Which shops can stay open during England’s national lockdown? Full list of essential shops

ALL non-essential shops have been ordered to close during England's third national lockdown. 

Just like the previous two coronavirus lockdowns, a handful of stores can operate like normal because they are considered to be essential.

Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

Supermarkets and chemists are among the places that can stay open so shoppers can still access groceries and medicines.  

But clothes shops and toy stores are among those forced to close, because the items they sell are not essential. 

Instead, many of them are offering click and collect services and online delivery.

The tighter restrictions come as the spread of the new strain of COVID-19 has led to “rapidly escalating case numbers across the country”, according to a No10 spokesperson.

You must not leave home unless it's for work, exercise, medical need, to get food. 

These are the shops that are allowed to stay open during the four-week national lockdown.

What shops and businesses can remain open?

Supermarkets will be allowed to remain open as usual so shoppers can still get hold of their groceries, including food and household items like cleaning products and toiletries. 

This is the list of shops and businesses that can remain open, as per previous lockdown guidelines. 

As soon as the government updates its guidance online we will update this article. 

These include: 

• Supermarkets
• Newsagents
• Convenience stores
• Food markets
• Corner shops
• Takeaways and food deliveries
• Off licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol (including breweries)
• Pharmacies and chemists
• Hardware stores
• Building merchants and building services
• Petrol stations
• Car repair and MOT services
• Bicycle shops
• Taxi or vehicle hire businesses
• Banks
• Building societies
• Credit unions
• Short term loan providers
• Savings clubs
• Cash points
• Currency exchanges
• Money transfer shops
• Post offices
• Funeral directors
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• Dental services
• Opticians
• Hearing services
• Chiropody
• Chiropractors
• Osteopaths
• Mental health services
• Vets
• Pet shops
• Agricultural supplies shop
• Storage and distribution facilities
• Car parks
• Public toilets
• Garden centres
• Retail shops in hospitals

What shops and businesses have to close

Here is the list of businesses that may close under new national lockdown measures.

This list is based on previous lockdowns in November and March.

As soon as the government updates its guidance online we will update this article.

• Non-essential shops
• Hairdressers
• Nail salons
• Barbers
• Tattoo and piercing shops
• Beauty salons
• Tanning salons
• Gyms
• Leisure centres
• Betting shops
• Vehicle showrooms (except for rentals)
• Tailors
• Tobacco and vape shops
• Market stalls selling non-essential goods
• Community centres (except for providing education and training)
• Bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants are closed except for takeaway and delivery
• Hotels, guest houses and B&Bs
• Indoor play centres and areas, including inflatable parks and soft play centres and areas (other than for people who have a disability)
• Trampolining parks (other than for elite athletes, people with a disability, supervised activities for children and for formal education or training purposes)
• Casinos
• Bingo halls
• Bowling alleys
• Indoor skating rinks (other than for elite athletes, professional dancers and choreographers, people with a disability, supervised activities for children and for formal education or training purposes)
• Amusement arcades and adult gaming centres
• Nightclubs and adult entertainment venues
• Laser quests and escape rooms
• Cinemas, theatres concert halls – other than drive-in events, broadcasting performances, training or rehearsal
• Circuses
• Snooker and pool halls (other than for elite athletes)
• Zoos, safari parks, and aquariums
• Other animal attractions including farms
• Water parks and aqua parks
• Model villages
• Museums, galleries and sculpture parks
• Outdoor sports venues such as gyms, tennis courts, golf courses
• Botanical or other gardens, biomes or greenhouses
• Theme parks, fairgrounds and funfairs
• Adventure playgrounds and parks, including ziplining
• Visitor attractions at film studios,
• Heritage sites such as castles, stately homes or heritage railways
• Landmarks including observation wheels and viewing platforms

How long will the second national lockdown last?

Tonight Boris Johnson order everyone in England to stay at home until mid-February as he launched an emergency lockdown to protect the NHS. 

This afternoon it was revealed that the Covid threat level is expected to be raised to five - the top level of warnings and the first time it's been this number.

This afternoon it was revealed that the Covid threat level is expected to be raised to five - the top level of warnings and the first time it's been this number.

The PM yesterday warned Brits they'll face tougher rules in the coming weeks and refused to rule out 'Tier 5' restrictions or a full national shutdown.