Quiet London Streets | London in Lockdown

2020 is over, yet we still find ourselves living through a massively significant event or several momentous events. I'm exhausted from it all, not going to lie.

2020 changed so much about the life we all know it changed our perspective on so many things. It's now January of 2021. I have realised that I did nothing after February last year. I pretty much haven't worked for a whole year! Despite all of the negative things that COVID-19 has given us, it also brought about an unbelievable opportunity to explore one of the worlds major cities with no tourists. Hello London!

Before I continue telling you what the city was like with like no-one else around I do feel the need to add in a couple of disclaimers:

1) My friend and I didn't break any of the lockdown rules, we went exploring after the first lockdown had relaxed.

2) Yes we wore a mask on all public transport and in the few times we were inside buildings and used hand-sanitiser often!

3) We kept our distance from everyone else around

4) We followed the rules, even if other people weren't.

We decided to hit up some of the famous London landmarks. I was not going to miss the opportunity to see these places empty. Nor was I going to miss the chance to capture it!

We got off the tube at Kings Cross/St Pancreas and wandered through the two stations baffled by how empty and quiet it was. Every time I've been into Kings Cross, it has been full of people milling around, rushing to catch trains, waiting for trains, getting off trains or just coming to have a looking, because you know Harry Potter! There were only a few other people in the station. It was bizarre. I feel like I'm going to say that a few times in this post! There are a lot of things from 2020 which can easily be considered as bizarre!

From there we headed, on foot, towards Trafalgar Square. Which, was only occupied by pigeons. The streets carried fewer cars, the footpaths with only a scattering of footsteps. Not what it would ordinarily be like at the beginning of summer. It was quiet. The fountains were clean and clear.

We decided then to head up The Mall, to Buckingham Palace. And found there was pretty much no-one there trying to wave at the Queen, who was in-fact in residence.

We continued around St James Park to Westminster. Where, I was able to get a shot of those famous London phone boxes, without people walking into the photo. Which, in general, seems to be the theme of the day.

It's so strange to see all these places to quiet and empty. Strange, but also kind of great. I visited Covent Gardens and could walk around and enjoy the area. There were deserted tables outside of restaurants that you would typically struggle to get a seat in.

I do have to admit that it was awesome to be able to explore this stunning city while there was no-one else around. The reason why the city is so quiet sucks. COVID-19 is no joke, and so many people and business have and are struggling because of it. But at the same time, it has allowed some opportunities that most of us wouldn’t normally experience.

I’ve never seen any of these and other famous locations so quiet and most likely will never see them like that again. It was great to see it. Living through a massive and terrible pandemic like COVID-19 isn’t easy, especially since so many people are having to just stay home and life seems to have just come to a stand-still, but if we take the time to enjoy some of the little things that are coming out of it - while also making sure that we follow the rules that are being put in place - we make the whole situation seem a little brighter than perhaps it is.

Everyone out there, keep safe.