Happy New Year, darlings! It’s Emma here, your resident pink tutu enthusiast, and I’m absolutely thrilled to be writing to you from the dazzling capital of London! Yes, you heard right – I've finally made it to this incredible city! I've been dreaming of visiting London for as long as I can remember, and I'm absolutely over the moon that this weekend, I'm exploring its charm, excitement and fabulous fashion.
Now, I'll let you in on a little secret: this trip was made possible thanks to my recent performances at the Derby Theatre! It was a wonderful run of shows, and the audiences were fantastic. Seeing the joy on their faces as they watched me twirl in my pink tutu was truly heartwarming. It’s like magic how they can watch you on stage and let go of their daily stresses. The money from those performances made this London adventure possible! I love how I can fund my travels through my passion.
Speaking of passion, the reason I'm in London? Well, let me just tell you, my dear readers, it's all about ballet! My favourite time of year is definitely approaching – pantomime season! Oh, I just adore those sparkly shows and the enchanting stories, but mostly I'm drawn in by those wonderfully outlandish costumes! I've been itching to see Cinderella at the London Palladium, so I’m planning on nabbing tickets for a show during my visit. Fingers crossed they still have some seats left – I hear they're hot tickets!
Anyway, before we delve into my London adventure, I must tell you how I got here! Ah, the train journey! One of the most glamorous things about travelling is, well, getting ready for the trip, isn’t it? For this journey, I decided to make it extra special by donning my signature pink tutu – but, of course! It always brightens up the train ride and makes everyone smile, even if some give me a funny look… But what do I care? I’m proud to be my own self! A little pink sparkle never hurt anyone!
The journey itself was delightful, my dears. It's all about soaking in the sights, relaxing and listening to music. I even met the loveliest couple on the train who were heading to London to celebrate their anniversary. We had a wonderful conversation about ballet (naturally), the magic of London and everything in between! They were lovely, but I had to refrain from asking them to twirl with me in the carriage, haha! You know me, always looking for a bit of impromptu fun!
But the moment I stepped off the train at King's Cross Station… it was like something straight out of a dream! The station itself is such a glorious structure – all that history, those impressive arched ceilings… And then there’s the legendary platform nine and three-quarters! While I know you can’t really go through a wall and step into another world, it was still fun to take a picture there and imagine stepping onto the Hogwarts Express myself!
Okay, enough about my journey, let's talk London! I checked into a gorgeous hotel in the Kensington area. The minute I walked into the lobby, it felt so grand – think opulent, floral arrangements, and a chandelier that would make even Cinderella jealous! Plus, their tea service is absolutely to die for. My tea cup was as big as my head, and I'm not even exaggerating! My teacup is practically a bowl! My room is divine too – they even had a full-length mirror for admiring all of my twirling and twirling, naturally! I know some say there are no fairy tale romances like they were in Cinderella, but I’m starting to think differently! I’ve only been here a day, and already I’m in the midst of a grand fairy tale adventure!
But back to reality – Friday in London has begun! First stop – Buckingham Palace! Now, you might not be surprised to hear I was absolutely spellbound by its grandeur. It truly is a magnificent building, just begging to be admired! And you know me, my dears, I had to go for a twirl or two outside the palace gates, all for the perfect photo op, of course! It had to be included in my "London Twirling Diaries"!
Of course, I wasn't going to leave without grabbing some photos with the Queen’s Guards! Well, not really – I wouldn’t want to disturb them on duty! But a sneaky photograph of them in the distance, now that was a brilliant shot for my blog. Oh, I couldn't leave the palace area without a detour to Harrods! That beautiful department store just screams extravagance and fashion, and the moment I stepped inside, I knew it would be an incredible shopping experience! But we’ll get to the shopping later, my dears – now that my London trip is in full swing, we have much to explore!
Right, so where else can we visit today? Oh, the choices are endless in London! For the afternoon, I was in need of some artistic inspiration. Luckily, there’s always inspiration to be found in this incredible city, just waiting around every corner, just like in the wonderful stories that unfold in my ballet shows!
