Where can I go on holiday this summer? Rules on UK and foreign holidays as lockdown in England eases
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Several strict lockdown restrictions came to an end in England on Saturday (4 July), as pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels were finally allowed to reopen after more than three months of closure.
The changes saw rules on overnight stays in England permitted, while travelling abroad was given the green light for a number of foreign countries, meaning Brits can now escape for some summer sun.
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Hide AdBut where are holidays allowed? Here’s what you need to know.
Where can I go on holiday in the UK?
From 4 July, two households of any size in England are now allowed to meet up indoors and stay overnight.
The new rules also mean that people are permitted to stay overnight in self-contained accommodation, within England, as the hospitality sector can now start to reopen.
As such, people can book overnight stays in hotels, bed and breakfasts, campsites and caravan parks, providing shared facilities are kept clean.
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Hide AdIf you visit other parts of the UK, including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you must adhere to the laws and guidance imposed by the devolved nations.
In Scotland, two households are not allowed to meet indoors until 10 July, or stay overnight.
However, self-contained self-catering holiday accommodation, including camping and caravan sites, have now started to take bookings, and all other holiday accommodation is expected to open from 15 July.
In Wales, residents can start booking holidays in self-contained accommodation from 13 July, while as of 6 July, people are now allowed to travel in and around Wales for the first time since lockdown was imposed in March.
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Hide AdIn Northern Ireland, self-catering and non self-catering accommodation is already open. However, overnight stays with another household, outside of support bubbles, are not currently allowed.
Can I go on holiday abroad?
Travelling abroad is now permitted again, with the 14-day self-isolation policy for any travellers returning to England from select destinations overseas no longer in force.
The UK government has published a list of 59 countries, including France, Spain and Italy, that travellers from England can visit from 4 July onwards, and will be exempt from quarantine on their return after 10 July.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has indicated that reciprocal arrangements between England and overseas nations have not been confirmed, but said it is the government's "expectation" that a number of exempted countries will also not require UK arrivals to self-isolate.
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Hide AdHowever, there is no guarantee that foreign nations will not have quarantine restrictions in place.
All travellers who arrive in the UK from abroad will still have to supply contact information to allow health officials to trace them should someone they have been in contact with display symptoms, or test positive, for coronavirus.
The updated travel restrictions are only applicable on travel to England, with the devolved nations setting out their own individual approaches.