19 photos that show what London looks like without all the people

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Carnaby Street emptied out on December 25, 2016.
Jon Cartwright

Central London can be one of the most stressful and busy places to be any time of year, but never more so than in the lead up to Christmas.

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However, come December 25, the city becomes a ghost town.

Freelance photographer Jon Cartwright captured the spooky city on Christmas Day this year to show what the streets look like without all of the people.

Cartwright told Business Insider: "I live in central London and it’s something I’ve done a few times when I’ve been home at Christmas (and the weather allows)."

"Usually – for my job – I photograph people, so it’s a bit of a change of pace...It’s fun feeling like you have the west end more or less to yourself, and you can get pictures of landmarks that would usually be littered with people."

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From the usually packed Southbank to iconic spots like Oxford Circus and Covent Garden, see some of the most stunning – and eerie – shots from his series below:

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Covent Garden underground station normally sees crowds piling out of its doors, but none were travelling on December 25.

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Jon Cartwright
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While crowds normally flock to Covent Garden's Apple Market, which features clothing, jewellery, and craft stalls, nobody visited on December 25.

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Jon Cartwright
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Only pigeons were seen crossing the River Thames by way of The Golden Jubilee Bridge.

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Jon Cartwright

The lack of people makes the Royal Tank Regiment Memorial in Whitehall look even more impressive.

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Jon Cartwright
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Not even the Queen passed through the Horse Guards building on Christmas Day, which is the formal entrance to St. James Palace.

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Jon Cartwright

The usual street performers and musicians were nowhere to be seen at Covent Garden.

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Jon Cartwright
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Motorists and pedestrians alike pass under the busy Admirality Arch on The Mall in London every day, but the streets were empty.

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Jon Cartwright

Normally one of the busiest spots for tourists and buskers, London's South Bank was deserted.

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Jon Cartwright
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Crowds normally flock to Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, but nobody paid it a visit on December 25.

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Jon Cartwright
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No pedestrians were seen on the pedestrianised Carnaby Street.

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Jon Cartwright
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The ODEON in Leicester Square is frequently used for film premieres, and tourists and celebrity hunters flock to see who might be about, but they didn't bother on Christmas Day.

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Jon Cartwright

Oxford Street shoppers even took a day off.

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Jon Cartwright
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Leicester Square's LEGO store was seen without a massive queue for what was probably the first time since it recently opened.

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Jon Cartwright

Even tourist hotspot Piccadilly Circus was next to empty.

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Jon Cartwright
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And the high street shops on Regent Street didn't see a single visitor.

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Jon Cartwright
London Photography
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