Coronavirus Updates: Information for Visitors

Latest Updates:

As a destination we are committed to responsible tourism and want to do everything in our power to ensure the health and safety of all visitors.

As our businesses begin to reopen this spring 2021, see our list of what there is to do and when here.

See our Know Before You Go guide to visiting responsibly here.

With restrictions changing regularly please check national guidance. Here are the latest updates for our area:

England:

Step 1 – From 29 March 2021:
People will no longer be legally required to stay at home but no overnight stays are permitted. The rule of 6 will return for outdoors, and meetings of two households will also be permitted. This includes in private gardens.
Outdoor sports and leisure facilities will be able to reopen and formally organised outdoor sports will be able to resume, subject to guidance.
Step 2 – From 12 April 2021:
Outdoor gatherings must be limited to 6 people or 2 households as in Step 1, and no indoor mixing will be allowed unless otherwise exempt. Additional premises will be able to reopen but should only be visited alone or with household groups: 
• Non-essential retail.
• Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and spas (but not including saunas and steam rooms, which are due to open at Step 3).
• Hospitality venues for outdoor service, without any curfew or the requirement for alcohol to be accompanied by a substantial meal - customers must order, eat and drink while seated.
• Most outdoor settings and attractions including outdoor hospitality, zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas/performances/events will be able to reopen.
In addition:
• Domestic overnight stays will be allowed and self-contained accommodation - those that do not require shared use of bathing, entry/exit, catering or sleeping facilities - can also reopen, though must only be used by members of the same household. 
• Weddings, receptions, and commemorative events including wakes will be able to take place with up to 15 attendees (in premises that are permitted to open).
• Restrictions on travel between England and Wales are lifted, allowing for overnight stays in self-contained accommodation.
Step 3 – From 17 May 2021 at the earliest and at least five weeks after Step 2:
Most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted, but gatherings of more than 30 people outdoors will remain illegal. Indoors, people will be able to meet socially in a group of 6, or with 1 other household (though it may be possible to go further than this at Step 3 depending on the data).
Sectors which will reopen include:
• Indoor hospitality, with no requirement for a substantial meal to be served alongside alcoholic drinks, and no curfew. The requirement to order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’) will remain.
• Remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas.
• Indoor entertainment, such as museums, cinemas and children’s play areas.
• Remaining accommodation, such as hotels, hostels and B&Bs.
• Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes; and some large events, including conferences, theatre and concert performances and sports events. 
• Controlled indoor events of up to 1,000 people or 50% of a venue’s capacity, whichever is lower, will be permitted, as will outdoor events with a capacity of either 50% or 4,000 people, whichever is lower.
• The Government will also make a special provision for large, outdoor, seated venues where crowds can be safely distributed, allowing up to 10,000 people or 25% of total seated capacity, whichever is lower. 
• In addition, pilots will run as part of the Events Research Programme to examine how such events can take place without the need for social distancing using other mitigations such as testing.
• Weddings, receptions, funerals, and commemorative events including wakes can proceed with up to 30 attendees. 
• A broader range of stand-alone life events will also be permitted at this step, including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
Step 4 – From 21 June 2021 at the earliest, and at least five weeks after Step 3:
With appropriate mitigations in place, by Step 4, the Government aims to remove all legal limits on social contact, reopen the remaining closed settings, including nightclubs and enable large events, theatre performances, above the Step 3 capacity restrictions (subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme) and remove all limits on weddings and other life events, subject to the outcome of the scientific Events Research Programme.

Find out more about the UK Government's announcements here.

Wales:

From Saturday 13 March 2021:
No more than 4 people from 2 households will be able to meet in their local area outdoors, including in gardens. Children under 11 and carers do not count towards this limit. There must be no indoors mixing and social distancing should be followed.
Outdoor sports facilities can reopen, including tennis courts, golf courses and bowling greens.
From Monday 22 March 2021:
The first steps to re-open non-essential retail will begin. Restrictions on the sale of non-essential items will be lifted for those shops, which are currently open. Garden centres will also reopen.
From Saturday 27 March 2021:
The stay local restrictions will be lifted to allow people to travel within Wales.
Self-contained holiday accommodation will re-open for one household from within Wales only.
Organised children’s activities outdoors will restart.
Up to 6 people from 2 households (not including children under 11 from either household or carers of a member of the household) who live within Wales are permitted to meet outdoors, including in private gardens and private outdoor spaces.
From Monday 12 April 2021:
All remaining shops can reopen, completing the phased reopening of non-essential retail.
All remaining close contact services can open, including mobile services.
Travel restrictions on travelling into and out of Wales from England will be lifted.
Viewings at wedding venues can resume by appointment.
From Monday 26 April 2021:
Outdoor attractions allowed to reopen.
Outdoor hospitality can resume, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants. Indoor hospitality will remain restricted.
Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can again take place.
From Monday 3 May 2021:
Weddings receptions can take place outdoors, but will also be limited to 30 people.
Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. This will include individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes.
Extended household will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors.
Preparations will be made to allow the following relaxations to be considered at the review on 13 May by the next Welsh Government, subject to public health conditions remaining favourable.
From Monday 17 May 2021:
Children’s indoor activities can reopen.
Organised indoor activities for adults, limited to a maximum of 15 people. This includes exercise classes.
Community centres.
After 17 May 2021, to consider enabling indoor hospitality and remaining visitor accommodation to reopen in advance of the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May.

Find out more about the Welsh Government's latest announcement.

Travelling to the Dean Wye:

Wherever you live please follow the latest government instructions about travelling out of your area including for overnight stays. If you have a booking with any of our businesses please be patient as they work through cancellations and refunds, if you can rebook for another time please do. Thanks as always for your understanding.

Be Informed:

Please read: Know Before You Go: Our Guide to Visiting the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Responsibly here.

Find the latest information about COVID-19 on the official UK government website here.

The UK’s national tourism agency, Visit Britain has compiled additional advice and information about travelling in the UK here.

Once restrictions on travel are lifted if you plan on travelling to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley please do so with caution, common sense and consideration for the people who live here. They want to be able to go out into their local area in safety too.

See all of the ways you can continue to support our local businesses here including taking part in virtual events, purchasing gift vouchers and booking a delivery or takeaway.

Please Remember:

• If you show any symptoms or have been around anyone with symptoms the guidance is to self-isolate, so please do not travel.
• Maintain social distancing at all times, please be considerate to others and please always follow official guidance.
• Our What's On page may list events which have been cancelled. We will try to update it as best we can but please do check the event's official website before travelling.
• If you are a local business see our key links information on local business support and guidance here.
• Please follow us on social media to keep up to date with our latest announcements, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley in due course.