UK lockdown rules: How many people can I have in my garden and how many people can meet outside?
With a heatwave currently hitting parts of the UK and sweltering temperatures causing thousands to flock to the coast to keep cool, many Brits are taking the opportunity to socialise with friends and family at home in the garden or outside in the sun in public.
But after the British government announced new changes to the UK lockdown rules at the end of July and with laws differing in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, many are still unclear as to what is and is not allowed at the current time.
If you’re planning a BBQ, picnic or outdoor gathering with friends and family in the sun this weekend, here’s the latest update on what’s allowed and what you should still be avoiding because of the continued Covid-19 risk in the UK:
How many people can I have in my garden?
England
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Two separate households are allowed to mix indoors or in the garden of a home.
This means you can have people in your garden, as long as they are from just one other household each time.
At the time of writing, the Government is restricting social contact in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire. In these areas, it is currently against the law for people from different households to gather in private homes or in their gardens.
It is also against the law across the entirety of the UK for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place in private homes (including gardens and other outdoor spaces).
Wales
In Wales, you are not currently allowed to visit someone from outside of your extended household inside a home. However, the government does state that you can enter someone’s home if you ‘are passing through to reach an outdoor area’ such as a garden.
Gatherings in a garden should be kept to just two different households at a time if possible.
The number of people you can have in your garden (up to a maximum of 30 at a time) should be limited by how many people can socially distance in your garden at any one time.
Scotland
At the time of writing, in Scotland you can meet people from up to two other households at a time indoors, provided you stay at least 2 metres apart from people from other households at all times.
This means that you can have people from other households round to your house, to stay inside or to go in the garden, provided these restrictions on household numbers are met.
From Wednesday August 6, people in Aberdeen City were asked not to meet other households indoors or travel more than five miles for leisure or recreational purposes.
Northern Ireland
Up to 30 people can meet up outdoors but you should maintain social distancing by being at least two metres apart at all times.
How many people can meet outside?
England
As of July 31, the government guidelines state that up to six people from multiple households can meet outdoors in public spaces.
You can’t socialise outdoors in a group of more than six people unless the gathering consists exclusively of people from just two households or support bubbles. For example, two families of four people could meet in the park, even though that would be eight people meeting outside.
For those in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire, the government is currently strongly advising against any separate households mixing in public at the moment.
Wales
Gatherings of up to 30 people are now permitted outdoors in Wales.
The government continues to advise that people should maintain physical and social distancing from anyone outside their household.
Scotland
Since 22 July in Scotland, it has been allowed for up to four different households to meet outside at a time. These rules are still in place and state that you should meet in small numbers of no more than 15 people in total at any one time.
The rules also state that you should not meet people from more than four other households in total each day (whether indoors and/or outdoors).
Social distancing should still be maintained at all times.
From Wednesday August 6, people in Aberdeen City have been asked not to travel more than five miles for leisure or recreational purposes – and this includes to travelling over five miles to meet up with people outside.
Northern Ireland
The same rule applies – up to 30 people can meet up outdoors but you should maintain social distancing by being at least two metres apart at all times.
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