London Tier 3: All the rules around hairdressers, salons, gyms and leisure centres

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced that London will enter Tier 3, the strictest tier of coronavirus restrictions.

The new rules will be in place from 00.01am on Wednesday, December 16.

There is a big difference between the current Tier 2 restrictions and what Londoners will experience under Tier 3, but the beauty and leisure industries will be allowed to remain open.

Here is everything you need to know about hairdressers, salons, gyms and leisure centres in London under Tier 3 restrictions.

For more news and features about London directly to your inbox sign up to our newsletter here .

Hairdressers and beauty salons

Hairdressers, barbers and beauty salons are allowed to remain open under Tier 3.

They come under the ‘personal care’ sector in the Government’s Covid Winter Plan, so are allowed to operate in Tier 3.

The full list of close contact personal care services that are come under this bracket and are allowed to remain open, according to teh Government website, are:

• Hairdressers and barbers
• Beauty salons
• Tattoo parlours
• Nail salons
• Spas and beauty services
• Massage parlours
• Sanning salons

Salon workers and clientele should continue to take all necessary precautions when visiting hair and beauty salons, including wearing a face covering, washing hands regularly, and social distancing where possible.

Gyms, leisure centres and exercise facilities

The Government website states that some leisure and sporting facilities can remain open in Tier 3.

The following facilities are allowed to remain open :

• Gyms

• Sports courts and facilities

• Leisure centres

• Fitness and dance studios

• Golf courses

• Swimming pools

• Riding centres

• Outdoor playgrounds

• Outdoor classes and organised adult sport, avoiding higher-risk contact activity

However, indoor sport, physical activity and fitness classes cannot take place under Tier 3. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, the Government website states.

The fact that these facilities can remain open will be welcomed by many, including the hair and beauty salon owners who have lost a lot of trade this year, and those who have found a lifeline in sport and exercise.

For more information and the full list of restrictions that will affect London under Tier 3, follow MyLondon’s coronavirus news and check the Government website.