Is Boots open today in lockdown 3? Opening times and advice
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
BOOTS stores remain open during the third lockdown in England to allow people to access medicines and essentials.
Boots Opticians and Boots Hearingcare are also open for business, and customers are able to book appointments as usual.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
It comes as all "non-essential" retailers, such as shops selling clothes and electricals, have been forced to shut until mid-February.
Boots is also dishing out Covid jabs alongside other pharmacies in the fight against Covid.
More than three million jabs have now been given out as part of the national effort to beat coronavirus.
The opening times of Boots stores vary between locations and the pharmacy chain warns that they can change with short notice.
Boots has roughly 2,400 shops across the UK.
In April last year, the retailer temporarily closed 60 stores that had taken a hit due to coronavirus and a lack of footfall.
Boots has confirmed that 13 of these still remain shut, including seven at Heathrow Airport, two at Gatwick Airport, two at Manchester Airport as well as one at Liverpool and Birmingham Airport each.
Can I shop online at Boots?
Yes, you can still order items from the Boots website to have delivered to your doorstep.
Home delivery is free when you spend £30 or more, or if you spend less, you'll have to pay £3.50 for the trouble.
The pharmacy chain offers a click and collect service too.
Ordering items and collecting in store costs £1.50, but it's free if you spend £20 or more.
If you use Boots' Online Repeat Prescription Service, you can still choose to collect from store or have it delivered to your home.
Which businesses WILL be staying open through lockdown
THE following businesses are allowed to stay open during the second coronavirus lockdown in England:
- Supermarkets
- Food retailers
- Convenience stores and corner shops
- Off licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol including breweries
- Pharmacies and chemists
- Newsagents
- 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
- Post offices
- Funeral directors
- Launderettes and dry cleaners
- Dental services
- Opticians
- Hearing services
- Chiropody
- Chiropractors
- Osteopaths
- Mental health services
- Veterinary surgeons and pet shops
- Agricultural supplies shop
- Storage and distribution facilities
- Car parks
- Public toilets
- Garden centres
What are the shopping rules for Boots?
To help maintain social distancing, Boots is limiting the number of people allowed in store at any one time.
In line with government guidelines, all customers and store colleagues now also have to wear a face coverings or PPE when in store.
Shoppers are also being advised to stay two metres apart, and to follow the floor markings and one-way systems in store.
Plus, Boots is encouraging customers to avoid cash and use contactless payment options where possible.
If you’re wondering which shops can stay open during the third lockdown, here’s a full list of essential businesses.
If you’re not sure about what Tier 4 means, or what the rules are, then we’ve rounded up a guide to help you.
And if you’re desperate to know when you can get your Covid jab, here’s the online calculator you can use which will give you a clue.