UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, had announced last January 5th that England is to enter its third national lockdown. The restrictions are said to last until March 2021 but will be reviewed again on February 15th while vaccines are rolled out across the country.

So, if you’re planning to go to London, then you must be wondering whether you can travel to or from the city. Here’s everything you need to know about the 3rd London Lockdown, including its travel restrictions.

Covid-19 in London

While Ministers have pointed out that the number affected by coronavirus are beginning to fall in some areas of England, hospital admissions continue to rise in some cities. And that includes London.

But set your worries aside. While restrictions will not disappear in one “big bang”, the government has high hopes that the mass vaccination program will reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Thus, lifting restrictions and re-opening of the economy will be highly likely.

Here’s a brief plan of the government on easing restrictions through phases.

• All older care home residents and their carers will have had the first dose of the vaccine by January 24th, and that would be the latest.
• NHS England said the new vaccine centres would be able to administer “thousands” of jabs a week. Meaning, by the end of January, at least two million people a week will be vaccinated.
• On February 22nd, to have 88 per cent of those most at risk of dying of coronavirus their first jab. And if successful, lockdown could ease.

What are London’s Lockdown Rules?

As the new variant of the virus spreads quickly, the Government has set travel restrictions along with other rules to get it under control.  

People in London, (and the whole of England) must stay at home and only go out for “a reasonable excuse“.

So what is included in the “reasonable excuse” for leaving home?

• Shopping for essentials (e.g.such as food and medicine)
• Visiting your support or childcare bubble
• Children moving between separated parents
• Working where it is “unreasonable” for you to work from home.
• Education, training, childcare, medical appointments and emergencies
• Religious worship
• Funeral
• Moving house
• Exercise. However, limited to once a day and you should not travel outside of your local area
• Attending a formal support group but up to 15 people only
• People leaving home because of domestic violence or abuse

Can I Travel To and From London?

Most major London events have been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. But travelling around London, even internationally, is allowed as long as it’s essential. It’s still advised to reduce the number of your overall journeys that you make though.

If you’re in the UK and you do need to travel overseas, given that you’re legally permitted to do so, you should look at the rules in place at the destination you are visiting.

In addition, if you are visiting the UK, you may return home. But again, you should consider whether there are any restrictions in place at your destination. And if you are already on holiday, you should return to your home as soon as practical.

What Are The Travel Rules?

Since England are welcoming international visitors, travel rules have been set to keep everyone safe. People entering England, (and the whole UK) must show two things: a completed passenger locator form and proof of a negative Covid-19 test.

However, even if you provide a negative test for entering the country, you still must follow the rules for self-isolating when you arrive in England. And that means self-isolation for 10 days. You may opt into the Test to Release for International Travel scheme though, to shorten your self-isolation period.

Is Public Transport Available?

Public transport is still available. But your risk of getting the virus will be high since you’ll be exposed to people outside your bubble.

What we recommend is to hire a chauffeur to accommodate you during your stay in London and in surrounding areas.

If you decide to hire a chauffeur service during your visit to and from London, My London Chauffeurs remain open and can even assist you for a Meet-and-Greet at the airport.

We are following all the government recommendations for transport providers to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We assure you that your safety is our priority. Our professional chauffeurs are fully trained to ensure that they follow correct safety procedures, such as wearing face masks at all times and sterilising the inside of the car before and after use, for both our clients and themselves.

What Happens After Lockdown?

It is not yet known which tier London will be subject to after the lockdown. But before the announcement of the national lockdown, the UK government restrictions included four local lockdown levels. And London was subject to tier 4 (stay at home) level restrictions.

But whatever the restrictions will be after this 3rd london lockdown, let’s all hope for the best and remember to always wear a face mask, wash your hands frequently, and keep a safe distance from other people when going out.

We look forward to assisting you again on your travels and provide you with a comfortable, safe, and seamless transit!

A Luxury Chauffeur Car Company – Reliably on time, every time. 

My London Chauffeurs is a well-established company which has been providing luxury cars and chauffeurs for many years. Our drivers are very well trained and have expert knowledge of the London area. You can hire our services for longer periods or even for your whole stay in the UK. We offer a premium service which is flexible, reliable, and discreet, and our representatives speak many different languages to ensure that each client is comfortable with their service.