A combo of images showing the Red Arrows flying over Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony in London on Saturday, June 8, 2019 and the the empty scene taken from the same angle on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. Augstein, who grew up in a small town in western Germany, thought Britain's capital of almost 9 million people was the busiest place he had ever seen. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue. Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. More than 4,300 people with the virus in Britain have died, and health officials warning the peak of the outbreak is still days or weeks away. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds.
Augstein, who grew up in a small town in western Germany, thought Britain's capital of almost 9 million people was the busiest place he had ever seen.
In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue.
Amid the edifices of British monarchy and government, he captured tourists photographing Parliament's Big Ben tower as the giant bell sounded for the last time before falling silent for years of repairs. Crowds outside Buckingham Palace, craning for a glimpse of soldiers Trooping the Color to mark the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. A group of children greeting Larry, cat-in-residence at the prime minister's 10 Downing St. home.
Everywhere, there were people. Shoppers ambled between stores amid the Georgian splendor of Regent Street. Fans poured out of Wembley Stadium after an NFL game. Londoners, embracing innovation as well as tradition, have embraced American football alongside the home-grown soccer variety.
Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. More than 42,000 people have been infected in Britain and over 4,300 have died, and health officials are warning that the peak of the outbreak is still days or weeks away.
He found the contrast surreal.
The office workers who cross the Millennium Bridge by the thousands each day to jobs in the financial district are now working from home. Parliament Square and the streets around Buckingham Palace are empty of tourists and vehicles. Regent Street's stores are closed. Augstein found himself the only passenger on a Tube train that in normal times would be full. No one is queuing for buses these days.
Professional sports have been suspended and a jogger took advantage of the empty space around Wembley Stadium. A banner on the stadium reading 'œthank you fans'ť has been replaced with 'œThank you NHS,'ť in tribute to the doctors, nurses and other staff of Britain's beloved yet beleaguered National Health Service who are battling the pandemic.
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A combo of images shows pedestrians strolling over the Millennium bridge in London on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 and an empty view from the same angle taken on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue. Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images showing commuters on the Piccadilly Line tube in London on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 and the an empty compartment on the same London underground line taken on Thursday, April 2, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue. Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images shows people milling around at St Pancras International train station, in London on Friday, July 26, 2019 and the empty scene taken from the same angle on Thursday, April 2, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. Augstein revisited in recent days many of sites he has photographed, after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of photos shows fans approaching Wembley Stadium before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019, in London and an image showing an empty Wembley Way taken on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images shows people queuing for a bus at Victoria Station in London, on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2015 and an image taken from the same angle on Thursday, April 2, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement. Augstein revisited in recent days many of sites he has photographed, after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus.(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images showing school children approaching Downing Street chief mouser Larry the cat, as they leave after a scheduled meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street in London on Friday, Aug. 30, 2019 and the empty scene taken from the same angle on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images shows people walking on a traffic free Regent street in London on Sunday, July 12, 2015 and an image of an empty street taken from the same angle on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue. Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images shows people recording the last bell bong of Big Ben housed inside Elizabeth Tower in London on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 and the same view except this time an empty scene take on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. When Associated Press photographer Frank Augstein moved to London in 2015, what struck him most was the crowds. In years of covering political dramas, moments of celebration and tragedy and major sporting events, Augstein's photographs have captured the city's ceaseless movement: Pedestrians swarming over the Millennium footbridge spanning the River Thames. Travelers from the U.K. and continental Europe thronging St. Pancras railway station. Commuters following London transit etiquette by carefully ignoring one another on a crowded Tube train, or waiting patiently in a snaking bus queue. Augstein revisited those sites in recent days after Britain - like other countries around the world - went into effective lockdown to stem the spread of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press
A combo of images shows Union flags flying on the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace in preparation for the State Visit of US President Donald Trump, in London on Friday, May 31, 2019 and the deserted scene taken from the same angle on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
The Associated Press