This pandemic has turned everyone’s world upside down, including mine. To live in one of the busiest cities in the world and see how Covid-19 has affected it is certainly interesting. It’s a unique time and despite everything I’m grateful that I got to experience London during this unprecedented time. So I want to describe to you a snapshot of London during lockdown.
During this pandemic I have worked as a key worker for a couple of jobs. One of those was volunteering at Food For All charity in Holborn, London. Holborn is a central area, within the city of London, and so I got to see how London has changed. I was no stranger to visiting central London pre-pandemic but it doesn’t take an expert to spot the changes!
What was London like during lockdown?
Walking through the streets of London is like walking through a dream; it’s completely surreal. This city is now gridlocked with Covid, not traffic. It feels like the start of a post-apocalyptic movie. Am I going to turn the corner to find a group of zombies ambling towards me? Or am I going to look down an alleyway to find a giant Triffid lurking there?
Maybe my imagination is running away with me, but I’ve never experienced such eerie conditions before! Such…quietness. Like a huge humming machine has suddenly come to a silent stop. Occasionally a lonely bus drives past, a tiny spark of life that quickly disappears from view, unhindered by traffic. A splash of red against the dark buildings.
St Pauls cathedral is as deserted as ever. The iconic building stands strong and is always a beacon of hope in difficult times. It looks like a painting among the modern buildings surrounding it. It has a faint hue to it like it’s a painting of a backdrop to a theatre play. It’s there but not quite there. It doesn’t shine bright like its glass neighbours but is full of intricate shadows. It looks out of place and out of time, yet still it stands.
Were there still things to do?
The hotels and tourist attractions are all closed. There’s no one visiting for them to stay open anyway, and so now their doors are shut. Skeleton crews keep them from gathering dust. Walking down a hotel hallway is reminiscent of The Shining and doesn’t feel quite right. Restaurants and cafes are dark and unwelcoming. Once a hub of friendly interactions, they now feel alien and unnatural. Public spaces are occupied by pigeons who love their new space but lament the lack of food being littered now.
If you choose to spend your hourly exercise by the river you won’t be the only one though. The few people that do venture out tend to gravitate towards the River Thames. Maybe because it’s nice to walk along its banks in this quiet time. I’ve also noticed everyone has now turned into avid joggers, and I can’t blame them!
We take for granted our health and ability to exercise outside and we’ve never had to worry about it before. Not in our lifetime at least. There you will find some distanced company as people go for their daily walks and soak up the sunshine.
London during lockdown has offered some unique insights, that’s for sure. Every time I walked down a (literally) empty street it felt like a novelty. Never had I seen London not crowded with people. I no longer had to dodge and weave through the crowd. I had the whole pavement to myself! To see this other side has given me a new appreciation for my city. Despite London being closed, it felt like London had opened up to me and shown me in a way rarely seen.
How have things changed?
There is no denying that everyone has been hit hard by this pandemic. People are still suffering and it’s something to be taken very seriously. London emptying during lockdown has caused many people to lose their jobs and businesses. Who knows when or if they will be able to recover? But there is no denying the beauty of something so rarely seen. When was the last time no people were standing outside Buckingham Palace?
Being in London during lockdown has made me grateful for what I have, and what I can do to help. Many others have the same feeling as me. Lots of people have begun volunteering with charities in the last year. People want to help others when times are tough, and that’s a really beautiful thing!
As can be expected, there’s not a lot of things to do in London during lockdown. You aren’t allowed to travel unnecessarily or meet up with people just to hang out. But you can make the most of your exercise time, to get out and experience the stillness. Walking to and from work I have come to know my hometown much better than ever before.
Looking to the future
As of March 2021, things are starting to slowly open up in London, and hopefully, it will continue. Boris Johnson has his road map, and fingers crossed things will work. I imagine that when restaurants and bars open up again the atmosphere will be incredible. People will be so happy to experience simple things they took for granted in the past! I know that I am grateful for the simple things in life.
London during lockdown has been a stressful time for everyone, but I have learned some things along the way. I have learned that it’s important to be mindful and grateful for the little things. Help others, as we all need to spread that love at the moment – socially distanced love, of course!
Things will start to get better. Keep checking in on your friends and family, it’s important to maintain a relationship and stay sociable. Look after your health, physically and mentally, even if that’s just going for a 20-minute walk every day. You might discover something new every time you step outside your door. I certainly do. Stay safe!
When everything opens up it’s worth exploring London, and I have some great ideas to show you! Like my post 10 unusual things ‘hidden’ in central London and exploring Greenwich.
