It's beginning to look a lot like lockdown: London's Oxford Street is deserted and streets stand empty after a day when commuters still packed the Tubes as month of anti-Covid restrictions begins

Streets in the London were left eerily deserted this evening on the first day of the UK's second national lockdown even though Tubes were packed with commuters this morning. 

Oxford Street was barren and Piccadilly Circus looked desolate at night began to fall in the capital.

The lockdown has forced all non-essential shops, including pubs and restaurants, to close for the next four weeks - unless the provide a takeaway delivery service. 

Usually-bustling streets in central London were empty apart from a few commuters and a couple of food delivery drivers. 

The emptiness comes in stark contrast to scenes of Tubes packed full of commuters during this morning's rush hour.  

Streets in the London (pictured, Oxford Street) were left eerily deserted this evening on the first day of the UK's second national lockdown even though Tubes were packed with commuters this morning

The lockdown has forced all non-essential shops, including pubs (pictured, a closed pub in Soho) and restaurants, to close for the next four weeks - unless the provide a takeaway delivery service

Usually-bustling streets in central London (pictured, Soho) were empty apart from a few commuters and a couple of food delivery drivers

The emptiness comes in stark contrast to scenes of Tubes packed full of commuters during this morning's rush hour. Pictured: Empty Soho streets 

Piccadilly Circus was almost entirely deserted this afternoon as people stick to the lockdown's rules of only going outside if completely necessary

And it seems at odds with earlier reports that thousands of shops and cafes remained open across England today while rush-hour traffic remained high in cities.   

Motoring experts reported a much smaller reduction in the number of cars on the road today compared to the first lockdown, with congestion in London more than three times greater this morning than in March.

The AA said there was 'definitely no reduction' in traffic around areas where schools are located, with many families still avoiding public transport and opting to drive their children as the pandemic continues.

Cafes on high streets remained open for takeaway, but big businesses called the second lockdown 'very déjà vu' as they told staff to work from home – and wear masks everywhere except their desks if they had to go in.

Members of the public expressed surprise some places were still open and how busy the streets were, given people were supposed to be working from home.

Oxford Street , which is usually teeming with tourists and shoppers seemed much more desolate than usual this evening

Barely any traffic was seen on the roads in central London this afternoon either 

Only a few people were seen walking around central London this evening as well as a couple of takeaway deliverers 

However motorways in other parts of the country such as the M5 between Worcester and Cheltenham looked eerily quiet today as many employees followed the advice to work from home and avoid non-essential travel.

Congestion in London today was at 38 per cent from 7am-8am and 56 per cent at 8am-9am, with data from location technology firm TomTom also revealing there were 536 jams across 255 miles of roads in the capital.

On the first day of the first lockdown - March 24 - congestion was at 15 per cent at 7am and 16 per cent at 8am, meaning it was 3.5 times greater at the start of the second lockdown at 8am this morning.

However it is still well down on normal levels before the coronavirus pandemic took hold of Britain, with congestion on March 5, a normal Thursday before lockdown, at 57 per cent at 7am and 70 per cent at 8am.

It comes after astonishing traffic was seen yesterday, with queues at levels normally seen in the days before Christmas. There were 1,100 miles of jams in London alone at 6pm and the M25 was brought to a near-standstill.  

Crowds of commuters at London Bridge Underground station on the Jubilee line platform during rush hour this morning

Heavy commuter traffic battles through thick fog this morning on the A40 at Perivale in West London, heading into the capital

Roads in other parts of England were quiet, including the M5 motorway between Worcester and Cheltenham at 8.45am today 

Customers enter the bakery and coffee shop Ole & Steen on High Street Kensington in West London this morning

A group of young women sit on a bench in Leeds today while enjoying food from McDonalds. New rules for England say only two people from different households can meet outside. There is no suggestion this group are not from the same household

Morning congestion today was significantly up from the roughly 28 per cent observed across both times last week, although much of that will have been thanks to the lack of a school run due to the half-term holidays.

But 7am-8am traffic today was down from levels recorded earlier this week of 43 per cent on Monday, 52 per cent on Tuesday and 47 per cent yesterday - and down from a 52 per cent average at the same time last year. 

What is still allowed to open and what has shut? 

OPEN

Food markets; supermarkets; convenience stores; corner shops; off licenses; pharmacies; chemists; newsagents; hardware stores; building merchants; petrol stations; car repair and MOT services; bicycle shops; taxi or vehicle hire businesses; banks; building societies; credit unions; short term loan providers; savings clubs; cash points; post offices; funeral directors; laundrettes and dry cleaners; dental services; opticians; audiology services; chiropody; chiropractors; osteopaths; medical or health services; mental health services; veterinary surgeons; pet shops; agricultural supplies shops; storage and distribution facilities; and garden centres.

