The promotional tour for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, easily the most anticipated film of the year, has been nothing short of mania. From eponymous lead Margot Robbie’s perfectly-curated event wardrobe to Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse turned Airbnb to a hot pink Xbox collaboration, we’ve been living in Barbie world for months now. What was once more of a trend, #Barbiecore has become a fully-fledged lifestyle, especially as the film’s release date finally approaches.
Ahead of the European premiere of the film on Wednesday, London was been seriously Barbiefied, too. Fans queued for hours outside the city’s Cineworld in Leicester Square, where the main cast including Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Issa Rae, and Simu Liu walked the pink carpet.
And for those who didn’t make it to the premiere, London has enough Barbie-esque promos to satiate fans, from luminous Barbie buses to a bright pink TARDIS landing near Tower Bridge. Here’s some of the ways in which London is welcoming Barbie.
The pink carpet
The stars and makers of the movie took to the pink carpet in Leicester Square, wearing a range of pink-hued gowns and, in the case of Gosling, pastel pants. Robbie wore a custom, pearl-coloured Vivienne Westwood dress, inspired by an actual Barbie released in 1960.
Barbified transport
Credit: Warner Bros.
London’s iconic Black cabs and signature red buses have been plastered pink — with appearances from Barbie and Ken too. That includes a deliciously-pink Barbie-themed bus by PROPER Snacks, in celebration of the company’s limited-edition Barbie-themed, sweet popcorn snack and an upcoming pop-up store in Shoreditch.
Credit: Propercorn.
A pink TARDIS
A Doctor Who and Barbie crossover? Who would have thought? A pink TARDIS, the time machine and spacecraft from the iconic BBC series, has appeared near Tower Bridge. The fun pop-up pays homage to actor Ncuti Gatwa, who is set to be the fifteenth Doctor and also plays a role in Barbie.
Barbie’s car is here
Credit: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Warner Bros.
Barbie’s pale-pink, enviable mode-of-transport has arrived and parked near the London Eye.
London landmarks shone pink
The most iconic landmarks in London, including the Eye and Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, illuminated pink in honour of the premiere.
We’ll keep you updated with more Barbie sightings across the city as they arrive.
UPDATE: Jul. 13, 2023, 11:58 a.m. EDT This piece has been updated to include the images of the Barbie London premiere we know you were waiting for.
