The Prime Minister released the much anticipated ‘Roadmap’ for easing of restrictions on Monday 22nd February 2021, detailing the easing of restrictions in England.

The roadmap sets out each stage of the process in four steps – examining and reassessing the data and impact before progressing to the following step.

Key Dates and information for Museums and Galleries:

  • Step 1 – From 8th March – Schools will reopen with testing and year group bubbles.
  • Step 2 – From 12th April – Non-essential retail, and public buildings reopening including libraries and community centres. Most outdoor attractions and settings will reopen including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas. Permitted businesses operating in otherwise closed attractions (such as a gift shop or a takeaway kiosk at a museum) may only open where they are a self-contained unit and can be accessed without entering the museum.
  • Step 3 – From 17th May – Museums will be allowed to reopen.
  • Step 4 – From 21st June – The government hopes to be in a position to remove all legal limits on social contact.
  • The Chancellor will set out further details on support in the budget next Wednesday 3 March.

Useful links

View the Government Guidance in full (available in several formats).

Read the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement to Parliament on 22nd February 2021.

There is now guidance on Reopening businesses and venues in England published on 24th February 2021, detailing the steps to reopen certain businesses and venues in England.

View a summary of the four steps below:

Step 1

Part 1 – From 8th March:

  • People allowed to spend time in outdoor public spaces or exercise for recreation with one other person, or with their household or support bubble. Social distancing continues from between people from different households or bubbles
  • Schools will reopen with testing and year group bubbles
  • International travel continues to be restricted

Part 2  – From 29th March:

  • People no longer required to stay at home legally, but guidance to work from home and minimise travel continues
  • The rule of six will return for outdoors. Two households can meet outdoors, in public spaces or private gardens
  • Outdoor sports and leisure facilities can reopen and formally organised outdoor sports will be able to resume

Step 2

From 12th April (subject to data assessment)

  • People can gather outdoors as per rule of six or two households – no indoor mixing
  • Reopening of additional premises available to be attended alone or with household groups (in accordance with social contact rules, testing and social distancing):
    • Non-essential retail
    • Public buildings such as libraries and community centres
    • Most outdoor settings and attractions including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas/performances/events will reopen
    • Hospitality venues for outdoor service, without any curfew or the requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal – customers must order, eat and drink while seated
    • Personal care premises eg. hairdressers and salons
    • Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas (excluding saunas and steam rooms)
  • Permitted businesses operating in otherwise closed attractions (such as a gift shop or a takeaway kiosk at a museum) may only open where they are a self-contained unit and can be accessed without entering the museum.
  • Domestic overnight stays will be allowed and reopening of self-contained accommodation
  • Weddings, receptions, and commemorative events able to take place with limited attendees
  • International travel continues to be restricted

Step 3

From 17th May (subject to data assessment – at least five weeks after step 2)

  • Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted
  • Up to 30 people allowed to gather outdoors
  • People will be able to meet socially in a group of six, or with one other household)
  • Social contact guidance will remain in place and legal limits remain for venues
  • Reopening of additional premises at this step:
    • Indoor entertainment, such as museums and cinemas
    • Outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres
    • Indoor hospitality – the requirement to order, eat and drink while seated will remain
    • Accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs
    • Some large events, including conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events
    • Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes
    • Indoor events of up to 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower
    • Outdoor events with a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower
    • Large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, will be allowed up to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower
    • Weddings, receptions, and commemorative events able to take place with up to 30 attendees

Step 4

From 21st June (subject to data assessment – at least five weeks after step 3)

  • With appropriate mitigations in place the Government aims to:
    • Remove all legal limits on social contact
    • Reopen remaining closed settings including nightclubs and enable large events
    • Remove all limits on weddings and other life events, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme

For the latest support and information, please take a look at our regularly updated Coronavirus guidance page. We also have a suite of resources developed by our team to support you during this time.

if you require any further support from us, please do get in touch.