A cut above the Midwest

Taylor Swift put Kansas City on the map - but there's so much more to Missouri, as Annabel Grossman highlights

- Annabel Grossman

Although Kansas City has had plenty to offer UK travellers for decades - whether that's world-class BBQ, characterful jazz clubs or craft breweries - it's hard to deny that a particular spotlight was shone on the city when Taylor Swift started dating Travis Kelce.

NFL fans may roll their eyes at the fact it took Taylor cheering her boyfriend from the sidelines for many of us to sit up and take notice of the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. After all, this is the team that won the Super Bowl in 2020, 2023 and 2024. Plus, Kansas City will be hosting six matches at the 2026 Fifa World Cup; it is home to the Kansas City Royals baseball team; and it boasts the first stadium purpose-built exclusively for a professional women's soccer team. In many ways, this town is a sports lover's dream.

But beyond the city's borders, Missouri is ripe for exploration. In this state you can catch live blues performances in St Louis, explore the origins of Route 66 in Springfield, immerse yourself in the weird and wonderful in Pulaski County, and get lost among the independent book stores, record shops and galleries of Columbia.

Or if you're into the great outdoors, head to Brandon, lace up your hiking boots and embark on the Ozark Trail; while Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks offer kayaking, fishing, boating, and lakeside lounging.

So although we'd never say you should skip Kansas City, we would suggest continuing your Missouri adventure to discover what else the state has to offer.

St Louis