Ooh, darlings, hold onto your tiaras because your favourite tutu-clad traveller is back! I'm Pink Tutu Sparkles, and my pink-tinted spectacles have led me all the way to Letchworth Garden City! It feels like forever since I donned my dancing shoes and hopped onto a train for a fabulously glamorous trip, and it's been just as long since I've adorned myself in a brand-spanking-new pink tutu - the perfect outfit for a whirlwind adventure.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Pink Tutu, you can't travel everywhere in that tutu!" And honey, you'd be wrong! As a drag queen, the world's my stage, and sometimes that stage is the railway carriage to Leeds, or the bustling streets of Letchworth, or the (slightly less glamorous, but just as magical) backseat of a cab! You can't underestimate the power of a well-placed pink tutu – it's practically a superpower! (And I think my next mission is to invent a pink tutu-themed jetpack, what do you think?)
Speaking of stages, before I talk about Letchworth, let's talk about ballet. You see, the Letchworth Garden Theatre caught my eye - the beautiful architecture, the promise of an evening of stunning artistry. It just screams pink tutu time! Of course, I couldn't simply waltz in with my fabulous, pink-hued self - I needed a good pre-performance ritual! First things first, a quick stop at my secret vintage clothing shop. My trusty pink glitter lips had me looking positively royal, but my hair needed some extra oomph for the theatre. Don't worry, my darlings, I had that covered - I bought a fabulously frilly hat in the colour of the pinkest dawn you've ever seen! A little glittery powder and hairspray later, my hair was ready to stand tall (almost as tall as a sugarplum!) and the dress - well, it had all the flourishes of a beautiful ballerina's costume, just with a sprinkle of pink sparkle and a whole lot of my own, unique sparkle magic.
Okay, darlings, deep breath! Let's dive into Letchworth! This city has it all! It's like the charming older sister of all the cities I've travelled to - elegant, with history oozing from every cobbled corner. They even have a beautiful heritage centre, full of quirky trinkets and interesting historical information. If only I could bring it all back with me to Derbyshire and create a little slice of Letchworth in my very own garden! My mum loves garden centres, and this city's famous Garden City designation made her particularly giddy. She'd probably build a whole Letchworth in our backyard. We had to remind her we were still on a pink tutu quest! I promised her a trip here after the big tour!
After exploring all the hidden gems of Letchworth, my eyes caught sight of a grand old building in the heart of town - the Art Deco masterpiece that is the Letchworth Playhouse! They say you can tell if a place has culture by the size of its library, and by the same token, the grandeur of its theatres. The Letchworth Playhouse didn't disappoint. As we stood at the entrance, I swear I could hear the whisper of ghosts of famous stage actors – oh, the glamour! Oh darling, this town is full of history, even the coffee shops tell stories of theatre buffs! You wouldn’t believe how many famous ballet dancers they have coming in here! This place is truly an absolute ballet paradise! I could have sat there and dreamed about pirouettes all day, but as usual, my trusty pocket watch kept calling to me, and it was time to move on.
A little further down the street, I spied something that screamed “Pink Tutu Fun Time!” It was The Garden City Theatre! (Don't be confused, darling! That's not that Theatre I was raving about, this was one of those delightful little community theatres! Let’s say it was one big pink sparkly disco ball – I know what you’re thinking, that I’m dreaming. But I was, in a pink tutu kind of way. This one, nestled between charming shops with windows full of bright yellow daffodils (can you imagine how adorable they'd look in my new tutu? Just a touch of nature, a pinch of glamour... Oh my! Maybe I’ll bring some of these home with me! What an excellent travel tip for all you fashionable folk!) - it's the type of venue that holds memories. Oh! I must mention The Broadway (where it's located), a road full of vibrant shops that have seen a million pink tutu-wearing wonders strut their stuff!
Now, let me tell you about The Garden City Theatre – charming doesn't even begin to describe it! They've got it all – shows for all tastes, workshops, and, get this, a whole big art gallery right in the back! You know what they say, the best art has a touch of pink glitter! Speaking of art, I was simply enchanted by this tiny treasure chest of a theatre. The fact that it doesn't only host theatre, but has these artistic workshops - it just proves to me that everyone has an inner Pink Tutu Sparkles within them. Just waiting to burst out!
But all this pink tutu and theatre-hopping does take a toll on a girl's energy levels! Especially a girl on a mission! My muscles were begging for a well-deserved break, but my inner child was just as insistent on exploring. That's when I found The Letchworth Heritage Centre - it's a wonderland of vintage loveliness tucked away just a few steps from the centre of town. You can spend hours browsing through historical exhibits, vintage clothes, and that iconic “Let’s Go” clock that made me feel like I had hopped into a time capsule! My inner historian had an absolute blast, and I couldn’t resist the urge to twirl in my tutu in front of that amazing Victorian Clock tower. If the Queen saw this picture, I’m pretty sure she’d join me! This place, just like the town, had the unique mix of elegance and quirkiness that reminded me so much of my little Derbyshire town!
After a quick bite to eat (I'm pretty sure I've developed a strong affection for afternoon tea thanks to Letchworth – especially since their tea is so perfectly paired with a fluffy cake that's the size of a ballerina's crown – a delicious mix of history, indulgence and, of course, the ever-so-pinky sweetness that's a must-have in a tutu queen's life! They had the most amazing cake shop with cakes so good I almost forgot I was on a pink tutu mission! I also had a delightful picnic by the lake (which my mom loved!) – we even brought out our handmade pink tutus to have a mini dance-off!). Now that’s a travel moment worthy of the “pink tutu queen” Instagram hashtag, and, oh darlings, you can bet that photo is going on the blog! It wouldn’t be a Pink Tutu Sparkles blog post without a touch of pink tutu love!
But every adventure, even the ones fuelled by pink tutus, must come to an end. As the sun began to set on Letchworth (it took forever because the sky seemed to glow a magnificent shade of pink!) - it was time for me to board the train home, heart overflowing with the wonder of Letchworth’s pink-hued magic.
Until next time, darling! I hope you enjoyed this little trip through Letchworth with your favourite tutu-clad traveler!
P.S: Don't forget, darling, to pop over to www.pink-tutu.com to see the amazing photographs I snapped during my time in this lovely town – my readers get an extra helping of sparkle in every blog post! And stay tuned – because you never know what town or adventure my pink tutu and I will discover next! I’ll leave you with a pink sparkly tip – embrace the joy, embrace your true self and remember, it’s never too late to dance your heart out in your favorite tutu! (I love it when my readers come up to me in the street, or the ballet class! Or the shop! Always happy to see new friends in my favorite colour!)
Xoxo Pink Tutu Sparkles
