London in Tier 3: What are the rules?

London is set to be placed under Tier 3 rules from midnight tomorrow as the government scrambles to contain a sharp spike in coronavirus cases.

The capital will join regions such as Manchester and Birmingham under the highest level of restrictions from 0.01am on Wednesday. The health secretary will make a statement in the Commons at 3.30pm.

It comes after the latest data from Public Health England showed there was an increase in coronavirus case rates in all 32 London boroughs in the seven days to 9 December.

But what will Tier 3 rules for London look like in practice?

Read more: To be announced today: London to enter Tier 3 ‘imminently’

Meeting up with friends and family

Tier 3 rules mean a ban on all social interactions both indoor and outdoors with anybody outside your household or support bubble.

The only exceptions include going for a walk in the park, public garden or heritage site, visiting an allotment, or playing in outdoor sports facilities and playgrounds. In those cases, the rule of six must be adhered to.

Overnight stays with people outside your household or bubble will still not be allowed under Tier 3 rules.

That said, the government is set to relax restrictions for five days across the entire UK at Christmas which will allow three households to come together indoors between 23-27 December. It is understood that London will immediately return to Tier 3 after that.

Read more: Placing London in Tier 3 would deliver ‘killer blow’ for hospitality venues

Eating and drinking at pubs and restaurants

London’s hospitality venues including pubs, cafes, restaurants and bars must close once again under Tier 3.

While Tier 2 restrictions introduced earlier this month allowed punters to drink indoors as long as they had a “substantial meal”, venues will now only allowed to keep operating for takeaway services under Tier 3.

Customers must order online for takeaway, click-and-collect, delivery or drive-through. Businesses that fail to comply with the restrictions face fines of up to £10,000.

Read more: City of London to host ‘back to work’ week in bid to revive Square Mile

Shopping

Shops will be allowed to remain open under Tier 3 only if they are Covid-secure. That means you’ll likely be able to get some last-minute Christmas shopping done, as long as you’re prepared for some hefty queues.

But shopping malls will have to shut their doors, with Tier 3 guidelines stating that shops that cannot be accessed directly from the street must close.

London’s hairdressers, beauty salons, tattoo parlours, nail salons, and spas can remain open under the new rules.

Read more: We must all work together to stay safe and keep London out of Tier 3 restrictions

Sport and entertainment

Cinemas, casinos, bingo halls, bowling alleys, nightclubs and theatres must now close under London’s Tier 3 rules. That means hopes of going to the Christmas panto are now behind you.

Any Christmas holiday trips to ice skating rinks, museums, galleries and theme parks must also be ripped up now. Time to brush up those Zoom quizzes.

Leisure and sports facilities will also be allowed to stay running, but group exercise classes including fitness and dance classes will be banned. Gyms and sports facilities will be open for individual exercise and exercise in single households or support bubbles only.

Spectators will be banned from live sporting events.

Where to work

Boris Johnson earlier this month said that under all tier restriction levels “people who can work from home, should continue to do so”.

A previous exemption allowing business lunches to still go ahead under Tier 2 is now off the menu, meaning all those definitely-not-a-Christmas-party gatherings will have to retreat to Zoom.

Business meetings are still allowed in Tier 3, up to 30 members of staff, so long as social distancing is maintained.

The government has urged Londoners to walk or cycle into work where possible, and to travel outside of peak times if using public transport.

Holidays

Leaving London is now prohibited until the rules are relaxed for Christmas on 23 December.

That means anyone who has booked a Christmas getaway before then must now cancel their holiday. Hotels, B&Bs, campsites, holiday lets and guest houses must now close under Tier 3. 

Education

Downing Street has defied calls from the mayor of London to shut schools before they are due to break up for the Christmas holidays on Thursday following a spike in cases among 10 to 19-year-olds.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We’ve consistently said that not being in school has a detrimental impact on children’s learning as well as their own personal development and mental health.

“Which is why we expect all schools and colleges to remain open until the end of term on Thursday, as schools have remained open throughout the pandemic.”

But councils in the London borough of Greenwich and Basildon in Essex have turned a blind eye to the PM, announcing that they will close all schools from tomorrow.

Both councils cited an “exponential” rise in cases, adding that they were taking precautions before the festive period.

However, Downing Street has not ruled out the possibility that schools could be closed for longer than usual after Christmas.

Universities are allowed to remain open under Tier 3, though most students have been told to return home as part of government plans to stagger household mixing during the Christmas period.

Read more: Sadiq Khan urges PM to shut all London schools as cases spiral

Weddings and funerals

As per Tier 2, funerals will be capped at 30 people attending. Wedding celebrations will also be a muted affair, with a maximum limit of 15 attendees.