London’s “Great Return” was always going to be a process rather than an event. But things are hotting up.
The capital’s major rail stations were at 60 per cent of normal capacity yesterday, while West End footfall was 79 per cent of normal at the weekend, the best since pre-Omicron.
Given the latest details of the financial crisis at TfL, with fares income down more than £1 billion on projections, this progress cannot come soon enough.
The return of a bustling, vibrant centre of town is simply critical for London’s future, and for all who call it home.
Must-see Van Gogh
The Van Gogh exhibition at the Courtauld, which opens on Thursday, is one more reason to come back into town.
The 15 self-portraits on display are compelling, an extraordinary exercise in artistic autobiography. And we should remember, of course, that Van Gogh spent a crucial period of his life here; why, he’s practically a Londoner.
We should also note that the most striking of the exhibits, Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, is actually one of the highlights of the gallery’s permanent collection. Even after the show is over, we can still come back to look at it.
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