Exemptions from gatherings limits in all tiers:

as part of a single household, or a support bubble

for work or providing voluntary or charitable services, including in other peoples homes

for childcare, education or training meaning education and training provided as part of a formal curriculum

for supervised activities provided for children, including wraparound care (before and after-school childcare), groups and activities for under 18s, and childrens playgroups

for formal support groups, and parent and child groups up to 15 people aged 5 and older

to allow contact between birth parents and children in care, as well as between siblings in care

for arrangements where children do not live in the same household as both their parents or guardians

for prospective adopting parents to meet a child or children who may be placed with them

for birth partners

to attend a funeral with no more than 30 people present or a commemorative event such as a wake for someone who has died with no more than 15 people present

to see someone who is terminally ill or at the end of life

to attend a wedding or civil partnership with no more than 15 people present

to provide emergency assistance

to avoid injury or illness, or to escape a risk of harm

to fulfil a legal obligation, such as attending court or jury service

to provide care or assistance to someone vulnerable or to provide respite for a carer

to facilitate moving home

Published 23 November 2020

Tier 3: Very High alert
This is for areas with a very high or very rapidly rising level of infections, where tighter restrictions are in place.

In tier 3:

you must not meet socially indoors or in most outdoor places with anybody you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble, this includes in any private garden or at most outdoor venues

you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in some other outdoor public spaces, including parks, beaches, countryside accessible to the public, a public garden, grounds of a heritage site or castle, or a sports facility this is called the rule of 6

hospitality settings, such as bars (including shisha venues), pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed they are permitted to continue sales by takeaway, click-and-collect, drive-through or delivery services.

accommodation such as hotels, BBs, campsites, and guest houses must close. There are several exemptions, such as for those who use these venues as their main residence, and those requiring the venues where it is reasonably necessary for work or education and training

indoor entertainment and tourist venues must close. This includes:

indoor play centres and areas, including trampolining parks and soft play

casinos

bingo halls

bowling alleys

skating rinks

amusement arcades and adult gaming centres

laser quests and escape rooms

cinemas, theatres and concert halls

snooker halls

indoor attractions at mostly outdoor entertainment venues must also close (indoor shops, through-ways and public toilets at such attractions can remain open). This includes indoor attractions within:

zoos, safari parks, and wildlife reserves

aquariums, visitor attractions at farms, and other animal attractions

model villages

museums, galleries and sculpture parks

botanical gardens, biomes or greenhouses

theme parks, circuses, fairgrounds and funfairs

visitor attractions at film studios, heritage sites such as castles and stately homes

landmarks including observation decks and viewing platforms

leisure and sports facilities may continue to stay open, but group exercise classes (including fitness and dance) should not go ahead. Saunas and steam rooms should close

there should be no public attendance at spectator sport or indoor performances and large business events should not be taking place. Elite sport events may continue to take place without spectators

large outdoor events (performances and shows) should not take place, with the exception of drive-in events

places of worship remain open, but you must not attend with or socialise with anyone outside of your household or support bubble while you are there, unless a legal exemption applies

weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees 15 people can attend wedding ceremonies, wedding receptions are not allowed, 30 people can attend funeral ceremonies, 15 people can attend linked commemorative events

organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue, however higher-risk contact activity should not take place

organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes cannot take place indoors. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s