![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5S2UNT3SJAQNJ6XZZJUEZTOWI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=548cd61d86b208d233a13c8af479c081a90b9de2f821d26514134a4f21736642&width=400&height=225)
The streets are left empty on Brick Lane. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXLBD4KOHYI473VDVPMRDE54ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba96e29721de501224cfab0f10f8133a9c182707f1df27f0621d387ec6d8f138&width=400&height=225)
Christmas decorations remain hanging over an empty Regents Street in London. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EKDVWL7KKP5LVQ334UHKLEW5WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66a2cf71bd600e3a4b99c77781817b3c141ae45795dc67ac572a466dc14cb1d2&width=400&height=225)
The statue of Eros stands alone in the empty streets of Piccadilly Circus. For the third time, England has been asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to remain at home for a nationwide lockdown. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P2LFZZ43Y6SHOU52Y7YNTIVOYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a36fc586dd33183fb76cafcd0f5b83c9d8c312abaec012a6a4d7846b74951947&width=400&height=225)
A statue of a baby elephant sits alone in a deserted Spitalfields Market. A spike in cases of coronavirus across the country has led to the third lockdown. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J64CHGTRFDBKGA4BNC2QVER44E.jpg?smart=true&auth=967ad43eacca52dbceb54ebac5c6c49dfe9e92bb364ac454e9a9ed16ec56e9fd&width=400&height=225)
Odeon Cinema remains closed in Leicester Square. A new high of 60,000 new cases of the virus were reported in a single day on Wednesday. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M5Y6IHWUUSDQGONCYDLJM4JO4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=a799d820a25c6d3db469f7032ab826fd9ecae46a9266824eb78e55021f3deb45&width=400&height=225)
The streets are still outside St Paul's Cathedral. There are fears that the rate of new infections would overwhelm the National Health Service. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGUDBFDXAJWYQH4ZT46JAH7YJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5263f1a044ce9ba505474e12947107f7e9b6714b48c078dbb186c1cda8c0f43&width=400&height=225)
The streets are mostly empty in China Town. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DZWKR4YN4LW6JDWJB53P45QDTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e66ae98cc5f10eace9601355e82d78d9c87bb6bbd1e722003812b4c5a9335f8&width=400&height=225)
A usually busy social area sits empty in Barbican. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZYS2ZKITFXB6TBV4WJLPHXRFMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7afe0ed2dca2f0f2b41f78ec4b7e82b8adb564300485b7a8a91f643959881ddc&width=400&height=225)
A view of Big Ben and the London Eye from a deserted Waterloo Bridge. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2EJJIHRQHLELVUX35IKNIK4DHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae6675ce62997b1d4b707bb1405f3cf861b4b3eb34f6cd942432c70f4f1a8259&width=400&height=225)
Cafe tables stand without chairs in Covent Garden. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OXRPR4OVNVCYXZVMRI3SGII3XE.jpg?smart=true&auth=57a1f8b342d28ebb4549e54bb9bcfa2ba676c9f49a61a709efaaad041643df5a&width=400&height=225)
Pigeons are left to roam in a deserted Trafalgar Square. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FSW5TYOFMR3DUQ5JC5BI7RDPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cad4e27972781e80c4eac9bf57f24f566ff91719ca85ffc1bea1b13da5175abe&width=400&height=225)
Very few pedestrians are seen crossing the Millennium Bridge. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5S2UNT3SJAQNJ6XZZJUEZTOWI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=548cd61d86b208d233a13c8af479c081a90b9de2f821d26514134a4f21736642&width=400&height=225)
The streets are left empty on Brick Lane. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SXLBD4KOHYI473VDVPMRDE54ZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ba96e29721de501224cfab0f10f8133a9c182707f1df27f0621d387ec6d8f138&width=400&height=225)
Christmas decorations remain hanging over an empty Regents Street in London. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EKDVWL7KKP5LVQ334UHKLEW5WM.jpg?smart=true&auth=66a2cf71bd600e3a4b99c77781817b3c141ae45795dc67ac572a466dc14cb1d2&width=400&height=225)
The statue of Eros stands alone in the empty streets of Piccadilly Circus. For the third time, England has been asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to remain at home for a nationwide lockdown. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P2LFZZ43Y6SHOU52Y7YNTIVOYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=a36fc586dd33183fb76cafcd0f5b83c9d8c312abaec012a6a4d7846b74951947&width=400&height=225)
A statue of a baby elephant sits alone in a deserted Spitalfields Market. A spike in cases of coronavirus across the country has led to the third lockdown. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J64CHGTRFDBKGA4BNC2QVER44E.jpg?smart=true&auth=967ad43eacca52dbceb54ebac5c6c49dfe9e92bb364ac454e9a9ed16ec56e9fd&width=400&height=225)
Odeon Cinema remains closed in Leicester Square. A new high of 60,000 new cases of the virus were reported in a single day on Wednesday. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M5Y6IHWUUSDQGONCYDLJM4JO4M.jpg?smart=true&auth=a799d820a25c6d3db469f7032ab826fd9ecae46a9266824eb78e55021f3deb45&width=400&height=225)
The streets are still outside St Paul's Cathedral. There are fears that the rate of new infections would overwhelm the National Health Service. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RGUDBFDXAJWYQH4ZT46JAH7YJ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=b5263f1a044ce9ba505474e12947107f7e9b6714b48c078dbb186c1cda8c0f43&width=400&height=225)
The streets are mostly empty in China Town. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DZWKR4YN4LW6JDWJB53P45QDTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e66ae98cc5f10eace9601355e82d78d9c87bb6bbd1e722003812b4c5a9335f8&width=400&height=225)
A usually busy social area sits empty in Barbican. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZYS2ZKITFXB6TBV4WJLPHXRFMI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7afe0ed2dca2f0f2b41f78ec4b7e82b8adb564300485b7a8a91f643959881ddc&width=400&height=225)
A view of Big Ben and the London Eye from a deserted Waterloo Bridge. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2EJJIHRQHLELVUX35IKNIK4DHU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ae6675ce62997b1d4b707bb1405f3cf861b4b3eb34f6cd942432c70f4f1a8259&width=400&height=225)
Cafe tables stand without chairs in Covent Garden. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OXRPR4OVNVCYXZVMRI3SGII3XE.jpg?smart=true&auth=57a1f8b342d28ebb4549e54bb9bcfa2ba676c9f49a61a709efaaad041643df5a&width=400&height=225)
Pigeons are left to roam in a deserted Trafalgar Square. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2FSW5TYOFMR3DUQ5JC5BI7RDPA.jpg?smart=true&auth=cad4e27972781e80c4eac9bf57f24f566ff91719ca85ffc1bea1b13da5175abe&width=400&height=225)
Very few pedestrians are seen crossing the Millennium Bridge. Getty Images
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5S2UNT3SJAQNJ6XZZJUEZTOWI4.jpg?smart=true&auth=548cd61d86b208d233a13c8af479c081a90b9de2f821d26514134a4f21736642&width=400&height=225)
The streets are left empty on Brick Lane. Getty Images
Public paid little heed to England's November lockdown rules
Transit figures show numbers of people still driving, walking and taking public transport under stay-at-home rules
![Soraya Ebrahimi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F3a8de609-3114-47b8-a918-4675f8892564.png?smart=true&auth=99aa3f707ed29ba80fedf7196862e82e6f35835fae44ca54f70c10dfba7c6b90&width=70&height=70)
Soraya Ebrahimi
10 January, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic