The hottest thing to do in London today is wait in line for solar eclipse glasses
Some Londoners missed the memo that a rare solar eclipse was going to be visible in the UK on Wednesday. They spent the week racing to find the city's remaining eclipse glasses, and lining up in 90 degree heat.
In the heart of London today, the buzz was not about a new restaurant opening or a sold-out show, but rather the quest for solar eclipse glasses. Hundreds gathered outside a convenience store in Aldgate, a neighborhood typically not buzzing with activity. As the heat reached 91 degrees, people lined up in the stifling heat, asking the same question, "Is this the line?"
The glasses held the promise of a welcome distraction from the brutal heatwaves and the new Prime Minister. The best partial eclipse in the UK since 1999 was on the horizon, with over 90% of the Sun obscured by the moon. Londoners had barely given it a thought until the glasses became the hottest commodity. With the glasses already sold out in many stores, a secondary market emerged on the sidewalks.
Unsurprisingly, prices soared, with some offering to pay £100 for two glasses. Across the capital, pubs like The Windmill in Clapham came up with a creative solution, offering a free pair of glasses with every Hugo Spritz ordered.
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