What are people looking forward to most as the lockdown in England relaxes?

Connor IbbetsonData Journalist
April 12, 2021, 7:44 AM GMT+0

Dining out, haircuts, and retail shopping top the list of most anticipated activities

With lockdown rules loosening in England today, YouGov has asked English people what they are most looking forward to doing as hospitality and retail spaces begin to reopen.

Despite the recent on and off weather, people in England are looking forward to dining al-fresco (39%) when outdoor hospitality resumes on 12 April – something looked forward to by similar proportions of all ages and genders.

Another two in five people (39%) are looking forward to getting a haircut, with half of women (50%) looking forward to a trim compared to around a quarter of men (27%).

One in four people (28%) are looking forward to indulging in retail therapy as non-essential retail resumes trading, higher among women (36%) than men (16%).

Some 26% of people are looking forward to returning to their locals for a pint outside – with men nearly twice as likely to be looking forward to the prospect of the pub garden (34%) as women (18%). The reopening of pub gardens is also more anticipated by younger people, including 37% of those aged 18 to 24, compared to 19% of the 65 and overs.

Elsewhere, some 15% are looking forward to self-catered holidays, and 10% are looking forward to getting back to the gym and visiting outdoor attractions such as zoos and open-air cinemas. Smaller proportions of people are also looking forward to reopening of libraries and community centres (8%), and childcare groups (5%).

Not everyone is excited however, with around one in eight English people (12%) not looking forward to easing of lockdown.

See full results here