Government postcode checker: What tier am I in?

19 December 2020, 16:51 | Updated: 19 December 2020, 16:58

How do I find out what tier my local area is in?
How do I find out what tier my local area is in? Picture: Getty
Alice Dear

By Alice Dear

Boris Johnson has announced a new Tier 4 for London and parts of the East and Southeast of England.

Today, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that a number of areas in England will be moving to a new Tier 4.

This is in response to a new strain of coronavirus in a number of places including London, and areas of the East and Southeast of England.

He said: "It seems that the spread is now being driven by a new variant of the virus. Our advisory group has spend the last few days analysing this new variant. There’s no variant that is causes a more severe illness of higher mortality, but it does appear to be passed on significantly more easily."

Read more: What are the Tier 4 rules, how long will they last, and how will they affect Christmas?

In response to this, he said that the government must 'act now' - and added that a number of areas will adopt Tier 4 restrictions, reminiscent of a full lockdown, tomorrow (20 December).

London, Essex and Hertforshire moved up a tier earlier this week
London, Essex and Hertforshire moved up a tier earlier this week. Picture: Getty

What areas are going into Tier 4 on 20 December?

The following areas will be moving into Tier 4:

Kent

Buckinghamshire

Berkshire

Surrey (excluding Waverley)

The boroughs of Gosport

Havant

Portsmouth

Rother and Hastings

All 32 London boroughs and the city of London

Bedford

Central Bedfordshire

Milton Keynes

Luton

Peterborough

Hertfordshire

Essex (excluding Colchester, Uttlesford and Tendring)

Areas that are in Tier 3

Hartlepool

Middlesbrough

Stockton-on-Tees

Redcar and Cleveland

Darlington

Sunderland

South Tyneside

Gateshead

Newcastle upon Tyne

North Tyneside

County Durham

Northumberland

Greater Manchester

Lancashire

Blackpool

Blackburn with Darwen

The Humber

West Yorkshire

South Yorkshire

Birmingham and Black Country

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull

Derby and Derbyshire

Nottingham and Nottinghamshire

Leicester and Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

South Gloucestershire

Areas in tier two:

Cumbria

Liverpool City Region

Warrington and Cheshire

York

North Yorkshire

Worcestershire

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin

Rutland

Northamptonshire

Suffolk

Cambridgeshire

Norfolk

East Sussex

West Sussex

Brighton and Hove

Reading

Wokingham

Bracknell Forest

Windsor and Maidenhead

West Berkshire

Hampshire (except the Isle of Wight), Portsmouth and Southampton

Oxfordshire

South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Mendip and Sedgemoor

Bath and East Somerset

Dorset

Bournemouth

Christchurch

Poole

Gloucestershire

Wiltshire and Swindon

Devon

North Somerset

Bristol

Areas in tier one:

Cornwall

Scilly Isles

Isle of Wight

Herefordshire

Matt Hancock will address the House of Commons today
Matt Hancock addressed the House of Commons today. Picture: PA

What tier am I in?

You can find out which tier your local area is in with the Government's search engine, which allows you to put in your postcode to find out whether you are in a medium, high or very high tier.

The website will also direct you to a list of things you can and cannot do in your area.

You can access the postcode checker here.

Pubs and restaurants in tier 3 will only be allowed to open for takeaway
Pubs and restaurants in tier 3 will only be allowed to open for takeaway. Picture: Getty

What do the different tiers mean?

The main rules in each tier are as follows:

Tier 1

- You can meet people from different households inside or outside, but must stick to the rule of six

- All shops can open, including non-essential

- Restaurants, pubs, cafes and hospitality can reopen, but must close by 11pm

- Hairdressers, nail shops and beauty salons can reopen

- Gyms and other leisure centres can open

Tier 2

- You can meet people from different households only outside, and must stick to the rule of six

- All shops can open, including non-essential

- Restaurants, pubs, cafes and hospitality can reopen, but must serve substantial meals with alcohol and must close at 11pm.

- Hairdressers, nail shops and beauty salons can reopen

- Gyms and other leisure centres can open

Tier 3

- You can only meet people from outside your bubble or household outdoors in public spaces

- All shops can open, including non-essential

- Restaurants, pubs, cafes and hospitality must close, but can offer takeaway services

- Hairdressers, nail shops and beauty salons can reopen

- Gyms and other leisure centres can open

Tier 4

- For people in Tier 4, full lockdown restrictions seen in November and the Spring will be in place.

- The 'stay at home' message will apply (except for a list of reasons allowed by law)

- You cannot enter or leave Tier 4 areas

For the full rundown of Tier 4 rules, click here.