Last Monday I took a train for the first time in three months to central London, and some of my favourite locations down by the river. I stayed away from the tube and caught a near-empty train at Brentford to Waterloo. I have spent so much time by the river, especially since my retirement; and it felt wonderful to be re-aquainted with old haunts. It was a cloudy but pleasant day. I brought my camera along and snapped away. Places I have photographed many times, but it felt special today.
I walked up to the Tate Modern, so that I could cross over the Millennium Bridge. I stayed on the north side on the way back until Hungerford Bridge. Initially I had planned to walk all ten or so miles home, but after stopping for a beer (see photos) and taking a lot of photos, I decided a couple of hours walking was enough, and caught a train home from Vauxhall.
So yes, these are familiar photos, but with a special resonance. Hope you enjoy.
Starting with Hungerford Bridge from below.
The British Film Institute had a takeaway bar open. Couldn’t resist a cold pint of Camden Hells by the river!
A few people around, but not many.
Some views from the Southbank.
A very quiet Blackfriars Bridge.
The Andy Warhol exhibition was only open for a few days. I missed it. Hopefully it might return, given that it was scheduled to go on until 6 September.
Views of and from the Millennium Bridge.
Zoomed in for Canary Wharf.
River of bridges.
Waterloo Bridge.
The London Eye motionless.
Views from Hungerford Bridge.
Still functioning, though barely.
Albert Embankment not heaving.
Land of hopes and dreams.
It felt oddly reassuring to know it’s all still there. Of course it was, but you know what I mean…
Thoughtsfromwestfive 
I was surprised to see just how quiet it was here, thinking that the last week or two have seen a very gradual edging towards some sort of activity – if certainly not normality?
The sense of stillness – almost sullenness? – is accentuated by the grey skies, which tend to flatten the landscapes a little. (On my own foray a few weeks back, the buildings were almost glowing in the early-morning light.) Your London, more drained of colour, really does look closed for business!
Yes, in mid-afternoon, with all the cultural centres closed and no tourists, the life – or the human life – has been sucked out of the place.