it.’

Jasmine Griffin-Jones, 19, travelled to Edinburgh yesterday from her home in Manchester.

She joined two friends camping outside Murrayfield overnight.

She said: ‘We weren’t supposed to camp but a few of us turned up with tents and had nowhere else to go so the authorities didn’t have much choice but to let us stay.

‘There were about 12-tents overnight. It was great, like a little festival.

‘I went to the Sainsbury’s round the corner and bought a cheap duvet and sat up through the night with my friends chatting and playing Taylor Swift songs.

‘We basically went through her set list. It was fantastic, starting the concert early.

‘This morning we got up early, took the tent down and started queuing – people were already here at 5am.

‘I’m really looking forward to tonight, it’s going to be magical.’ 

Nawaf Karmustaji, 23, from Newcastle arrived at 4am with friends Sam Best, 22 and Michael Owens, 27.

His brother Rashid, 24, flew in from Bahrain to Scotland especially for the gig yesterday.

Clutching a cup of coffee Nawaf said: ‘I need this! It’s been an early start.

‘The VIP section go in an hour before everyone else but then it’s us. We’re first in the queue for the standing area left of the stage so hopefully we’ll get a good vantage point.

‘Taylor Swift is unreal, such a fantastic performer and her concerts are off the scale so it’ll be a night to remember.

‘It’s been great being here with everyone, there’s a real buzz starting to build. Everyone is dressed up and happy. Taylor Swift is a genius.’

Sam added: ‘We’ve seen The Eras film at least five times – probably more than that – but we’ve never seen her live so it’s going to be unbelievable. I’m so excited.’

Meanwhile, Rashid, used to Bahrain’s searing heat, huddled from the Edinburgh chill by wrapping himself in a duvet.

He said: ‘I think Taylor Swift is amazing – but not the Scottish weather!’

Jemma Havlin, 42, and Kara-Louise Harkins, 25, had brought plenty of snacks to keep them going through to the afternoon.

Jemma from Ayrshire said: ‘We’ve never seen her before so we don’t know what to expect. But the excitement is building.

‘People have come dressed in bright colours with feather boas and hats. It’s a real party.

‘I’ve stocked up on crisps and sweets to keep us going until the gates open at 3pm this afternoon.

‘I think there’s a bit more of a wait until Taylor comes on about 7pm. She’s going to be fantastic.’

Kara added: ‘I missed her last time she was in Scotland so we got here bright and early this morning.

‘There’s only about 50 or so people in front of us so we’ll be among the first in – before another 73,000 people turn up. I can’t wait.’

Ellie Poulter, 19, travelled from Oxfordshire to Edinburgh on a ten-hour coach to see the singer perform on Saturday.

She told Edinburgh News: ‘I’m waiting 48 hours to get to the front of the crowd. I had a ten -hour coach journey to get here and I slept most of the way so I’m feeling fresh now.

‘I’ve got a hotel but I want to be at the front. So I just dropped my bags there and we’ll have somewhere to sleep after the concert on Saturday.’

Around 220,000 fans have spent hours in line to buy official merchandise which is being sold near the stadium.

Superfan Casey Paterson, 14, can’t wait to ‘breathe the same air’ as Swift.

The teen, from Fife, has been sleeping at night with a VIP ticket beside her bed since August.

Her mother, Catherine Paterson said: ‘My daughter is obsessed with Taylor Swift

‘I’m looking forward to seeing my daughter’s dream come true by finally seeing her idol perform live – a memory I’m sure we’ll treasure forever.’

Staunch fans have flown in across the world from the Philippines, Australia and the States, with one fan coming from Texas with his wife to see the star before he goes blind.

It was a struggle to find accommodation in Edinburgh as hotels were quickly booked up despite tripling their rates during the megastar’s three-night residency.

Incredibly, some locals came to the rescue – with one man listing his property on Airbnb for £585 per night.

And after a mysterious private jet was spotted arriving in the city today, anticipation for the concert has grown.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has told of his ‘bond with the Swifties’, before going on to name his favourite song by the US singer.

