A stepped approach to relaxation of pandemic-related restrictions in England was set out by the Cabinet Office in a document referred to as a "roadmap", published on 22 February 2021.

Hancock used section 45R of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 to enact the regulations without prior parliamentary consideration, subject to retrospective approval by resolution of each House of Parliament within twenty-eight days.

Some of the exceptions allowed individuals to attend a larger-than-normal gathering provided that they did so either alone or as part of a smaller 'qualifying group', the definition depending on the Step as in the table below.

The concept of "linked households" (referred to in government statements as "support bubbles")[20] was brought forward from previous regulations.

[36] There were a variety of specific exceptions allowing closed premises to be used for alternative purposes such as essential voluntary services, voting, education, childcare and others.

[38] [39] Community halls could in addition open for weddings, funerals, and commemorative events to celebrate the life of a person who had died.

[49] Exceptions included work, self-isolation, moving house, person unable to return home, medical appointment, and attending a funeral.

[50] Step 2 business restrictions were the same as Step 1, apart from the following relaxations: The following indoor facilities could open in Step 2: dance and fitness studio; gyms; sports courts; swimming pools; riding arenas; indoor play areas; trampoline and inflatable parks; drive-in cinemas, theatres and circuses; outdoor skating rinks; betting shops; spas; tanning salons; hair, nail and beauty salons; barbers; massage, tattoo and piercing studios; carpet stores; vehicle showrooms; car washes; auction houses; markets; retail travel agents; libraries.

[54] Some holiday accommodation could open in Step 2, specifically: All businesses, including holiday accommodation, were allowed to re-open in Step 3, apart from the following: nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques and facilities for public dancing to music at night, sexual entertainment venues, hostess bars, shisha bars/hookah lounges.

Where food and drink were sold for consumption on the premises, the business had to take reasonable steps to ensure that all customers remain seated while consuming.

[58] The rules regarding alcohol were relaxed at cinemas, theatres, concert halls and sportsgrounds where food and drink were ordered by ticket-holders.

[59] Since September 2020, establishments where people came into prolonged contact with those from other households were required to collect and keep for 21 days records of the names and phone numbers of staff, customers, and visitors.

For the first time, the regulations explicitly attempted to prevent individuals from leaving the United Kingdom, and these applied throughout England regardless of Step area.

Unless exempt or travelling with reasonable excuse, no person was allowed to The wording of the first bullet point prevented an individual in England from, say, driving to Scotland and attempting to leave the UK from there.

There was a long list of exemptions from the restrictions on leaving the UK, including certain road hauliers, seamen, aircraft crew, government contractors, technical specialists, channel tunnel workers, diplomats, consular officials, foreign government officials, representatives of international organisations, transit passengers, and persons being removed from the country.

On the form, the traveller was required to give a variety of personal details, to state the reason for leaving the UK, and to certify that the information provided was true.