- Title: London Eye passengers get bird's-eye view as lockdown lifts
- Date: 17th May 2021
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) PEOPLE COUNTING DOWN AS BOY PRESSES BUTTON TO REOPEN THE LONDON EYE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BOARDING A LONDON EYE POD PEOPLE QUEUING AND GIVING THUMBS UP POD ASCENDING LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) LONDON EYE MOVING LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT LONDON EYE, LEE PHILLIPS, SAYING: "I mean, it's a celebratory atmosphere. We love having the team back. Everyone's super excited to be here today. We've welcomed them all back over the last couple of weeks and the atmosphere is really positive around the attraction. For me personally, being able to stand at the exit and watch everyone coming off, smiling having seen the incredible views of London, is something that I've missed and can't wait to experience in a couple of hours." PEOPLE ON LONDON EYE MOTHER AND CHILD WAVING VIEW OF RIVER THAMES AND EMBANKMENT PASSENGER TAKING PHOTOS FROM LONDON EYE MOTHER AND CHILD LOOKING DOWN FROM LONDON EYE VIEW OF SOUTH BANK FROM POD (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT LONDON EYE, LEE PHILLIPS, SAYING: "So our world-class team have put a number of measures in place, and we obviously went through some learnings from our reopening last year. So some of the measures that we have in place include reduced capacities, temperature screening for everyone who visits us, enhanced cleaning throughout the day of all areas of the attraction, and then we have mandatory face coverings for all guests and staff at the attraction." BRITISH FLAG FLYING FROM HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT THE ELIZABETH TOWER, WHICH HOUSES BIG BEN VARIOUS OF LONDON VIEWED FROM LONDON EYE PEOPLE INSIDE LONDON EYE POD THE SHARD AND SURROUNDING BUILDINGS VIEWED FROM LONDON EYE SIGN READING (English): "PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE WEARING A FACE COVERING" STAFF HELPING PEOPLE DISEMBARK LONDON EYE VARIOUS OF STAFF CLEANING POD (SOUNDBITE) (English) 19-YEAR-OLD LAW STUDENT, KLAUDIA WASILEWSKA, SAYING: "So we came down today because it's our anniversary, we didn't get to celebrate it last month, so we came down this week just to see London and make the most of it, really, whilst we can, whilst everything is open today." (SOUNDBITE) (English) 19-YEAR-OLD LAW STUDENT, KLAUDIA WASILEWSKA, SAYING: "With restrictions being lifted now I think more and more people are opening up to everything. I mean, we were stuck in a queue (on the road) for like an hour and 40 minutes this morning to come in to London. So I think a lot more people are on the move and on the road. I'm starting to see it a lot more. I think it's a positive sign. I think people are going to start enjoying themselves more and actually looking forward to new things and adventures whilst lockdown is easing - and hopefully isn't back in place soon!" VARIOUS OF VIEW FROM LONDON EYE (SOUNDBITE) (English) 20 YEAR OLD ENGINEERING STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL, ELIJAH YU, SAYING: "Yeah, today is the first open day after lockdown and after I travelled to the UK, I haven't found (any) face-to-face meetings or staying with my friends. I just stay with the computer and it is... it feels very cold. But today, after the lockdown, I feel the temperature of London. It's making me feel very warm and I really like the UK." LONDON EYE PODS MOVING (SOUNDBITE) (English) HEAD OF OPERATIONS AT LONDON EYE, LEE PHILLIPS, SAYING: "So we obviously can't wait to welcome back our international visitors, but we know we're extremely popular with our domestic audience as well, and we are saying that there's never been a better time for them to visit London, which is why we're backing in the Let's Do London campaign, which has recently been announced by the mayor's office." LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (MAY 17, 2021) (REUTERS) (MUTE) TIMELAPSE OF LONDON EYE MOVING
- Embargoed: 31st May 2021 14:20
- Keywords: Big Ben COVID-19 Houses of Parliament London London Eye River Thames South Bank coronavirus easing landmarks lifting lockdown pandemic reaction restrictions views
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA001EDCOQIV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: People got a bird's-eye view of the British capital on Monday (May 17) as the London Eye reopened to visitors following months of coronavirus lockdown.
Head of Operations Lee Phillips said he was really looking forward to welcoming back passengers to London's South Bank, with a variety of safety precautions now in place to limit any possible transmission of the virus.
The reopening was possible after the government confirmed last week it would lift many of its nationwide lockdown restrictions despite some concerns over a fast-spreading COVID-19 variant that was first identified in India.
A number of indoor leisure venues are now permitted to reopen to the public, albeit with extra safety measure in place.
Pubs, restaurants, bowling alleys, theatres and cinemas are all allowed to welcome guess again, providing a much-needed boost to the nation's economy.
While lockdown rules changed across Britain on Monday, those in Scotland and Wales differ slightly to those in England.
Northern Ireland will not loosen its restrictions until later in the month.
The biggest public health crisis in a century was accompanied by a drastic extension of state power; during England's lockdowns police broke up parties and protests alike, shut down religious services and handed out fines of up to 10,000 pounds ($14,000) to youngsters for partying.
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