Photo Journal: London On The Cusp Of Uncertainty
On March 12th, it was our last day in public before we went into self-quarantine. We were in London but we placed great care and precaution in every step we made. With as much public avoidance as possible, we also had a glimpse of what London was like during this uncertain period. I decided to keep camera in hand to document what it was like. At this current moment, all businesses were still allowed to be open but many people took warning and didn’t leave if they didn’t need to.
We witnessed just how empty some parts were. Usually, places like Piccadilly Circus, SOHO, Regent Street, China Town, and Marylebone Station are brimming with foot traffic. On this afternoon, it felt like a memory of a different time. Sights of London are often synonymous with the crowds they bring.
The Underground (subway), however, was still busy due to the necessity of public transport in society. It wasn’t as busy as before, but still enough to cause caution. You could truly feel the tension. It’s thick enough to separate with a chainsaw. It’s still so strange to think a world so familiar wasn’t as safe anymore.
Shops remained open but less frequently visited. Those that did, seem to carry on carefree, which may simply be a charade.
Every moment you were aware of who was around you, if anyone sneezed into the air, and what you had to touch in order to get anywhere. People kept their distance and it felt like society was about to go through an undertaking. I’ve truly never seen London this empty walking through the streets and I hope the next time I see London is under more prosperous times.
Precautionary signs before entering the National Rail service from Oxford to London
Bicester Village is an outlet mall along the way, usually overflowing with happy shoppers, sitting empty today. The first sign of change.
Marylebone Station empty for lunch hour.
Eerily quiet underground escalators
The tension in the Underground was unmistakable. A common sight but uncommon feeling.
China Town was almost a ghost town.
Many restaraunts remain empty during lunch time.
We only encountered one street performer play among sparse crowds.
Buses remain mostly empty but run on schedule.
Churches primarily remain empty
You can still escape the madness for a drink.
The UNIT art gallery was still open and had friendly company running the show.
Shopping remains open, of course.
Carnaby is the heart of central London, but tonight the pulse lessens.
Escaping into a pub, people still shared jokes and drinks.
Shops still stayed open at night, although empty.
You. may be quarantined, but you gotta look fresh.
At night, the trains ran nearly empty with enough space to be apart from each other.
