These are the rules around visiting beauty spots and beaches in lockdown

England is currently still in a national lockdown, with people required to stay at home and only leave where permitted by law (Photo: Shutterstock)England is currently still in a national lockdown, with people required to stay at home and only leave where permitted by law (Photo: Shutterstock)
England is currently still in a national lockdown, with people required to stay at home and only leave where permitted by law (Photo: Shutterstock)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the roadmap out of lockdown plan for England last week, with many people eager for restrictions to lift and to be able to head further afield again.

However, although the weather becoming warmer and nights turning lighter means people may be tempted to head to the beach or a beauty spot, is this allowed yet, and, if not, when will it be possible to?

Here’s everything you need to know.

Am I allowed to visit a beach or beauty spot?

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England is currently still in a national lockdown, with people required to stay at home and only leave where permitted by law.

Some coronavirus lockdown restrictions will begin to be lifted from 8 March, including being allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces for recreation on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble. For example you will be able to have a picnic or a coffee in an outdoor public space.

However, the ‘stay at home’ rule will continue to remain in place until 29 March, meaning people can only leave the home for certain purposes, including going to work, seeking medical existence, shopping for basic necessities and for exercise.

Exercise is only currently allowed with your household, support bubble, or one other person, and “should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.”

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Exercising at a beach or beauty spot which is in very close proximity to where you live would be permitted, providing that you follow all the rules, but people are being warned to not to travel from further afield to visit a beach or beauty spot as the ‘stay at home’ message remains in place.

This comes after a family was recently fined by police after travelling from Poole to Bolton’s Bench in the New Forest for a walk.

When the ‘stay at home’ rule ends on 29 March, this will change to ‘stay local’, with many restrictions also continuing to remain in place.

However, from this date up to six people or two households will be able to meet outdoors in public spaces and private gardens, but not indoors.

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The Government has said people should “continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times and routes.”

From 12 April, self-catering holidays in England may be able to go ahead, subject to a review of the scientific data ahead of this date.

This will allow one household to stay overnight elsewhere in England, including holiday cottages, so trips to the beach or a beauty spot would therefore be allowed.

However, hotels and B&Bs will not reopen until 17 May at the earliest, and guests will have to obey the stage three social mixing rules, which mean that a maximum of six people or two households can stay together indoors.

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According to the Prime Minister, the earliest that all restrictions on mixing could be lifted is 21 June, which would be step four of the Government’s plan.

When could holidays abroad be allowed?

In regards to travel abroad, this will continue to be prohibited for the foreseeable future, other than for a small number of permitted reasons.

Holidays overseas will not be allowed, but the Government has launched a new taskforce to review global travel which will report on 12 April.