Lockdown leaves Norwich a ghost town on Easter bank holiday

There is a strange eeriness to the normally bustling Saturday streets of Norwich left devoid of all but a handful of shoppers.

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Gentleman’s Walk and London Street, normally thronged with weekend crowds, are instead all but deserted in this strange new ghost town..

The entrance to Chapelfield is without families thronging in and out.

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

The handful of shops still open include Tesco and Marks and Spencer’s food hall, with people forced to queue to enter in limited numbers. Some others stores have either been emptied of stock or, adding to the ghost town feel, boarded up altogether, including McDonald’s

On Norwich Market, normally so busy, the only stalls open were Paul’s Butchers, The Orient Express and Joe’s Pets.

Gentleman's Walk in Norwich at midday on Easter Saturday. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

What people that could be seen are a mixture of wary mask-wearing shoppers, cyclists and families strolling through on their hour of freedom.

Chapelfield Gardens would normally be a hive of activity with families enjoying the Easter funfair. But despite the glorious weather, few people could be seen with a handful sunbathing but most either walking through or cycling without stopping.

Shoppers at Pauls Butchers, one of just three stalls open on Norwich Market. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

On the Riverside walk past Norwich Cathedral there were families to be seen stretching their legs and walking dogs in their hour of exercise, but a warniness of getting too close meant even here most were not keen to linger.

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Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

No shoppers to be seen at the deserted entrance to intu Chapelfield shopping centre in Norwich. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Empty junction of London Street and Castle Street in Norwich. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Boarded up McDonalds on Haymarket in Norwich added to the ghost town feel amid coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Just a handful of shoppers and cyclists on London Street in Norwich. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

Normally busy Bedford Street in Norwich deserted amid coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)

The Forum in Norwich without the usual cwods amid the coronavirus lockdown. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

Norwich on COVID19 Lock Down Easter 2020. St Peter Mancroft Pictures: BRITTANY WOODMAN (Image: Archant)