OPINION - Evening Standard Comment: London’s on the up — let’s keep it that way

The streets may still be quieter than normal, but the green shoots of London’s recovery are very much in view. As Covid restrictions continue to ease, transport passenger figures and office capacity have risen, albeit from a low base.

Restaurants and pubs are bouncing back — Fuller’s, which has been hit hard by work from home guidance, reports sales have recovered to 81 per cent of 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Shoppers are pounding the streets, while even the long-delayed Elizabeth line is on schedule to open by summer.

There is more positive news in the shape of London’s tech revival. Tech jobs in the capital are up 121 per cent, surpassing pre-pandemic levels — and now make up almost 50 per cent of the national total.

The city is beating a path back to something resembling normality, but understandably, caution still abounds. The pandemic is not over, and there are signs that the steep fall in Omicron cases in London may have slowed. That is why it is vital to keep wearing face masks on the Tube and sign up for a booster shot.

The bustling, non-stop capital city we all remember is within our grasp. Let’s grab it.