Holidays in the UK have been in question and hotly debated over the coronavirus pandemic. Whilst some better-off travellers have opted to move to Dubai where restrictions and access were relaxed, others have been making do with the tourist attractions in the UK. Overseas travel has long been more hassle than it’s worth for tourists, quarantine periods and copious COVID testing has meant that travelling even to France is met with intense scrutiny and a lot of preparation, especially if you are privy to more last-minute holiday plans.
Staycations have become commonplace, especially over the school holiday periods when families have been looking for activities to enjoy with their children whilst they’ve been off school. Montcalm London hotels for staycations near Finsbury Square have been popular choices for those who visit the UK capital, in part because of heightened hygiene regulations as well as energised vaccine programmes across the country. So with all this in mind and the 19th July cut off date for mandatory COVID restrictions, what will travel and tourism look like in the UK over the next few months? After all, Delta variant cases are on the rise and whether this will be offset by the growing number of fully vaccinated Brits still remains to be seen.
So how will rules change for tourists in the UK once restrictions have been lifted on July 19th? This blog will outline some of the ways that the UK will open up again, and what measures will still be in place to curve the rise in cases.
What Rules Are Set To End On July 19th?
As it stands, COVID restrictions are still in place across the UK. Whilst Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different rules, the below rules are what are currently enforced in England specifically.
Removal On Meeting Limits
Currently, there are limits on how many people are allowed to meet inside and outside. The inside limit on households allowed to meet up is currently two bubbles of a maximum of six. Outside, thirty people maximum are allowed to meet for social gatherings. The only legal exemption to larger groups than thirty is if you are volunteering or working with disabled or vulnerable people.
Drinks And Food At The Bar
Gone the days will be of table service come 19th of July. Guests at the restaurants of 2 night London hotel deals and bars across the city will be allowed to order food and drink at the counter or bar of restaurants and pubs. This means that you won’t have to go through fiddly mobile-optimised menus and QR code scanning from the end of July and can regain the sociability of bars and restaurants across the country.
Theatre And Cinema CapacityBack To Full
One of the major worries that the arts have had to face in recent months is that half capacity and socially distanced revenue has barely helped venues to break even when it comes to staff payment and building rentals. Once full-capacity stagings and screenings are once again allowed, the venues that have survived last year’s ordeal will no longer have to tread water and can focus once again on growing their cultural programmes.
Full Capacity For Other Entertainment Venues
It’s not just theatres and cinemas that are being affected by the easing of restrictions, but non-seated venues too. Live music will once again be allowed to operate with a standing capacity, whilst nightclubs will be able to open after the 19th of July as well.
Facemasks And Social Distancing To Be Scrapped
Alongside the capacities of venues and reduced seating rules, more general social distancing and facemask rules will be lifted as well. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t wear masks in certain situations such as on public transport and unventilated areas, but that we will not be required to by law anymore. Whether queueing for check-in at the Montcalm Royal London House or to collect a delivery from your favourite takeaway, mask-wearing and social distancing will no longer be enforced.
English Rules For Accommodation
Whether travelling from abroad or from another area of the UK, all holiday accommodation including B&B’s and hostels will be open to full capacity once again. Furthermore, multiple households will once again be allowed to stay together with no limits on numbers.
The rules for different areas of the UK change significantly, so here are the rules for the other three countries in the UK.
Welsh Rules For Accommodation
The government of Wales are working on a slightly different timetable to England. Wales has seen a full reopening of holiday accommodation but will extend restrictions on household numbers and social distancing. Different households outside of a social bubble cannot stay overnight on the same premises either, and this is set to be reviewed again on the 15th of July.
Northern Irish Rules For Accommodation
Northern Ireland is following similar rules to that of the UK and will see holiday homes and hotels open as well as a maximum of six people from two households being allowed to share a household.
Scottish Rules For Accommodation
Scotland is running on a different set of rules than England. Many Scottish regions are at the time of writing this blog, between levels one or two of restrictions and Scottish Islands are running at level 0, which means even laxer rules. Hotels remain open as do other types of holiday accommodation and people from three households are allowed to share accommodation such as holiday home rentals. However, people planning a trip to Scotland are encouraged to take a lateral flow test the day of travel and another one three days before they plan on travelling.
Scotland is planning to lift all restrictions by the 9th of August and plan to move all restrictions to level 0 on the 19th of July.