During a General Election campaign event in Glasgow on Friday, Mr Swinney was asked by a journalist to name his top three Taylor Swift songs, prompting peals of laughter from the audience.

The First Minister replied that he had felt a ‘bond with the Swifties’ – as Taylor Swift fans are known – since Loch Tay in his Perthshire North Holyrood constituency was temporarily renamed Loch Tay Tay in honour of the star’s arrival in Scotland this week.

To further laughter from the gathered audience of SNP activists and journalists, Mr Swinney said his favourite Swift song is her 2019 single You Need To Calm Down – which he erroneously referred to as You’ve Got To Calm Down.

Mr Swinney said: ‘First of all, I really welcome Taylor Swift’s journey to Scotland, and the fact her tour is starting off in Scotland. I think that’s a massive, exciting opportunity.

‘The fact that the most beautiful place on the planet, Loch Tay, has been renamed Loch Tay Tay creates a new bond between me and the Swifties as I represent Loch Tay – or Loch Tay Tay – so that’s absolutely fantastic, and I do feel that bond with the Swifties really strongly.

‘My very favourite Taylor Swift song is, and you’ll appreciate this, is You’ve Got To Calm Down.’

A train service to Edinburgh has been named to celebrate the first UK concerts of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour.

LNER said Friday’s 10am departure from London King’s Cross to the Scottish capital is called The Flying Swiftie.

Thousands of the singer’s fans – known as Swifties – are travelling by train to see her perform the first of three gigs at Murrayfield Stadium tonight.

Passengers are being advised to reserve seats as trains will be very busy.

LNER communications director Stuart Thomas said: ‘We couldn’t pass up the opportunity to celebrate the tour arriving in the UK and so our special Flying Swiftie service will say ‘So Long, London’ at 10am – packed with fans heading for the first night in Edinburgh.’

Meanwhile Edinburgh Zoo welcomed two critically endangered cotton-top tamarins who were born on Tuesday. 

In honour of Taylor’s concerts in Edinburgh, the tiny newborns were called Taylor and Swift. 

The arrival of Taylor to Edinburgh ahead of her sell-out Eras Tour was also heralded by a bagpipe rendition of her hit Love Story.

To give her a ‘Scottish welcome’, The Reel Time Band, an 11-piece band made up of eight highland bagpipers and three drummers, performed her song Love Story on the steps outside the venue, while wearing ‘era-fied’ kilts.

Roddy Deans, pipe major of The Reel Time Band, said: ‘Taylor’s tunes translate surprisingly well to traditional Scottish instruments.

‘We’re all huge music fans, so we’re delighted to help welcome Taylor to Scotland in the best way we know how.

‘It’s been a lot of fun recreating Love Story on the bagpipes and putting this ensemble together.’

It took the band 32 hours of rehearsal to practise their take on Swift’s song, and they have played for people across the world, including the royal family.

The singer disclosed that she has Scottish ancestry at a gig in 2015, so the stadium sponsorship signage was also changed from Scottish Gas to Scottish Lass to highlight this.

The 34-year-old American singer can trace her roots back to Scottish King William the Lion, who ruled from 1165 to 1214.

Swift told the Daily Record: ‘Every time I perform in Scotland it honestly feels like I am coming home.’

Drone photos taken today showed workers setting up for the three-hour concert – where the American superstar will perform over 40 songs.

Tickets are still available on resale websites for the megastar’s gig, but they have been spotted going for the eye-watering sum of nearly £5,000 as fans desperately try to go last minute.

A wide range of merch is available for the singer’s fans to get their hands upon, including friendship bracelets – selling for a mindblowing £30 each. 

The merchandise went on sale at 10am on Thursday at Murrayfield, with Eras tour hoodies going for £70 as concert-goers who forked out hundreds on ticket splash even more of their cash.

Other items include £15 for posters and water bottles for those with a tighter budget. 

