Hello my lovely tutu-twirling friends! It’s Emma here, fresh back from a whirlwind day exploring the glorious capital of England, London, the heart of it all, baby! Yep, this little Derbyshire girl got her dancing shoes on and headed straight for the Big Smoke this Friday, all in a pretty pink tutu of course, because what's a trip to London without a little twirling? 😉
Oh, but let’s not forget - this London escapade was all paid for by the glorious twinkle of my ballet shoes. It’s true! You see, last week, I graced the stage at a delightful little recital in Chesterfield, bringing the magic of dance to my home town. The applause was intoxicating, and the lovely ladies at the tea shop after even treated me to a generous slice of lemon drizzle (who could say no to that, especially when a ballet-tutu combo makes you so deserving?). But that deliciousness wasn’t all; their generosity extended to giving me a generous donation to my Pink Tutu Travels Fund! They know me so well! They know how much I love sharing the joy of dance with the world, and, what better way than to explore fabulous cities across the globe, spreading pink tutu magic in every corner! And wouldn’t you know it, it paid for this amazing trip to London, all in the name of twirling, sightseeing and indulging in my favourite pastimes, London fashion and fabulousness, and all because I got to bring joy to others. I feel so lucky to be living this life!
This London adventure started, as it usually does, on a glorious train ride. Oh, how I love trains. There’s something so magical about leaving my small Derbyshire world behind, leaving the fields and cows, and rushing towards the bustle and excitement of the big city, all while gazing out at the gorgeous countryside rushing past. I almost wanted to bust out into a ballet number, just for the train driver and the lucky few sharing my carriage!
After arriving in London, I headed straight for Covent Garden, because every ballerina’s heart needs a pilgrimage to this Mecca of dance! It was like walking into a fairytale! Everywhere I looked, there were beautiful people, incredible performances, and a symphony of laughter and music echoing through the air. You can't go to London without visiting Covent Garden! It's such a vibrant place, with all the Covent Garden shops bursting with treats from flowers to chocolates, the whole place is alive! I even managed to find a pretty new scarf, a delicious shade of rose pink, of course! I practically danced with joy!
For lunch, I had the most divine little meal at a charming café called the 'Pink Pepper'. You just can't miss it! They have pink everything, the tablecloths, the menu, and of course the delightful sandwiches (the tomato and cucumber was my choice, served with an exceptionally delightful rose-infused Earl Grey tea)! It’s the perfect spot for a pit stop on a day of ballet adventures. And to be honest, this place is totally me. They even gave me a special Pink Pepper rose petal topped cupcake to go (yum, just writing it makes my mouth water!) It's the little touches that really make a day, wouldn't you say?
Then it was on to see “Sleeping Beauty" at the London Palladium! I know I love a bit of classic ballet at Covent Garden but I wanted to go for something a little different. Oh my gosh! I haven’t felt that much wonder and joy since I first fell in love with ballet. It's absolutely magical. Everything from the gorgeous costumes to the incredible choreography – it's truly spellbinding. This classic production was totally captivating, especially because it was at the Palladium! Who knew! I swear the whole thing just sparkled. You know those kind of Cinderella fairy tale moments? The Palladium totally has that kind of feel! I'm already looking at what other theatre shows I can see for the rest of the year – London theatre is a must see!
Oh, and speaking of sparkles, I just have to talk about the fabulous shopping! London really is a treasure trove for any tutu enthusiast. Oh, you know me – always on the lookout for a new tutu! I absolutely had to check out Liberty London (always a fabulous stop!) - those beautiful floral print silk fabrics – I can almost smell the London gardens and tea from the store, it's so decadent. It makes me want to wear a long floral gown (which is kind of like a tutu anyway, right?). Even though I didn't find my perfect tutu, I couldn’t resist a little pink top, you know, just for the London trip. 😉 Plus, Liberty has a perfect pink little tea room and what's more festive than pink tea! It's literally like having tea at home but in a very upscale location and it comes with fancy pastries.
London is such an amazing city to get lost in. I can easily say that a day spent twirling around London really is a dream come true. I can't wait to share my next London adventure with you – maybe next week I will explore some of the lesser known theatres in the West End (perhaps something by a British author!) and visit some independent boutiques for some new London outfits – maybe some cool boots, maybe something to match that pink top? What do you think, lovelies?
Let me know what you would do with a day in London and, of course, make sure you tell me all about your own twirling adventures! Don’t forget, I am on social media, you know - Instagram, TikTok (and maybe even Pinterest someday!). Don’t be shy!
Happy twirling, Emma x www.pink-tutu.com