CLOSED

Bars; restaurants; cafes; social clubs; cinemas; theatres; nightclubs; bingo halls; concert halls; museums; galleries; casinos; betting shops; spas; nail bars; beauty salons; hair salons; barbers; tanning salons; massage parlours; sexual entertainment venues; tattoo and piercing parlours; shaking rinks; dance studios; fitness studios; gyms; sports courts; swimming pools; bowling alleys; amusement arcades; playgrounds; soft play areas; circuses; funfairs; fairgrounds; theme parks; adventure parks; outdoor sports centres; water parks; gold courses; stables; shooting and archery venues; outdoors markets (except those selling essential goods); showrooms; auction houses; model villages; film studio visitor attractions; aquariums; zoos; safari parks; farms; wildlife centres; and indoor attractions at gardens or other heritage sites.

The congestion level is the extra travel time drivers experience on average compared to baseline uncongested conditions - so a 38 per cent level means a 30-minute trip will take 38 per cent more time than with no traffic. 

During the first lockdown, traffic dropped to well below normal levels, but recovered to be busier than usual once the restrictions were lifted, with more people taking to the road and avoiding public transport.

After a flurry of activity in recent days, the roads are expected to get quieter again, but the difference may not be as dramatic this time with school run traffic still a daily occurrence.

AA president Edmund King, said: 'Traffic was very busy in many towns and city centres yesterday, reminiscent of Christmas Eve with people rushing to get last minute provisions before lockdown.

'During the day motorways were generally fine but traffic picked up from four o'clock perhaps indicating some people making a last dash out of some of the cities.

'Various of the temporary 'pop-up' schemes caused chaos. We had first-hand reports of it taking about an hour to travel one mile via Park Row and Upper Maudlin Street in Bristol due to new pop-up cycle ways and traffic calming.'

Ben Sheridan, from the AA patrol of the year, based in the Greater Manchester area, added: 'Traffic today seems to be at a normal level that you would expect, maybe slightly less volume on some of our local motorways during the morning rush hour. But definitely no reduction around areas where schools are located as people are avoiding public transport and opting to drive their children to school.

'Over the last few days, however, traffic around shopping centres and generally around Manchester has been really heavy, with people making last minute shopping trips and taking the chance to visit bars and restaurants before lockdown.

'Over the last few weeks we were seeing regular traffic levels, after lockdown was announced those levels gradually increased leading up to the last few days where they were at the maximum.'

And RAC insurance spokesperson Rod Dennis said: 'Based on hundreds of thousands of trips taken by RAC Black Box Car Insurance customers, there was a 13 per cent drop in the proportion of vehicles on the road between Tuesday March 16 and Tuesday March 23 (first day of the last lockdown).

'The reduction in vehicles between last Thursday and today however is much smaller – we've seen a drop of just 3 per cent in the proportion of vehicles on the road over this period. 

Congestion on March 5, a normal Thursday before lockdown, was 57 per cent at 7am and 70 per cent at 8am. On the first day of the first lockdown - March 24 - it was at 15 or 16 per cent. Today it was at 38 per cent at 7am and 56 per cent at 8am

Congestion in London was at 38 per cent between 7am and 8am this morning, according to location technology firm TomTom

Shoppers on the High Street in Worcester yesterday compared with a photograph of the same place taken today

'But it's important to note that in March vehicle traffic appeared to drop more significantly from the second day of the lockdown (March 24), so it will be interesting to see if a similar pattern emerges this time around.'

In London today, many essential workers and managers were shrugging off the gloomy outlook and shuffling into their workplaces as normal.

Solicitor Martin Hall, 35, from Walthamstow, North East London, told MailOnline: 'My boss asked me to come in so I didn't really have a choice about it. The whole thing is nonsense if you ask me and the way the issue had been dealt with by government has been a farce.

'If we needed a lockdown then why not have it for two weeks when the scientists said so instead of a whole month later on. If people are allowed to use the tube then what's the point of a lockdown at all?

'My local gym is shut but my swimming pool is open and I don't really understand why the schools and universities are open either. Town seems emptier than it was last week but not completely abandoned by any means.

'I think in hindsight it might have been wiser to let the first lockdown go on a little longer. The rave in Bristol a few days ago shows there might be signs of civil disobedience creeping in — just not in the form of mass protests on the streets.'

Fashion brand manager Fikriye Ozkan, 38, from Forest Hill, South East London, said: 'We've given workers the choice of coming in, and quite a few have phoned to say they are already on their way.

