London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

What is the difference between tier four and national lockdown?

What is the difference between tier four and national lockdown?

Boris Johnson has set out England’s third national lockdown to control the soaring spread of coronavirus.

More than three-quarters of England’s population was already under the toughest tier four restrictions, but the Prime Minister responded to an alarming rise in Covid patients by putting the whole of the country under nationwide restrictions.

Police will have enforcement powers over the new rules but tonight Mr Johnson did not set out a time frame for how long they could last but mid February is thought to be the earliest date the country could emerge from lockdown. The public are being urged to adhere to the restrictions immediately, before they are rubber-stamped by MPs.

But what does that mean for people already living under tier four, and how will their lives change in a national lockdown?

How does lockdown differ from tier four?


In tier four, household mixing is banned, non-essential shops are closed, and people may only leave their house for limited reasons, including work, exercise and education.

Rules will be tougher in lockdown, with the PM reverting to his ‘stay at home’ messaging from the first wave.

All primary and secondary schools and colleges will move to remote learning, except for the children of key workers or vulnerable children. Nurseries will remain open.


Non-essential shops are closed in tier four, which doesn’t affect essential shops like supermarkets


And unlike in tier four, university students will not be allowed to return to campus and will be expected to study from their current residence.

Non-essential shops will remain closed. Mr Johnson said residents can leave their homes for shopping for necessities such as food and medicine, but it should only be as infrequently as possible.

Exercise will be allowed – but in lockdown it is preferably limited to once a day – with members of your household or support bubble or one other person from another household, such as if going for a walk or run.

People will be able to go to work if it is impossible to work from home, such as those working in the construction sector or those who are critical workers. All others must work from home.

Like in tier four, places of worship can remain open for individual prayers and communal worship in lockdown, but people should only visit with their household or support bubble. Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies and funerals are still allowed with strict limits on attendance.

Elite sport can also continue.

Shielding


Under the national lockdown, those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable – defined by the NHS as those at high risk from Covid-19 – should no longer attend work, school, college or university.

However, that was already the case in tier four areas.

Travel


Travel outside of tier four areas was not permitted, except for work purposes, to travel to education or caring responsibilities, to visit those in your support or childcare bubble or for medical appointments or emergencies.

The Government advised that if you can work from home, then you should.


Working from home is advised


But now people across the country are being told to stay at home other than for limited exceptions.

During the last national lockdown, international travel was banned.

Gyms closed


Gyms were shut during both the first and second national lockdowns, which led to several facilities defying the rules and attempting to stay open in the second lockdown. A number of gym owners were fined as a result.

Gyms in the remaining tier three areas in England could stay open, but were not allowed to do so under tier four.


Gyms are closed under tier four restrictions


Hairdressers


Due to the nature of the close-up contact of these services, hairdressers, barbers, and beauty salons will have to shut their doors under the national lockdown – as they did under tier four, to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Non-essential shops closed


Shops deemed ‘essential’, including supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, petrol stations, hardware stores, banks, pet shops and post offices were allowed to remain open in tier four.

However, all other stores, which are not deemed essential for everyday life, are not permitted to stay open.

That appears to remain the same in this third national lockdown.

What shops are deemed non-essential?


*  Clothes shops

*  Electronics stores

*  Car showrooms

*  Travel agents

*  Betting shops and adult gaming centres

*  Auction houses

*  Tailors

*  Car washes

*  Tobacco and vape shops

*  Card shops

*  Phone shops

*  Jewellery stores

*  Toy shops

*  Homeware shops

*  Bookstores

*  Music shops

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×