But we need to get into the meat of the story. Now I need to mention one very specific artistic inspiration: a must-see in London for ballet lovers. That is of course the Royal Opera House, better known as the Royal Ballet in London. Now you wouldn't believe it, but today's the day they were staging Swan Lake! You wouldn’t think there could be a more perfect show, right? With my lucky charm - a pink ballerina charm necklace my mother gifted me years ago – on, I decided to take my chances to get last minute tickets and go to a show tonight!
After queuing up with a group of fellow ballet fans who had heard of my blog (they had the nerve to recognize me in my signature pink tutu, ahem! So funny), I nervously asked the ticket vendor if there was any chance they had seats left. Lo and behold – one ticket remaining! My heart skipped a beat! As they handed me the ticket I practically gasped and thanked them. This was a sign! I had to go see the Royal Ballet! And wouldn't you know it, my lucky charm has done it again!
The ballet itself was simply breathtaking, darling! It took my breath away, literally! Those incredible dancers - with their strength, grace and sheer artistry - really showcased the brilliance of ballet! Every twirl, leap and arabesque was absolutely mesmerizing, even from my view up in the Gods. This whole ballet experience truly felt like magic! I mean, who knew there could be such powerful feelings in something so seemingly delicate? I left the theater feeling so uplifted! Even a little tired, considering how many photos I took for the gram, hahaha.
The show was incredible, I mean it just added so much magic to my first London evening! Now to unwind after a long day of dancing around in my pink tutu in London. Now that we've talked about the Royal Ballet, there are also other ballet theatres around town: Sadler’s Wells and the English National Ballet. I want to check these out in the next few days as I do my rounds. London is my new playground!
The best part? Right after the show, I wandered down to Covent Garden market. It's this incredible little spot full of fresh flowers, food stalls and even street performers. It's such a fun, bustling, and unique atmosphere, not to mention, beautiful with its colourful blossoms and bustling market! As always, I kept my eyes peeled for the perfect accessory. Luckily, I managed to find the most exquisite vintage pearl necklace to go with my pink tutu! It was exactly what I needed for my photo op at Buckingham Palace tomorrow. The woman at the stand said she liked the vibrant color of my tutu too! Oh, the best thing is that they fit my personality – flamboyant, a bit eclectic but still beautiful. I mean, you can’t go wrong with a dash of pink, can you? I hope I’m inspiring all of you to wear pink a bit more too!
But there's no time to linger, as London is calling with so many more adventures to be had! And my darling, I can't wait to share them all with you in the coming days! After all, I've got so much to discover about London and London’s fashion scene. From museums to parks, shops to shows – this weekend in London promises to be utterly fantastic! My readers have also sent me many suggestions. They want me to get a photograph of myself on Tower Bridge with the city skyline in the background, and another with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben (oh, so cute). I am also excited about checking out the British Museum, the Tower of London and the Tate Modern. Maybe I’ll see a show at the Barbican Centre or catch a musical in the West End! It's truly overwhelming with all the possibilities and opportunities, but oh, so wonderful too! I have a feeling that I am about to create some fabulous memories to treasure forever.
You'll have to stay tuned for all of my London discoveries, my dears. There's still so much I want to share – my trip to Carnaby Street and its fabulous street fashion, those wonderful bakeries and yummy afternoon teas. Who knows? Maybe we’ll even have time to head to Greenwich for a scenic boat tour on the Thames. Maybe I’ll be twirling on board that boat for all of my photos – it’ll definitely be another lovely picture opportunity for my Pink Tutu Diaries! I’ve already added these to my London to-do list. My, my, so much to experience! I might need more time, hahaha! But for now, I will leave you with this. I am truly excited to discover this magical city through the lens of my own unique pink-tinted glasses – the tutu perspective. Oh, this week in London is a real dream! Now, I’m off to the bar – a nightcap of bubbly sounds heavenly. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted tomorrow with another instalment from my London Diaries. I’ll also update you on what I get for a wardrobe upgrade too! This year, I might even take on the challenge to find my favorite London designers too. It sounds rather fun, doesn’t it? I can't wait to keep sharing my experiences with you on this journey of a lifetime! And of course, I’m so looking forward to hearing from you.
See you on Pink Tutu Blog London next Friday! And stay stylish, my dear readers!
Until next time, ?? Emma
www.pink-tutu.com
