London is in Tier 4. Figures show cases are rising rapidly and there is a new variant of the virus which spreads more easily.
It is vital that we follow the rules to slow the spread of the virus, protect the NHS, and prevent more deaths.
Restrictions apply to all boroughs in Greater London. If you are unsure if this includes your area you can check the full list of local restriction tiers by area.
These businesses must now close and stay closed
- Non-essential shops and retailers, such as shops selling clothing and electrical goods, car showrooms, and betting shops. Shops can still trade via delivery and click-and-collect services.
- Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, such as gyms, and swimming pools.
- Entertainment venues, such as theatres, cinemas, museums, galleries and concert halls.
- Personal care facilities including hairdressers, beauty and nail salons, tattoo parlours.
- Restaurants, bars, pubs and other hospitality venues (they can still provide takeaways and delivery services).
- Hotels, hostels, campsites and guest houses (except for very specific circumstances including essential work travel).
These venues, business and settings can stay open
- Place of worship including for communal worship
- Food shops and supermarkets
- Garden centres
- Outdoor playgrounds and parks
- Petrol stations, car repairs and MOT series, bicycle shops and taxi businesses
- Banks and post offices
- Vets and pet shops
- Estate agents and letting agents
- Public toilets
- Waste and recycling centres, courts and many other public services
You must stay at home
You must not leave or be outside your home except for specific reasons.
These include:
- work, or to provide voluntary or charitable service, where you cannot do this from home;
- essential activities like buying food and medicine, collecting items through click-and collect or as a takeaway, to obtain or deposit money;
- to exercise or spend time outdoors. This should be done locally wherever possible;
- fulfilling legal obligations or for activities related to buying, selling, lettering or renting a property. You can still move home;
- formal education and registered childcare and children’s activities that are necessary to allow parents/carers to work. Contact between parents and children where they live apart can continue;
- attending a formal support group (up to 15 people) or to provide care for vulnerable people;
- for any medical reason, including to get a COVID-19 test and attend other health appointments;
- to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm (such as domestic abuse).
Meeting others is restricted
- You must not meet socially indoors with friends or family unless they live with you or are in your support bubble with you.
- You can exercise or visit outdoor public places like parks, neighbourhood streets and outdoor playgrounds with:
- the people you live with;
- your support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble); or
- when you are on your own with 1 person from another household. Children under 5 as well as disabled people dependent on care are not counted towards this limit on two people meeting outside.
- You are not allowed to meet with others in a private garden unless you live with them or have formed a support bubble with them.
Work and travel
- You should continue to work from home if you can
- You cannot travel overseas or within the UK unless for work, education or other legally permitted reasons.
- You should look to reduce the number of journeys you make and stay local wherever possible. If you need to travel you should walk or cycle where possible and plan ahead to avoid busy times and routes.
- You should not go on holiday or stay overnight away from your home, unless it is for a permitted reason.
- You should not leave a Tier 4 area unless for a permitted reason, and if you do you must follow the Tier 4 restrictions wherever you are.
You can no longer mix with other households at Christmas
- In Tier 4 areas, which includes London, you cannot form a Christmas bubble. This means you cannot spend Christmas with anyone who you do not live with or who is not in your support bubble.
- You should not travel outside of Tier 4 to other areas over the Christmas period.
- On New Year’s Eve the full Tier 4 restrictions also apply.
NHS services, including GP services and dentist remain open.
If you think you might need medical care, it is important to come forward. Call 111 if you need medical care and in an emergency 999. GPs and hospitals have processes in place to keep you safe.
Remember to always:
- Keep a safe distance from others. Stay two metres apart from people you do not live with as much as possible.
- Wherever you cannot keep a safe distance from others, wear a face covering. It is mandatory to wear a face covering on public transport and in shops.
- Wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitiser when you are out.
- Keep your home well ventilated if you must have people there, such as those doing maintenance. Open windows and doors when you can to allow fresh air to circulate.
- If you develop COVID-19 symptoms (high fever, continuous cough, loss of taste or smell) then self-isolate immediately and request a test as soon as you can.
- If you are over 60 or clinically vulnerable you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You should therefore be especially careful to follow the London Tier 3 rules and to minimise your contact with others. If you are clinically extremely vulnerable then the Government is advising you to work from home and to stay at home as much as possible. The Government will write to everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable with detailed advice.
