Many Brits will be hoping to head to the beach this Easter bank holiday.

After a long winter spent in lockdown, enjoying the sun, sand and sea seems like the perfect way to make the most of a four day weekend.

While England is still in lockdown, rules were relaxed on March 29 to give people more freedom to socialise with friends in a safe setting.

But coronavirus restrictions are still in place, and anyone who breaks the rules can be fined up to £10,000.

Here's what you can and can't do this weekend:

Can I visit the beach?

While the government has removed its 'stay at home' order, people are still being asked to "minimise travel".

The latest guidelines state you should avoid making unnecessary trips, and try to combine journeys where possible.

You can go to the beach this Easter - but you should try to stay local (
Image:
Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This means that you are allowed to visit the beach this Easter weekend.

On ITV's This Morning, Matt Hancock said: "We’re saying that you should minimise travel but if you want to travel to see friends and family then that is absolutely fine".

Overnight stays are still not permitted, so you'll have to travel there and back in the same day.

Can I go with friends?

According to the current lockdown rules, groups of up to six people from different households, or two households of any size, can socialise in an outdoor setting - including beaches.

But's important that you still social distance from anybody who is not in your household.

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You should avoid sharing a car with anybody who is not from your household.

Can I go to a beach outside England?

Travel in and out of Scotland and Wales is currently banned unless you have a reasonable excuse (for example work, to attend a wedding or funeral, or to move house) so you cannot enter either country just to go to the beach.

People are currently banned from travelling abroad without a reasonable excuse, so foreign holidays are equally not an option this Easter.