Greater London and most of the south east will move from tier 3 to tier 4 restrictions from 00:01 on 20 December. The government has announced a brand new tier 4 for England, which means all travel will be banned, non-essential shops will close and families will not be able to mix inside with anyone not from their household on Christmas Day.
The full list of areas moving from tier 3 to tier 4 are: Greater London and the City of London, Buckinghamshire, Kent, Berkshire, Surrey (excluding Waverley), Gosport, Havant, Portsmouth, Rother and Hastings, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Peterborough and Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring).
Those in tier 4 are banned from travelling abroad or around the country – they will be told to stay at home, much like national lockdown rules.
People in tier 3 are advised not to travel to or stay in other areas of the country, or take holidays abroad. In tier 3 locations, hotels are closed, expect for those used by key workers, while pubs and restaurants must shut completely, apart from takeaway.
UK Holidays can still take place for those in tiers 1 and 2, however, those in tier 2 must stay only with other members of their household.
Other guides that may be useful:
- Lockdowns in Scotland, Wales and England and your holiday abroad – can I get a refund?
- Travel corridors Q&A – where can you go on holiday
Tier 4 restrictions in England
Those in tier 4 must stay at home, except for reasons such as exercise, travelling to work (if it is impossible to work from home) or for education.
You can meet one single other person outside of your home in a public space, but must not mix inside with people outside of your household, except for in support bubbles. However Christmas bubbles are no longer allowed.
Those in tier 4 will be under strict orders not to stay overnight away from home or travel abroad, making holidays impossible.
It is possible your flight or holiday may still go ahead though. This could make it tricky to get a refund. However, we believe that if the government makes it illegal to travel, consumers should be entitled to a refund. We will update this story when the government publishes its guidance fully.
Tier 3 restrictions in England
People under Tier 3 restrictions, should avoid travelling to other parts of the country or stay overnight elsewhere in the UK, unless ‘necessary’.
If you are prevented from taking a booked holiday in the UK, you should contact the provider and ask for postponement or if that doesn’t suit, a full refund. As with previous lockdowns some holiday cottage companies and other service providers may dispute refunds. We believe, based on CMA guidance, that those affected by Tier 3 lockdowns are due a refund.
The government has not banned international travel for those under Tier 3 restrictions. This could be problematic if you live in a tier 3 location and the airport you are travelling from is located in another part of the country, since you shouldn’t travel elsewhere. This is a grey area.
Unfortunately because the guidance is unclear and isn’t in law, operators and airlines will likely still operate. And if you’ve booked a holiday in a country on the UK’s travel corridor list, your flight or holiday will possibly still go ahead, making it difficult to get a refund.
Many tour operators, like Tui and British Airways Holidays introduced flexible booking policies in recent months. This should allow you to move your holiday to a new date without paying a fee, although you’ll need to pay the difference if the new holiday dates are more expensive. You will usually have to give three to four weeks notice. If you booked a flight in the summer most major airlines airlines had similar flexible booking policies.
Can I travel for a holiday to London for shopping?
Shopping on Oxford Street is a Christmas tradition for many, but under new tier 4 restrictions, non-essential shops will be forced to close.
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Tier 2 restrictions in England
People living in ‘high risk’ tier 2 locations are allowed to go on holiday outside of their area, but only with people in their household or support bubble.
If you’ve booked a holiday in the UK with people you don’t normally live with, you should be entitled to a postponement, refund or an alternative holiday.
You can travel abroad, but you should only travel with people in your household or support bubble. Although the FCDO now warns against travel to most destinations. If you travel to a destination with an FCDO warning it’s likely that your travel insurance will be invalidated.
You should not travel through a tier 3 or 4 area, but you are permitted to do so as part of a wider journey, or to access an airport there if you are travelling abroad.
Can I still travel to Scotland and Wales?
Wales will be placed under tough level 4 restrictions at 00.01 on 20 December. Nobody will be allowed in or out of the country except for essential reasons.
Currently, you should not enter Scotland without a reasonable excuse.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2020/12/travel-and-holiday-rules-for-tier-2-and-tier-3-restrictions-qa/