My town is strangely quiet for this time of year

[Lostsoultrip]

Is anyone else's town really quiet compared to normal for this time of year? It's a bit strange. There's parking spaces, the roads aren't gridlocked, the supermarkets aren't heaving. Anyone else?

It was nicely busy when I went in this morning. Just checked the traffic on google maps and it looks like gridlock, same as the past couple of days because people can’t get it in their heads to use the park and ride.

Kids have just back and said it’s quieter Han a usual Saturday. I was in yesterday and it was really quiet

Took the kids to a soft play expecting it to be heaving, only 10 tables occupied. We do need to call into a supermarket on the way home (boring & unfestive, ran out of cat litter) so hoping your prediction of quiet shops hold out

Nope - local Facebook pages are full of XYZ centre/shop gridlocked and car parks full.

I'm currently parked outside local M&S waiting for dd coming out of school - parking space in front and behind me, which is v unusual.

Yes, I’ve noticed the same where I am (smallish Lake District town) and I’ve been wandering about at all hours with the dog. Usually way busier than it has been this year, and the weather’s been good the past couple of days.

Most people I know are still at work.
It's Monday 🤷

Even when that's the case, my town would normally be heaving at this time of year. It's just not this time.

Yes, same here and I was in town over the weekend and it was fairly quiet too.

I’ve not long been to Sainsbury’s in our local town, roads were very busy, parking a nightmare but shops oddly quiet. I presume people are using the supermarket free car park and visiting family members nearby.

I've found that the supermarkets have been quiet - being able to park near the door and no queues at the tills quiet. However, the non food retail parks have been rammed for weeks.

They’re all in my town. It’s very busy - particularly considering it’s Monday.

To be honest this is how it is now.
People just don't go to shopping centres/high streets.

My high street & supermarkets are busy

Dd and I went into the city on Saturday and we sailed right in, no traffic or queues anywhere. It was busier after we finished lunch and did the last blitz but again no traffic at all on the way out. So many people shop online now and are buying less in general which would explain the quieter shopping atmosphere. Bloody brilliant if you ask me, meant my dreaded trip was seamless and easy, very hassle free.
To be fair I usually do a last minute dash to the shops about this time of year and from memory it’s always been better than expected.
I went to the city the last month of November for 2 shops and it was heaving 😂

I needed to nip to a shop a short drive away at lunch and the traffic was madness so it's busy here!

Where I am in north London it ends up like a ghost town

it’s bliss

I went into the city centre this morning, no busier than a normal Saturday, was pleasantly surprised

Do you want to swap, OP? I have sworn off braving going into town until after Christmas, courtesy of the supermarkets heaving, and playing Tetris on car parks!

My small Irish town was full of all the cars this afternoon. I usually don't go into it in the afternoon even in normal times, but I had a few bills I wanted to pay. The dread of starving to death before Saturday has clearly set in.

I need to go in tomorrow morning for a few last minute bits including extra cat food.