'It's a mental health issue. A lot of people working for us live in one bed flats and they just don't want to be stuck at home. I'm not one of those people who blames Boris for what's happened. Unfortunately it's necessary and I think he's made the right choice.'

Crossrail electrician Nigel Crooks, 53, from Chorley, Lancashire, was among those with essential worker status in the capital.

'I'd stay at home if I could but my wife Amanda and I have a pub in Lancashire that's been shut since March and so I've been staying in West London during the week and coming into Tottenham Court Road every day to work on Crossrail.

'If I didn't do it we'd only have £800-a-month to live on from the government and we couldn't get by on that. My feeling is the government has left it too late again and should have taken earlier action.'

Fashion brand manager Fikriye Ozkan , 38, from Forest Hill, South East London, said: 'We've given workers the choice of coming in, and quite a few have phoned to say they are already on their way.' Crossrail electrician Nigel Crooks , 53, from Chorley, Lancashire, was among those with essential worker status in the capital. He said: ''I'd stay at home if I could but my wife Amanda and I have a pub in Lancashire that's been shut since March and so I've been staying in West London during the week and coming into Tottenham Court Road every day to work on Crossrail'

Solicitor Martin Hall , 35, from Walthamstow, North East London, told MailOnline: 'My boss asked me to come in so I didn't really have a choice about it.' Drinks representative Sarah Webb , 30, from Hounslow, West London said: 'I drive into work every day and I noticed traffic this morning didn't seem in any way different than last week'

And drinks representative Sarah Webb, 30, from Hounslow, West London said: 'I drive into work every day and I noticed traffic this morning didn't seem in any way different than last week. I think it's a mix of essential workers and couriers.

'Because I work in the food and beverage industry, we are classed as key workers because we have to fuel the nation. We are in unknown territory as a country and some tough decisions are being made. I'm trying to remain optimistic.' 

In Liverpool it was also quiet with just a peppering of people in the city centre.

Sikander Ramzan, 28, manager of Mobile, a phone accessories and repairs shop, said: 'As a small business we obviously don't want for the country to be locked down. I've had two people in since this morning.

'Phone shops can be open for essential repairs so we have had to change it so that we only see customers who have pre booked an appointment.

'But it hasn't stopped people walking in and trying to buy things. We are having to explain to them they have to go outside and book an appointment first.

Zeinab Moradi, 34, university researcher, and Sikander Ramzan, 28, manager of Mobile, were out and about in Liverpool

'They say to us that it's nonsense and this whole thing is ridiculous and I do sympathise with them but we have to play by the rules or we risk getting fined.' 

Zeinab Moradi, 34, university researcher, said: 'I didn't expect it to be busy and it is quite quiet, people only seem to be coming in for essential items which is how it should be. I've only come to Tesco to get food.

'I think the whole world is nervous about this virus at the moment and I only ever come out with my mask on. The last time the lockdown was lifted I was amazed at the huge crowds of people in the streets who weren't wearing masks. I do hope the lockdown will be over in just a month though as I am sick of staying inside.' 

Martha Longley, 18, student at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts said: 'I've just come into town with some friends to film a documentary about how Covid has affected university life. It's had a huge impact on the amount of people I've met, I thought I would have made a lot more friends by now.

'It's sad to see the city centre like this with all the shops closed, normally we would be out shopping and getting excited for Christmas but you just can't.

'I'm not really that anxious about coming out because I'm not high risk and I don't mix with anyone who is high risk but there's not much to come out for anyway.'

Steph Burgess, 30, Visual Merchandiser, and Martha Longley, 18, student at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts

Steph Burgess, 30, Visual Merchandiser said: 'I've just come in for my last two days at work before we all go back on furlough. We're just reorganising the displays ready for Christmas. Most places do seem closed but I've been surprised by how busy it is and how busy the traffic was on the way to work. I think there's a little bit of panic because we don't know how long this is really going to go on for.' 

Bristol city centre was quiet but had a few people still out and about - including one gentleman who did not know when the new measures had come in. 

Pensioner Paul Meakin, 75, had just come into town to get one last cup of coffee before he goes into lockdown.

He said: "I've stuck been in my flat for the past two weeks, sitting alone, staring at the same four walls, and I just thought I needed to get out today one last time before we go back into lockdown.

"I actually thought the lockdown came into effect as of midnight tonight - so that's why I've come in here today, just to get myself a coffee in Greggs and sit out in the fresh air, and then go home and that'll be it until after lockdown.

"It's a luxury for me to be able to do that, just to come out and have a coffee.

"Otherwise I just keep myself to myself, and I shall stay in now while we have a lockdown."

