Five Years On…

Lockdown seems like a long time ago, but this week, I read a newspaper article reminding us that it has been five years since March 2020. London and the rest of the world came to a virtual standstill.

I had to cut a long-haul trip short and fly back home, along with countless others who were anxious to get home before any borders closed.

Once In A Lifetime

I’ve never experienced London like the scenes I was met with when I landed at Heathrow. Heathrow Airport was packed as people tried to scramble any form of transport to get home. Why such a scramble? The lockdown was announced the same evening.

I made my way to the tube and took the Piccadilly Line to Kings Cross. I was expecting it to be busy. The Tube was empty, the platforms were empty, and the only ones travelling were the new arrivals. The air was filled with uncertainty.

So Surreal

It felt so surreal. A City that had been heaving as I left was virtually deserted when I got to Kings Cross Station. I’ve never seen Kings Cross so empty. I looked around and wondered what was going on.

As I jumped into the taxi for the final leg of my journey, the deserted streets signalled what was happening in my city.

Adjusting To The New Normal

As we adjusted to the new normal with our masks and sanitisers, we tried to keep our spirits up. Each neighbourhood supported their community, and it was great to see. The human spirit is powerful in times of crisis and challenge.

We took going out for granted, but the freedom to go out whenever and for as long as we wanted was no longer the case. In London, we were not allowed out for more than an hour per day.

I went to the local park for exercise and to see how nature was doing. It was doing very well compared to humans.

When The Restrictions Lifted

Once the restrictions were lifted, I couldn’t wait to return and take pictures of London. On the first day, I took the train into the City of London. As I walked the empty streets, I couldn’t help but wonder how we would get over this experience.

However, London has seen much worse, with plagues, fires, and other disasters. This was another problem to add to the city's list.

I’m glad I took pictures of London because it captured a moment. I’ll probably never see it like this ever again, either. Well, I hope not.

Walk It to Work It

In June 2020, I had no idea what the future held. We were all taking it day by day. However, despite all the uncertainty, we clung to places that gave us a bit of normalcy. Walking along the River Thames and over Tower Bridge seemed like a perfect way to get back to some normal.

There weren’t that many people around either, and if there were, they stuck to the guidelines of keeping two metres apart. As I made my way from Liverpool Street Station towards the River, I took pictures along the way.

Once London was a bit more functional and places started opening to the public, I visited some of the significant icons.

My Trip To Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a place I would generally avoid because it can be very busy. As part of 'Doing my bit' for London's tourist attractions, I booked my ticket the week after it reopened in 2020. Usually, 4000 visitors visit The Bridge each day. My visit was timed entry like with all attractions.

I enjoyed my trip because I felt it was all mine. I remembered how busy it was when I last went, and it was VERY busy. I thoroughly enjoyed refreshing my knowledge of the Bridge's design and architecture by walking through the Bascule and looking down below via the glass floor. So cool.

Like many people across my city and the world, I sought familiarity during times of great uncertainty, and that's what I got when walking over Tower Bridge. As the road Traffic and pedestrians were light, I could walk at my own pace, process my thoughts and savour the steps.

I realised the Bridge signified a silent strength, which was both powerful and cathartic. The walk will stay with me long because it is etched in my life journey during the summer of 2020.

London Eye

Booking online was easy, and there was a bit more security on the day, but it was expected, given the circumstances we were experiencing. I hesitated because of the virus, but the experience and cleanliness were excellent.

The welcome was great, and the process was seamless, too. Each visit is timed, and you can choose your preference when booking. We turned up to an empty capsule. The maximum capacity is 25. It would have just been two of us, but we were joined by a third person at the last second.

We weren't bothered because there was no jostling for space. We were able to walk around freely and enjoy breathtaking views of London.

Tower Of London

I went two days after it opened, and what a reception we received, too. Normally, you’d be jostling along patiently and waiting in endless queues, but not on this day; it was straight in. There were no queues and bag and ticket checks were also ultra-smooth. What struck me immediately was the very friendly welcome right from the start. 

Not all of the Towers were open, but I got to see the White Tower and the Jewels. I also spoke to the Beefeaters, who had plenty of time to talk. I felt like a VIP celebrity.

Everyone we interacted with, especially the Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters as they are known, was very welcoming. I repeatedly heard, ‘Thank you for coming. ' With that, we no longer felt like tourists but like guests.

Going from 10,000 to 900 visitors daily makes a significant difference, not just with the overall visiting experience, but it highlights the safety aspect of keeping everyone safe. 

Parting Comments

Five years on, I see how that stillness forced us to slow down, value what we’d overlooked, have longer chats with a neighbour, and appreciate our relationships with family and friends. London endured, and so did we.

Walking Tower Bridge in 2020 showed me London’s grit. Five years later, I hope we carry that forward, surviving and thriving with more kindness and gratitude.

Today, the streets are heaving again, but there’s a subtle shift. A memory of silence lingers beneath the noise, a reminder of what we survived.

Those pictures I took of empty streets and quiet icons are my time capsule. Five years on, they remind me how far we’ve come, and I’ll keep snapping shots of a city that never stops surprising me.

If you enjoyed reading this article and want to support my work, you can now buy me a coffee ☕️.

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/TabbyLondon

Thank you for your attention.

Best wishes

Tabby