Take a mesmerising tour of the city on YouTube.
We’re all missing London right now (at least, the bits we aren’t locked down in), so much so that even an aimless wander on a dreary night sounds like a good plan. In fact, it’s a great plan when you consider this lovely YouTube video, which takes a rainy walk through the West End and turns it into soothing ambience. Since you can’t get out there and enjoy it yourself right now, this could be the next best thing!
Put together by Watched Walker, the stroll takes in the streets of Covent Garden, Soho, Oxford Circus, and Piccadilly Circus. I don’t know if it’s the rain, the city noise, or a combination of both, but it has an oddly comforting ASMR effect that’s really rather wholesome. Plus, of course, it’s a prime opportunity to see the sights you’re currently really missing – I don’t think I ever realised just how important Chinatown and Soho were to me personally until I couldn’t visit them.
Snatches of conversations and laughter drift by as the walk continues, in a melting pot of languages which convey the diversity of London. The city is too quiet right now (eerily so, if you live in the more residential areas), so experiencing a slice of normal city life in the heart of the lockdown is actually quite powerful. I’d highly recommend just sticking it on in the background if your house is just too darn silent.
Of course, there’s always the chance seeing the crowds of Leicester Square and Oxford Circus might make you value the silence even more, but it’s making me both hopeful and wistful. Sigh… London, we’ll be back soon!