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Dec 15, 2020
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'Avoid Oxford Street' guidance as London moves into tier 3

Published
Dec 15, 2020

As if returning to tier 3 Covid restrictions isn't tough enough. London’s retailer’s have been dealt an extra blow with the government warning people should not be traveling into the capital to shop when the highest restrictions return early on Wednesday.


Christmas shoppers queue in Covent Garden


Although tier 3 restrictions still allow non-essential stores to stay open, health minister Matt Handcock warned people against travelling to into the capital for Christmas shopping, advising they should restrict travel to shop locally.

The new restrictions mean more than 10 million people will be plunged into tier 3 at 12.01am on Wednesday. It’s a move that could devastate London retail, particularly Oxford Street where about £1.7 billion was spent on Saturday alone. 

The tier 3 rules are also a disaster for London’s hospitality sector, which will be limited to only takeaways and deliveries, as venues were during lockdown. The enforced closure of restaurants will be another major disincentive to travel into London, having a severe knock-on effect for retailers.

After a spike in the capital’s coronavirus cases, the government brought its tier review forward and announced new rules 24 hours earlier than expected. London is joined in the highest tier by its near-neighbours in the south west of Essex and the south of Hertfordshire after recording a "very sharp, exponential rise" in coronavirus cases.

Replying to questions in parliament on Monday, Handcock said: “It is recommended that people should minimise travel unless it is necessary.

“In tier 3, people are not supposed to travel out of the area unless absolutely necessary to reduce the number of journeys being taken on public transport".

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