He added: "To be honest, I wish I hadn't come out now. There's nobody about, and nothing much is open.

"I wasn't expecting to see a lot of people, but it's usually packed down here, and now there's just nobody.

"It's just not nice staying indoors. It gets boring when you're on your own like I am."

Meanwhile, Eliah Anderson, 22, was waiting to go into college at Access Creative music college.

He said: "I will be doing the lockdown stuff - but I'm hoping that the colleges won't close. It's nice still being able to come in and do that."

The third-year music student added: "It feels quite disappointing really, just not being able to get back to normal life.

"I've been walking through town and just asking myself when this coronavirus stuff is going to end.

"Everything feels a lot more careful now, and it's just frustrating that I'm not going to be able to see my friends or have the social side of things." 

Grandmother-of-five Sandra Fearon, 63, was waiting in the city centre to go and pick her two youngest grandchildren up from primary school.

She said: "Either my husband or myself pick them up Monday to Thursday, as their parents are both key workers so can't do it.

"But other than that, I'm not really going out at the moment - and I'm quite happy just to stay in my flat.

"I don't really mind coming into town when it's like this - it's quite nice today, actually.

"It was horrendous when I was coming through yesterday to pick them up - it was heaving with people doing their panic-buying.

"There's just no need for it.

"I wasn't really nervous about coming out today during another lockdown.

"It was worse first time around, when we knew less about the virus and people didn't really know how to behave. I was more nervous back then, but not now.

"I'm doing what I'm meant to be doing, and of other people want to risk their lives, that's up to them."

Sandra, who had popped into Tesco to buy some basic food items, and had treated herself to a coffee at Greggs, added that town felt "strange".

She said: "It's strange, because it's really quiet outside, but I've just been in to Tesco and the woman on the door there was saying that you wouldn't know people were meant to be staying at home."

And hospital worker Liv Smith, 24, described Bristol as "like a ghost town".

She said: "It's really weird. It's like a ghost town.

"I just came in on my day off from work to have a Subway for lunch, and to enjoy a bit of outside space.

"But it's not what you'd expect at all, especially when you've got the Christmas stuff in stores and the Christmas lights all hanging up in the shopping centre.

"You're not even allowed to go and use the toilets inside the shopping centre.

"It's weird seeing some shops open that I would have expected to be closed - like Robert Dyas and Argos. They're not really essential."

And Liv said that she thinks the lockdown has been left "a bit late".

She said: "I think it could have been done sooner - like when Liverpool and Manchester were put into Tier 3. I think everywhere should just have been on the same level.

"It would have been better for people's mental health - especially heading into winter."

Yesterday, congestion was worse than normal in 16 out of 24 cities and towns - and, as drivers reported colossal tailbacks, the RAC said breakdown reports were up 15 per cent compared to normal.

The RAC, which said the increased breakdowns were 'a sign that the roads are much, much busier', added that the spike yesterday was caused by families heading for pre-lockdown shopping trips and leisure outings.

The rush to stock up saw huge queues outside shops and beer being sold for just 99p a pint before it goes off. Shoppers filled their trolleys before four weeks of having to stay at home and make only essential journeys.  

Commuters sit close to each other while others stand on a Jubilee line train in London today as the new lockdown begins

Commuters at Canning Town Underground station in East London this morning on the first day of the second lockdown

Commuters travel on the Jubilee line in London this morning on the first day of the second national lockdown for England

People standing on an escalator and walking down steps at London Bridge train station during rush hour this morning

Traffic on the M60 heading into Manchester this morning as the second national lockdown comes into force

A Southeastern high speed train passes the M20 motorway in Ashford, Kent, today

Today, pubs, restaurants and non-essential shops in England have once again been forced to close and members of the public were ordered to stay at home for the next four weeks in a bid to reverse the spread of Covid-19. 

It comes amid Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirming this morning that the 80 per cent furlough scheme will continue for businesses that have been shut due to restrictions beyond this lockdown period.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister has been warned by a group of northern Conservative MPs that they do not want their constituencies 'locked into lockdown' indefinitely, as dissent appears to be growing within the party.

Jake Berry, chairman of the Northern Research Group of Tory backbenchers, has called for more clarity from Boris Johnson for a roadmap out of the measures for a second time in little more than a week. 

