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Original poster

How busy is London right now?

123 replies

Flowerpower23 · 15/12/2021 17:45

Me and dd going for her birthday next week to see frozen/do Hyde park etc. How busy is it currently (if you live there or have been in the center recently)? I don’t think it will be locked down or I hope not anyhow!

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 16/12/2021 11:40

@WheelieBinPrincess

But it’s THE CAPITAL.

We are all running about like rabid zombies up and down Oxford Street waiting to infect the out of towners!

(No self respecting Londonder is anywhere near OS in the run up to Christmas, it’s all tourists, even in ‘normal times’)

Some don't have any choice.
Palavah · 16/12/2021 11:42

@ElinorOliphant

I work evenings and weekends and my colleagues and I have never seen it so busy on Saturdays/Sundays. Heaving! Busy pubs/restaurants etc. it seems busier than pre Covid.
It definitely isn't busier than before Covid!
33goingon64 · 16/12/2021 11:46

I haven't been recently so better to listen to those who have, however I keep seeing that shows are being cancelled and remember Omicron is (apparently) proportionately highest in London. I wouldn't go.

DownToTheSeaAgain · 16/12/2021 11:46

I was in the west end yesterday - Oxford st Bond st etc This was during the day and it was busy but not the usual rammed busy of my past experience (used to work round there).

kirinm · 16/12/2021 11:51

SE London and everything seems busy and you still can't get a table without booking.

Now working from home so not in the City but that felt deserted even before wfh guidance came in again.

I read that a lot of West end shows got pulled due to sickness rather than non-attendance. A friend has also closed his restaurant until the new year due to staff shortages and generally being concerned about infection rates.

Comefromaway · 16/12/2021 11:52

Yes, cast and crew are getting sick. Last weekend lots of understudies were on, now the understudies are getting sick too.

MiniCooperLover · 16/12/2021 11:55

We are due to see Matilda on Saturday in the evening, I'm expecting it to get cancelled but I'm guessing it sounds like we won't get much notice which is a bit of a bummer as we'll have travelled in and have booked a hotel.

Oh well any recommendations for decent restaurants around Covent Garden that I should try book? I was going to try Belgos but it's closed down sadly.

Comefromaway · 16/12/2021 11:57

My recommendations are based around having an autistic child who is a fussy eater. We go for places like Cote, Boulevard or Palm Court Brasseries

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/12/2021 12:00

No self respecting Londonder is anywhere near OS in the run up to Christmas, it’s all tourists, even in ‘normal times’

^^
Absolutely!

Loudestcat14 · 16/12/2021 12:02

MiniCooperLover If you are definitely going to still come, I'd recommend Browns on St Martin's Lane. It's really cavernous with high ceilings so hopefully less chance of infection spreading. Good kids menu too.

Jabbawasarollingstone · 16/12/2021 12:02

Buy from indie shops if you can. Avoid the huge stores. The indies have really struggled over the past 2 years. These are the people with mortgages and childcare to pay. Shop small!

We were on a walk from Tower Bridge to Waterloo Bridge last weekend (South Side) and it was packed! We live in South London, so know what to expect.

HelloMissus · 16/12/2021 12:03

I wonder if there’s a day/evening split?

I was in a bar during the day and it was heaving. DH was out last night and said it was full-ish but nothing like normal.

kirinm · 16/12/2021 12:05

@HelloMissus

I wonder if there’s a day/evening split?

I was in a bar during the day and it was heaving. DH was out last night and said it was full-ish but nothing like normal.

I bet yesterday's number spooked people.

I went out the week before last, woke up the following Monday feeling unwell as did DP (we both had negative PCR's) but it really hit us then that if we get sick anytime soon, our Christmas plans will be totally ruined. We really don't want to happen again so we are playing safe.

After Christmas, neither of us are too bothered and will aim to get back to as normal as we can.

VaguelyInteresting · 16/12/2021 12:07

Was there at the weekend.

Not as busy as usual (used to live near Kensington Gardens, now only there infrequently) but still v busy compared to other places.

Word of warning- travel was hellish on Sunday night with dozens of trains cancelled. A 2 hour journey home took 7, on rammed trains that were diverted Willy nilly. the train guard told me he expected it would be the same every weekend until NY and advised me not to travel again (had my son with me).

I’m taking his advice and not going back now for the time being

Loudestcat14 · 16/12/2021 12:10

kirinm Same here, except my OH works in a school that's already got loads of staff off, so we might not be lucky. We have pulled our DD out of hers for the last few days of term though. After not seeing our family last Xmas, I don't want to risk the same again this year.

Loudestcat14 · 16/12/2021 12:12

VaguelyInteresting That's a good point. Tube services have also been slashed to save money so instead of trains coming every 1-3 minutes, it's more like 7-10, so they are rammed still at rush hour and after chucking out time.

WheelieBinPrincess · 16/12/2021 12:14

@Loudestcat14 yup, our council tax will apparently go up to plug the gap in TFL funding 😫

MiniCooperLover · 16/12/2021 12:15

@Loudestcat14

MiniCooperLover If you are definitely going to still come, I'd recommend Browns on St Martin's Lane. It's really cavernous with high ceilings so hopefully less chance of infection spreading. Good kids menu too.
Thank you, good call. Have had to book for 4.45pm but at least we know we have a table somewhere and I do love Browns.
Palavah · 16/12/2021 12:16

@WheelieBinPrincess

But it’s THE CAPITAL.

We are all running about like rabid zombies up and down Oxford Street waiting to infect the out of towners!

(No self respecting Londonder is anywhere near OS in the run up to Christmas, it’s all tourists, even in ‘normal times’)

Speak for yourself
Loudestcat14 · 16/12/2021 12:17

WheelieBinPrincess Yep, we're expecting a hefty rise for bailing out TfL and because social care desperately needs additional funding.

Florianus · 16/12/2021 12:31

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

But London is no different to the rest of the U.K. tbh - it’s not even one of the areas in the darkest shade on the map
I fear you may be looking at an old version of the map. The infection rate in London is currently one of the highest in the country, with Inner London boroughs seeing the highest rises - some recording a 70% increase in infections according to the latest Government data.
Smallinthesmoke · 16/12/2021 12:39

It is definitely quieter day by day. But not zombie apocalypse levels of quietness! I would guess that the train I caught this morning was about 75% of the numbers before the WFH advice was published.
Anecdotally a LOT of people are ill.

itwasntaparty · 16/12/2021 12:39

The city is empty. I've not been to the west end.

FinallySomeNormality · 16/12/2021 13:13

So so busy! Was there yesterday for a work meeting and it was bustling!

Original poster
Flowerpower23 · 16/12/2021 13:15

🤣🤣

OP posts:
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