Although the imminent arrival of Swift’s concert tour to the UK is sending her legions of Swifties into a state of frenzied excitement, it’s also very good news for the country’s coffers as well.

Her Eras tour is set to boost the British economy by almost £1 billion.

The tour, which takes fans on a journey through the different musical stages of her career, has been a juggernaut and is predicted to provide a £997 million boost to the UK economy, according to a report.

Almost 1.2 million fans will spend an average of £848 on tickets, travel, accommodation, outfits and other costs to see the pop superstar at one of the 15 UK tour dates – more than 12 times the average cost of a night out, according to the Barclays Swiftonomics report.

Eras tour tickets sparked a 15.8% year-on-year increase in UK spending on entertainment when they were released last July.

The average amount spent on an Eras tour ticket is £206, although 14% of fans, including those who bought VIP ticket packages with premium seating and exclusive merchandise, spent more than £400.

It has already grossed more than a billion dollars, the biggest haul for any act ever and has bagged a Guinness World Record.

A trio of Swift fans have even flown across the Atlantic to see the Anti-Hero singer for the third time on her current Eras tour.

Margaux Eripret, Katie King and Megan Benner come from Allentown in Pennsylvania, a distance of 3,315 miles from Edinburgh.

They first saw her last month in Philadelphia and then again on Monday in Lyon, France and will be among 73,000 fans who will cram into Murrayfield, the home of Scottish rugby, this weekend.

The friends joined hundreds queuing outside the famous stadium to snap up merchandise.

Margaux Eripret, 23, said: ‘This will be our third time seeing Taylor on this tour. And the second this week!

‘We saw her first close to home in Philadelphia last month and then we decided to see her again in Lyon in France on Monday and tonight in Edinburgh. We’ve made a trip out of it.

‘She’s amazing, although the set list is the same, she throws in a few different surprise songs at each venue.

‘I’ve seen her so many times, I first went to one of her concerts when I was eight and in the third grade at school.

‘I think she is an incredible artist and I’m so looking forward to being there. She brings something new every time.’

Katie King, 25, agreed and said: ‘Each venue there is a different vibe so even though this will be the third time we will have seen her it always feels quite fresh.

‘Lyon was fantastic – it’s where she broke the record for highest attendance by a female artist- but each crowd reacts differently depending on which country and which city.

‘There’s always that buzz and excitement which is amazing here in Edinburgh. It’s as much of a thrill as the first time we saw her in Philly.’

Megan Benner, 23, said: ‘That first time we were right up in the gods but in Lyon we were on the floor so had a much better viewpoint.

‘We are in the VIP area so it’s better still.

‘Edinburgh is a fantastic city so full of history and culture. You can see how many fans Taylor has here looking at this line for merchandise. I know she’ll raise the roof.’

Olivia Peddle, 27, meanwhile had the comparatively shorter trip from Leeds.

She has travelled up to Edinburgh with University of Birmingham with friends Kia Clark, 27, and Orla Mallen, also 27.

Olivia said: ‘ I’ve never seen Taylor Swift before so I’m really excited.

‘I’d had tickets to see her in Hyde Park in 2020 but it was cancelled due to Covid.

‘I’ve wanted to see her so much and now finally I am, and Edinburgh is such a fantastic city. I can’t think of a better place to see the biggest selling artist of the year.’

Even the capital’s trams have been covered in adverts for the star’s latest album and hotel rooms have become hard to find.

Some hoteliers are charging a staggering £1,600 a night amid the shortage of rooms in the city.

Twitter and Facebook have each received thousands of posts from accounts advertising tickets for but the superstar’s Edinburgh shows at far below the rates of official resale sites.

But Nationwide Building Society has warned Swifties looking for tickets to be aware of scams.

Research by the company revealed that the chance to see Taylor Swift is the most likely event to have been affected by fake tickets (20 per cent) closely followed by football fans seeking tickets for the Euros (18 per cent), the Wimbledon tennis championship (15 per cent) and the Olympics and Paralympics (15 per cent).