Britons have been flocking to beauty spots from the Peak District to Hyde Park on a wet and windy fourth day of lockdown – but central London remains deserted as non-essential shops shut for November.
England’s second lockdown began on Thursday, bringing with it a ban on different households mixing, while indoor exercise was also brought to a halt.
The temporary closures left many braving the elements as they visited the Peak District this afternoon, while others were seen walking along Bournemouth Beach or at Hyde Park in London.
The UK has announced 20,572 new coronavirus cases – a fall of nearly 12 per cent compared to last Sunday – while 156 new deaths were recorded today.
Today marks the first end of the first weekend of England’ second national lockdown. As 156 new Covid deaths were announced, families enjoyed the hills of the countryside in the Peak District
Groups of people were seen heading outside for a Sunday stroll on a wet Mam Tor in the Peak District earlier today. England recorded 127 deaths today, on the fourth day of its winter lockdown
There were fewer crowds at Beachy Head in Sussex and along the once bustling streets of Soho today, as the country’s death toll reaches 49,044.
England recorded 127 deaths today, while Scotland announced three, while also reporting 1,115 new cases.
In Wales, 19 new deaths were reported, along with 744 new cases, as it prepares to leave its ‘firebreak’ lockdown tomorrow.
Seven deaths were recorded in Northern Ireland and an additional 420 cases.
The new deaths came as Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reiterated their determination not to extend the second lockdown beyond December 2.
Car parks were full of visitors in the Peak District as people headed outside for their daily exercise, after gyms were forced to close across England
Households are not allowed to mix under current lockdown rules, which are expected to last until December 2. Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab have reiterated that they do not wish to extend that date
Tory MPs are threatening to revolt should lockdown be extended, but undeterred Brits headed out today, despite the weather
Despite the overcast skies, Hyde Park was busy with cyclists, dog walkers and groups on Sunday. There are fears that the public ‘will not accept,’ any extension of lockdown measures
Green Park in central London was bustling earlier on Sunday afternoon, as England endured its first weekend of winter lockdown
Joggers took to Green Park while in nearby Whitehall, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prime Mininster Boris Johnson lead wreaths on Remembrance Sunday
Measures were brought in following grim predictions that deaths could rise to 1,000 a day by December, but weekly figures have seen a rise of just 14 compared to last Sunday, when 137 deaths were recorded.
Mr Johnson has insisted it is the ‘plan’ for the England-wide curbs to come to an end at the start of next month.
But his failure to give a cast iron guarantee has spooked many Conservative MPs who believe the ‘public will not accept’ an extension of the draconian measures.
The assurances from Mr Johnson and Mr Raab came as Britons paid their respect to the country’s war dead at memorials up and down the country today despite the Government urging councils to ‘discourage’ the public from events during the nation’s second lockdown.
Groups across the UK held their own memorials alongside the scaled-down annual National Service of Remembrance in London, during which Prince Charles, Prince William and Prime Minister Boris Johnson laid wreaths in solemn remembrance.
Data released by Google shows Londoners remain cautious when England’s first lockdown measures were eased over the summer
Green Park remained busy today as the UK recorded 20,572 new coronavirus cases and 156 new deaths, the majority of which were in England (127)
London was living under Tier 2 lockdown measures before the second lockdown began on Thursday, despite Google data suggesting Londoners were among the most well-behaved as measures eased
While revellers flocked to bars, restaurants, non-essential shops and offices in the rest of the UK between July and early September, Londoners instead opted to stay inside
In London, Soho remained quiet following scaled back Remembrance Sunday services in Whitehall.
Pictures of grey, quiet streets in the Capital today follow data that showed Londoners were better at following social distancing rules than other parts of Britain over the summer.
Anonymous mobile phone movement data collected by Google revealed that as the rest of the country was opening up after months of draconian lockdown measures, Londoners remained cautious.
Rows of bikes went unused on a grey day in London, which remained quiet following scaled back Remembrance Sunday services
The promenade next to Bournemouth beach was relatively quiet during a misty Sunday afternoon. The number of Covid-19 infections fell compared to last week by nearly 12 per cent
Non-essential shops have been forced to close across the country, along with pubs and restaurants, leaving the normally-bustling streets of Soho eerily quiet today
Pubs have been forced to close until December 2, but are able to serve drinks via delivery and takeaways, hospitality bosses say they move was not enough to support the industry
Locals on the South coast chose to spend their Remembance Sunday walking along Bournemouth beach, as services were scaled back and events called off due to Covid-19
Empty roads in Soho left room for other activities, such as skating, as new figures reveal Londoners were some of the most well-behaved during the summer months
Beachy Head in Sussex remained relatively quiet today, after being filled with sun-seekers during the summer months of lockdown
While revellers flocked to bars, restaurants, non-essential shops and offices in the rest of the UK between July and early September, Londoners instead opted to stay inside or take advantage of socially-distanced outdoor spaces, the figures suggest.
The difference may account for London’s comparatively lower coronavirus hospitalisation numbers – and its already-ebbing second wave stats.
In the summer months, visits to newly-reopened venues were between 50 and 30 per cent less popular than they were before lockdown in London.
The rest of the UK were between 40 and 10 per cent less busy, analysis by the Daily Telegraph has found.