• A view of a deserted Oxford Street on the first day of a newly imposed lockdow in London, Britain. Reuters
    A view of a deserted Oxford Street on the first day of a newly imposed lockdow in London, Britain. Reuters
  • Regent Street is seen nearly empty on the morning of the first day of lockdown. Reuters
    Regent Street is seen nearly empty on the morning of the first day of lockdown. Reuters
  • A quiet street in the City of London. Bloomberg
    A quiet street in the City of London. Bloomberg
  • A man walks past a sign displaying the measures imposed by the government in London. Reuters
    A man walks past a sign displaying the measures imposed by the government in London. Reuters
  • Commuters wear facemasks as they walk at Waterloo Station in central London. AFP
    Commuters wear facemasks as they walk at Waterloo Station in central London. AFP
  • A view of a deserted Carnaby Street in London. Reuters
    A view of a deserted Carnaby Street in London. Reuters
  • A soldier stands guard at the gate of the Pontins Southport Holiday Park while preparing to support Liverpool ahead of a mass testing. Reuters
    A soldier stands guard at the gate of the Pontins Southport Holiday Park while preparing to support Liverpool ahead of a mass testing. Reuters
  • A view of the M5 motorway in what should be rush hour at the start of a four week national lockdown for England. AP Photo
    A view of the M5 motorway in what should be rush hour at the start of a four week national lockdown for England. AP Photo
  • People walk over Westminster Bridge in fog in London. AP Photo
    People walk over Westminster Bridge in fog in London. AP Photo
  • A jogger crosses the near-deserted Millennium Bridge in London. AFP
    A jogger crosses the near-deserted Millennium Bridge in London. AFP
  • Commuters arrive at Victoria station, central London. AFP
    Commuters arrive at Victoria station, central London. AFP
  • Signs on a John Lewis store inform customers of its temporary closure in Tunbridge Wells. AFP
    Signs on a John Lewis store inform customers of its temporary closure in Tunbridge Wells. AFP
  • Commuters walk along a platform after arriving at London Waterloo railway station in London. Bloomberg
    Commuters walk along a platform after arriving at London Waterloo railway station in London. Bloomberg
  • Commuters wait for the train to leave at Victoria station on the London underground. AFP
    Commuters wait for the train to leave at Victoria station on the London underground. AFP

Lockdown 2 begins in UK - in pictures and video


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The UK's four-week lockdown began at 00:00am (GMT) on Wednesday - and the gallery above depicts the sparsely populated streets which will now be commonplace until December 2.

With the latest lights out expected to cause significant economic disruption, the Bank of England announced it is to inject an extra £150bn into economy while Finance Minister Rishi Sunak is to extend the furlough scheme to March.

This video gets reaction from Londoners to the latest lockdown.

And the gallery below has shots from the night before lockdown in London.

  • A woman plays a musical instrument near police officers wearing protective face masks ahead of the lockdown in Soho, London. Reuters
    A woman plays a musical instrument near police officers wearing protective face masks ahead of the lockdown in Soho, London. Reuters
  • A man is seen squeezing in a hair cut in a barbers in Soho before the lockdown. Getty Images
    A man is seen squeezing in a hair cut in a barbers in Soho before the lockdown. Getty Images
  • People are seen queuing outside a restaurant in Soho. Getty Images
    People are seen queuing outside a restaurant in Soho. Getty Images
  • People react in the street as the pubs and restaurants close in the soho area of central London. AFP
    People react in the street as the pubs and restaurants close in the soho area of central London. AFP
  • People are seen queuing outside a restaurant in Soho. Getty Images
    People are seen queuing outside a restaurant in Soho. Getty Images
  • A man reacts during scuffles with police officers trying to disperse people prior to lockdown in the soho area of central London. AFP
    A man reacts during scuffles with police officers trying to disperse people prior to lockdown in the soho area of central London. AFP
  • People are seen after restaurants and bars shut in Soho. Getty Images
    People are seen after restaurants and bars shut in Soho. Getty Images
  • Police officers arrest a man in Soho. Getty Images
    Police officers arrest a man in Soho. Getty Images
  • Police officers move crowds in Soho. Getty Images
    Police officers move crowds in Soho. Getty Images
  • Police officers arrest a man in Soho. Getty Images
    Police officers arrest a man in Soho. Getty Images
  • A waiter stacks chairs outside a restaurant in Soho as the lockdown begins. Getty Images
    A waiter stacks chairs outside a restaurant in Soho as the lockdown begins. Getty Images