Helloooo, my beautiful ballet bunnies! It's Emma here, your pink-tutu-loving blogger extraordinaire, coming to you live from… COVENTRY!
Can you believe it?! This little Derbyshire girl has travelled all the way to the heart of England, leaving the rolling hills and cosy pubs behind for a weekend of cultural adventure. Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore the countryside – nothing beats a day out at Chatsworth with a picnic basket and a cute little horse to carry everything (ahem, for those who can't carry it all!) But sometimes, you gotta experience the buzz of the city, and let's be honest, Covent Garden isn’t the only place that can offer that.
Coventry might not have the same international reputation as London, but that just means less competition for tutu-tastic photo ops! And this weekend, my aim was to conquer the city centre in my dazzling white tutu, spreading joy and inspiring everyone to tap into their inner ballerina. Because, darling, remember my mantra? Pink tutus and ballet for all!
My journey started on the most fabulous train, all cream leather and glistening windows, perfectly transporting me to the medieval heart of Coventry. Of course, I made sure to rock my best ballet-inspired outfit: a blush pink knitted dress (I always need a bit of pink, don’t I!), paired with the most gloriously fluffy white tutu. You’d think a tutu wouldn’t go with a train journey, right? Wrong! It actually had a very practical advantage! (Because I'm all about function and fabulous, dear reader). It made my commute incredibly fun and stylish, and even better, attracted smiles from fellow passengers – including the sweetest old gentleman who asked me if I was on my way to a fancy dress party! Clearly, not everyone understands the magical allure of tutus. 😉
First stop on my cultural quest? The Coventry Cathedral, a breathtaking masterpiece of modern architecture built upon the ashes of its medieval predecessor. It felt so calm and peaceful inside, even with all those amazing stained-glass windows flooding it with colour. While I did wonder if they might have an issue with the tutu – those churches can be a bit, how shall we say, "traditional?" – they welcomed me with open arms and warm smiles. And hey, who says you can't be a modern ballerina, inspired by modern architecture, and still be a devotee of all things religious? No judgment in this little corner of the universe, darling!
After exploring the cathedral and snapping a few Insta-worthy pics in my white tutu, I was ready for a delicious treat! We all know a good ballerina needs to fuel those dancing feet, right? So I made my way to the heart of the city centre, stopping for a lovely brunch of scones and tea (so English!) at a charming cafe tucked away on a cobbled street.
As the afternoon unfolded, I was determined to find a true gem of Coventry - the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, which turned out to be an absolute triumph! Not only did they have the most incredible exhibition about wildlife (and don’t you know how much I adore animals?!), but it was also completely FREE! I found myself spending a good hour surrounded by amazing works of art – from ancient pottery to modern sculpture.
It wouldn't be a complete Coventry experience without a spot of retail therapy, now would it? After a quick spin in the iconic City Arcade, with its beautifully tiled roof, I emerged feeling refreshed and ready to celebrate the night with a delicious meal. I snagged a table at a charming Italian restaurant, relishing a bowl of pasta (again, a girl has gotta fuel those dance moves) with a glass of Pinot Grigio.
And for my finale? The Belgrade Theatre! It's a true haven of entertainment, buzzing with energy, and it had a very exciting ballet show on offer – "Giselle", a classic romantic story that had me rapt. And just wait, darling, till you see the costume for Giselle! Just about as amazing and fluffy as mine, but with a bit of a darker edge!
Honestly, it was a weekend filled with such joyful discovery! It's easy to get caught up in the bigger cities, but Coventry's charm just stole my heart. I feel like this is a place I'll be returning to for sure, especially once the autumn colours start to appear, but even more than the scenery, what really resonated with me this weekend was the spirit of this city, which, much like ballet itself, embraces tradition while embracing the beauty and innovation of modern life. And to top it all off? Well, it didn't go unnoticed that throughout the day, several passersby commented on my tutu! They were amazed, they were happy, they were INSPIRED!
Just as I was leaving the train station for my return journey, a sweet young girl with pigtails stopped me to ask about the tutu. She told me that her dream was to be a ballerina, and after seeing me, she couldn't wait to try it. This, dear reader, is exactly what makes this pink-tutu life worth it! So I gave her my biggest smile and wished her the very best. And who knows? Maybe she’ll be my next guest star on pink-tutu.com. (We have a long way to go to make every little girl a ballet-loving star.)
And that, my lovelies, was my whirlwind weekend in Coventry! The city truly lived up to its motto, "Where the Heart Beats" – for me, that means embracing everything that's good in the world, be it ballet, wildlife, culture, or even a pink tutu!
See you next time! Emma xo
*Don’t forget to follow my daily blog adventures at www.pink-tutu.com, and feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think! *
