Princes Street
Eerie images show Edinburgh's city centre deserted on Boxing Day as level four lockdown arrives
December 26 is often one of the busiest days of the year on Edinburgh's shopping streets, but not in 2020
Robert FairnieDigital Journalist
Princes Street in Edinburgh was deserted on Boxing Day morning (Image: PA)
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You don't often see Edinburgh's Princes Street looking like this at the quietest of times, never mind Boxing Day.
December 26 is often one of the busiest days of the year in the city centre as people flock to the shops armed with their festive vouchers and in search of the best post-Christmas bargains.
However with level four lockdown restrictions coming into force at midnight, and all non-essential shops required to close, this year has a totally different feel to it.
Not a person in sight on Waverley Bridge on Boxing Day (Image: PA)
Photographs taken on Princes Street and Waverley Bridge show the streets looking deserted, with only a handful of people out and about – a far cry from some of the images of long, winding queues published here on Edinburgh Live in years gone by.
As set out by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last Saturday, a new three week level four lockdown was introduced in large parts of Scotland today.
The move was made following the discovery of a new Covid-19 variant which is more easily transmittable than the existing strain.
The streets of Edinburgh are often packed on Boxing Day (Image: Daily Record)
The lockdown measures are expected to be reviewed in two weeks, with no changes expected until the middle of January at the very earliest.
Schools will also remain closed to most pupils until at least January 18.
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