Is everywhere much more crowded since Covid?

[ArseInTheCoOpWindow]

I know it’s in the past etc etc. l live near a national park. It seems much fuller since lockdown. Loads of camper vans squeezed into tiny roadsides.

Yesterday we tried to go for a walk. Roads were just horrendous. Traffic jams, loads of traffic. Drove past a pub that’s nearly always empty. The car park was rammed to bursting and cars were parked on the sides for about 1/4 mile down the road.

Ive lived her a long time ( very long time) l don’t think I’ve ever seen it like this before. Not even in midsummer. We gave up and came home. I know we were adding to it, but it was just impossible.

The popularity rise of #vanlife, park4night, pinned location maps on socials called Hidden Gems. Routes now given names like NC500 which have become a bit of a tourist trap.

Cost of living may mean more people are staying local.

I’m talking about the Peak District. It’s the most accessible national park in the U.K. A third of the population can access it within an hour. But I’ve still never ever seen it like that before.

Now this is interesting. There are vans everywhere cooking outside. Just everywhere.

Too many people in the country. Houses built smaller so need to go out more to exercise etc. Expectations. Key days between Christmas and New Year.

But I’ve never seen it like this before. Key days or not!

Definitely noticed this too op. There are just too many people on the planet - and still the threads “shall I have a fifth child?” No don’t. Please don’t.

I really don’t think it can just be population growth that explains how much busier attractions are than 3-4 years ago.

I remember when going to a nondescript exhibition in a London gallery as being something one can do on a chilled Sunday. Now every gallery is rammed Saturday and Sunday. £20+ entry and you can’t move for people.

Same with holidays. I’m at a popular winter sun destination at the moment and every single hotel is completely sold out (I know because I tried to change hotel).

I think people are living in the moment more and want to make the most of life, after Covid.

It's packed with people everywhere.

I used o be able to take the dogs on a quiet walk pretty much all the time where I live, now it's like bloody Oxford Street.

Fucking hate it.

Do you mean since before lockdown, or since lockdown?

Of course it will be more busy in the last couple of years compared to during lockdown because some people didnt go out. I would have thought that was obvious

I mean now as compared to pre lockdown. So 2019.

During Covid I had to meet friends for a walk rather than at our houses. We've kept this up and now always go for a walk and coffee - we barely see each others houses these days!

If a lot of people started doing this, it would definitely explain why parks, etc. are much busier than 5 years ago.

Not sure it’s a covid thing but round here our nearby National park was rammed on Boxing Day- but it was no coincidence that that was the only day in the last week where it wasn’t raining

Yes and it's all crowded with annoying idiots. Parking on grass verges, music or FaceTime blaring, not giving way (I walk with pushchairs a lot and people now expect you to move), stopping for picnics in daft places then glaring at you when you walk near, "friendly" dogs, litter...

I think people are comparing to before Covid, so ~4 years ago.

I think a huge part is social media. People know about places they didn't used to know about. I've experienced it in lots of places, but it was particularly notable when I was in the Canadian Rockies in 2022. There were places that just a few years earlier were little known about. Now they've had to remove access or introduce shuttle busses because the numbers wanting to watch the sunrise in the same social media hot spot are crazy. A similar experience I've had in the UK was at Dovedale. Ok, it's always been popular because of its accessibility but people now 'need' that social media shot. Then of course word spreads and it's now crazy busy all year around. However, I've generally found that most people are quite unimaginative and don't stray far from where social media dictates they should be. Walk just a couple of hundred metres further and you'll find a quiet spot.

As for local walks I definitely think that's increased due to dog ownership increasing and people getting to know their local areas due to lockdowns. A route I've been doing for years has become so popular the farmer has had to make a 'channel' of fencing through one field that means it's basically a mud run. I go elsewhere now!

Too many people, too many cars. I've lived in the same area for years and can really feel the effects of the population increase on the roads, housing shoe- horned into gaps and in the quality of the air.

I abandoned Dovedale years ago. Too many crowds even 30 years ago!

More people are craving outdoor escapes because they live in smaller homes with little or no outdoor space. There are huge high rise developments in the town nearby all are by busy roads with no green spaces or amenities. Where are all these people especially families with children going to play and go to school (that's a whole other thread)

So l did an experiment today. NYD 2013 we went to a nearby large village. It was empty. Out of 9 or so cafes one was open. 2 out of 3 pubs were open.

Went today. Absolutely rammed.8 out of 11 eateries open. All pubs open and people sat outside takeaway places etc. some shops open.

So Something has changed a lot in 10 years.

What cost of living crisis eh?

In time of financial difficulty or recession, people seem to value treats and days or nights out more, so making the most of this week does not surprise me.

It's nothing to do with population increase. The population has decreased because of Brexit.

It's DOWNSHIFTING - people didn't go out last night and spend £200/£300 on a meal/show/whatever - instead they went out today for a walk and a pub lunch

£40 less than £300

Instead of dinner I go out to a cafe every week

£20 instead of £80

Instead of soft play I go to a national trust membership

£86 versus 20x £10

Instead of a pub and a few drinks, a cake and a coffee

I have seen masses of downshifting in the last few years - holidaying in the UK instead of abroad, buying a dog instead of having more children

I literally know no one with more than 2 kids (personally, plenty of people still have them on Mumsnet ) but when my children were young and knew loads of people with 3 or more

I do think people are definitely making the most of being out, especially if they know with cost of living crisis maybe not having hit so hard yet, so they may as well do it now. Kids deprived of going out or doing things in covid times so treat them now.

In my local area though the cafes and restaurants don’t seem as busy as they were, one closed down recently. One of the local pubs is offering a new £25 bottomless brunch deal and another is offering 2-4-1 cocktails every night, a new offer. I think places have seen that maybe not everyone has been spending on meals out/drinks out over Christmas or they need drawing in more.

The local boutique clothes shop had a sale just after Christmas everything was reduced and several women were buying party wear in there for NYE. The local Caffè Nero where I met a friend from say 3.30 onwards it suddenly got really busy. There are lots of cafes in the area but I noticed lots of people coming in and using the old card/paper loyalty cards as well as on the app.