Hello my gorgeous little darlings! It’s your favourite Derbyshire dancer, Emma, back from a whirlwind trip to London! Oh, my gosh, it was so much fun, I think my tutu is still twirling from all the excitement.
As you know, London holds a special place in my heart – it’s like the ballet world’s Disneyland! This time I went with a friend who’s trying her hand at the “ballet life” (a big thumbs up from me!) so it was even more fun sharing it all with her.
My trusty travel companion? The train, of course! I'm not saying all train journeys are pretty, but sometimes you get the most scenic views! There's something really charming about watching the world go by from a window, especially with a good book and a pink iced bun (you just have to pick the perfect one at the station!).
London's Tutu Tales
We hit the ground running, and the first stop was, where else, but the Royal Opera House! I had tickets to see Swan Lake – pure ballet bliss! Watching those beautiful dancers execute their pirouettes and arabesques was inspiring. Plus, you just can't beat the energy of the live performance, even after years and years of ballet classes, nothing quite compares to the excitement of the stage.
Speaking of excitement, my friend finally plucked up the courage to try her first adult ballet class! The studio had a gorgeous pink ballet barre, and even though she was a bit nervous (I know the feeling!), I could see the joy and passion lighting up her eyes as she got into the moves. This is why I live for the "ballet life" you see? It's the contagious joy!
After our dance fix, we strolled through Hyde Park - what a picture-perfect way to end a day! And if I’m honest, the pink blooms that were scattered through the park had me pretty much in raptures! Just picture this - a pastel pink sky, with the golden hues of the late afternoon sun hitting the pink blossom. I mean, talk about a postcard scene. I could barely believe I wasn't dreaming, and I even found some of those fabulous pink blooms, that were perfect for a "pink-tutu-London-selfies" 😜
Tutu Time at Covent Garden
Next up was a stroll around Covent Garden - what a riot of colours! We browsed through the craft stalls, stopped for a cheeky hot chocolate and of course, posed with those delightful, oversized puppets.
Did I mention that Covent Garden just HAD to have a pink flamingo on display? Yep, like it's something I could've thought up - perfectly matching my London tutu of choice, which was (what else?!) a beautiful shade of cyan! The sunshine shimmered on the fabric making it look just as bright and beautiful as the Covent Garden Market stalls!
Afternoon Tea with a Touch of Pink
After all that, we simply had to go for afternoon tea - the epitome of sophisticated elegance. We went to the most beautiful tea room with an actual pink velvet armchair – imagine how many pictures I snapped in that, giggling to myself like a school girl! The cake was amazing too, especially that little pink strawberry tart… but it’s just wrong for me to have eaten it with pink frosting when you have a perfect tutu right in front of you - my mistake, darling!
Wildlife and a Bit of Magic
No trip to London would be complete without a visit to the Zoo, even for a self-proclaimed tutu princess! The animals were fascinating, especially the playful otters with their adorable pink noses! Did you know they’re known to wash their food? How delightful!
The real magic came towards the end of our visit at the butterfly house – it was a wonderland of flitting colours, shimmering wings, and fragrant blossoms. If there’s one place where I think I can actually pull off wearing my tutus – this would have been the spot.
The Power of a Pink Tutu
On our last night, my friend and I were walking back to the hotel, just admiring all the city lights, when I heard a little girl shout “Wow, your dress is amazing!” Now, she may have just meant my bright cyan tutu but I couldn't help but take her words to heart. My tutus are an outward expression of my love for dance, and for the sheer joy and colour of life. Maybe she felt inspired to twirl around herself, maybe she'll find the confidence to try ballet herself someday. It all starts with one little spark!
And who knows, maybe someday everyone will be sporting a pink tutu! One thing I've learnt through my adventures is that life's best moments are often found in unexpected places, and sometimes, a simple, yet bold piece of clothing like a tutu, can be the catalyst for joy.
That's my London adventure, for now, darlings! I'll be back soon, with more pink, more tutus, and more dance. Remember, keep those spirits high and twirl your worries away!
Love, Emma x
