Primrose Hill ‘like a festival’ as thousands of Londoners bask in sunshine on first lockdown ‘Freedom Day’

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Hundreds of people flocked to Primrose Hill in “festival-like scenes” as lockdown restrictions were eased at the beginning of a three-day heatwave.

Young people, families and couples gathered at the North London park to sunbathe and picnic on Monday with some wearing fairy wings as they enjoyed temperatures of up to 18C.

One bystander described the atmosphere as “like an festival” as friends made the most of good weather and hard-earned freedoms to enjoy themselves.

It comes as the country reached a key stage in the Government’s road map out of the coronavirus lockdown.

People across England can now meet outdoors in a group of up to six people from separate households, under what’s been dubbed the “rule of six”.

More than six people can meet up as long as they’re from only two households.

Throughout Monday, thousands across the capital shared pictures and videos of themselves enjoying recently opened outdoor activities - from bike rides at the park to outdoor tennis games.

Some swimmers queued up outside Brockwell Lido in south London first thing in the morning while others opted for aerobic classes at the Hampton open air pool.

A quiet session of golf at Greenwich Peninsula Driving Range, a run at hyde park with a group of friends and a sunbathe on the beach in Southend, Essex were also on the list of things Londoners got up to today.

It came as the Prime Minister acknowledged at a Downing Street press conference that it had been a “big day” for many people as they were able to see friends and family outdoors for the first time since the latest controls were imposed.

Across England, people were swift to take advantage of the easing of the rules which meant groups of up to six, or two households, could socialise in parks and gardens, while outdoor sports facilities were able to reopen.

At Morley Hayes Golf Club, near Derby, a group of golfers celebrated by teeing off at one minute past midnight using glow-in-the-dark balls and floodlit greens.

In Wales the stay local order ended on Saturday and people were allowed to stay in self-contained holiday accommodation.

The stay home order in Scotland is to end on Friday, while in Northern Ireland up to six people, or two households, will be able to meet outdoors from Thursday.

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