Aerials of London as England eases restrictions

People in London flocked to shed shaggy locks and browse for clothes, books and other “non-essential” items as shops, gyms, hairdressers, restaurant patios and beer gardens reopened Monday after months of lockdown.

Monday brought the easing of restrictions that have been in place in England since early January to suppress a surge in infections linked to a more transmissible new virus variant first identified in the southeast of the country.

Long lines formed outside some stores in London’s busy Oxford Street, and pubs and restaurants with outdoor space reported a flood of bookings.

Many people were planning outdoor meals and drinks, despite unseasonably cold weather that brought springtime snow flurries to many areas - including, briefly, London.

The government urged people to “behave responsibly” as the country that has had Europe's deadliest coronavirus outbreak took a big step on its roadmap toward a resumption of normal life.