Covid-19: Deserted Oxford

The COVID-19 pandemic began to spread throughout the world at the end of 2019. By March 2020 it had reached the UK to significant degree and on the 23rd of March the country entered its first Lockdown. Because the virus was thought to spread mainly through face-to face contact, people were asked to stay at home and avoid contact with each other.

People were only allowed to leave their homes for essential trips, including food shopping, work and helping someone who was isolating. This meant that the streets were deserted and silent. Many people documented the eerily empty streets. Since only essential travel was permitted, there were very few trains, planes or road vehicles to be heard. Birdsong could be heard clearly throughout the city.

Oxford's twin cities across the world, Wroclaw, Leiden, Perm, Grenoble and Ramallah, were similarly deserted.

Click on the images below to learn more.

“I have never in my whole life seen it like this!" said Kelley Spacey after a walk down the High Street and St Aldates in March 2020, when these photographs were taken.

A moving video of a deserted Oxford at sunrise, filmed by Sam Hamper by mounted helmet camera on a bike ride.

A selection of photographs taken by Stephen Foote during Easter 2020 showing the deserted streets. The black and white format combined with the historic buildings and total lack of cars give a feeling of going back in time.

Photos and reflections on missing the hustle and bustle by Bob Weatherhead.

"The sky has been like a blank canvas again, while the planes have hardly been flying." Cathy Lewis.

An account of early morning birdsong in central Oxford during the quiet of lockdown.

May Morning 2020, under lockdown

May Morning in 2019, when 13,000 people gathered

Explore these pictures of life during lockdown, from Oxford and some of her twin cities, on our interactive map. Zoom in to see individual items and click on them to read more.