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Traffic on the M25 around Greater London this morning as congestion levels remain high in the capital despite the lockdown

Traffic shortly before 8am on The Highway in East London today at the start of a four week national lockdown for England

Commuters at London Waterloo train station at 8.13am today during the morning rush hour at the start of the new lockdown

Commuters at Leeds train station at 8.31am this morning at the start of a four week national lockdown for England

Traffic on the M25 this morning as people continue to commute to work despite the second national lockdown beginning

Commuters at London Waterloo station at 8.10am in the morning rush hour at the start of a four-week national lockdown

Last evening, MPs voted by 516 to 38 - a Government majority of 478 - for the new rules, which are due to expire on December 2. But 32 Tory MPs defied the whips to vote against, with two more acting as tellers for the noes.

The new restrictions were then cleared through Parliament after they were approved by the House of Lords. 

The lockdown comes with a number of exceptions, including pupils continuing to go to school, limitless outdoor exercise and 'safe visiting' for care home residents and their families.

Under new Government guidelines, care home visitors will be encouraged to meet their loved ones through a window or in an outside setting, following concerns about the emotional damage to residents and their families.

A customer walks into a Pret coffee shop inside the High Street Kensington shopping arcade in West London today

Leon is open for customers this morning in Kensington, West London, although they are not allowed to sit inside

Belgian chocolate company Leonidas is open for takeaway only in the High Street Kensington shopping arcade this morning

A customer leaves the Oree patisserie branch on High Street Kensington in West London this morning

But the guidance, which was issued less than 12 hours before new lockdown measures came into force, was criticised and dismissed as 'warm words' by care experts.

Also from today, all students and teachers in secondary schools and colleges in England will be required to wear face coverings when moving around the premises. 

People in Wales will be able to return to pubs and restaurants and schools are set to reopen when the nation's two-and-a-half week 'firebreak' ends next week.

A regional tiered approach to restrictions is in force across Scotland, while in Northern Ireland, pubs and restaurants are still shuttered after being closed for four weeks starting on October 16. 

Bosses despair over lockdown 'déjà vu' as Goldman Sach tells office staff to wear masks at all times unless at desks while KPMG enforces 100% WFH order from today 

Lockdown 2 hit hard today as big business branded it 'very déjà vu' as they told staff to work from home – and wear masks everywhere except their desks if they had to go in.

JP Morgan, Price Waterhouse-Cooper, Goldman Sachs and the London Stock Exchange said employees were operating remotely.

It was a copycat situation of the first lockdown for the top firms, who said only essential workers were allowed in if they fulfilled strict criteria.

In many cases it undid a return to work drive – pushed by Boris Johnson in September – that business had started to embrace.

A quiet, foggy Oxford Street in London this morning, at the start of the four-week national lockdown for England

JP Morgan said it had reverted back to essential workers only, which meant the vast majority of its 16,000 employees in England were working from home

The LSE said it was closed to all but essential staff in roles such as market operations.

PWC said the vast majority were working from home during lockdown, with it the 'default position' for staff.

And Goldman Sachs workers were sent a memo ahead of the shutdown telling them to stay home unless completely essential.

It read: 'In line with the updated measures, as of this Thursday only those who have been designated as in-office essential may come into the office. Your division's management will confirm whether you fall into this group. 

'For those who are not designated as in-office essential, please make the necessary arrangements to work at home from Thursday, 5 November until further notice. If you have concerns about this, or are unable to effectively work from home, please discuss with your manager. Rest assured, what matters most is your health and wellbeing.

A view from Westminster Bridge in London this morning in foggy conditions at the start of the four-week national lockdown for England

'For colleagues coming to the office, please note our facilities will continue to adhere to the latest government guidelines, in addition to the firm's Wellness protocols. 

'Please continue to complete the attestation via theCanopy application and ensure you fully adhere to the measures put in place to provide a safe working environment, including the wearing of masks at all times, except when at your desk. During this period, we will be closing the on-site Fitness Centre effective from Monday; showers and changing rooms will remain open for commuters. The Health Centre and Children's Centre will remain open from Thursday onwards to support those who are in-office essential only.

'If you have concerns about your health, please contact your GP. If you have any additional questions in relation to the firm's Wellness protocols, contact EMEA Wellness Exchange. Thank you for your continued resilience as we adapt to the evolving landscape.'

KPMG has also told colleagues to work from home in lockdown, with teams set up for it.

But Standard Chartered have gone a step further announcing it will make flexible working from home permanent in 2021. 

One top 20 business told MailOnline: 'It's all very déjà vu'.

Neil Moles, CEO of professional advisory firm, Progeny, said: 'All but a very small number of our 165 team members are working from home.

'With the IT infrastructure and technology in place from the first lockdown, the focus for many firms in the second lockdown will be on their people.

'Encouraging and supporting good physical and mental health will be paramount, and taking an active approach to maintaining team wellbeing will be vital as we prepare for the months ahead. If you look after your people, your business looks after itself.'