Excited Brits packed into nightclubs last night after doors were allowed to reopen from midnight, with photos showing ecstatic scenes up and down the country.
From today, many large venues like nightclubs are able to open their doors for the first time since lockdown was first introduced back in March 2020.
Advert
Clubber Chloe Waite, 37, was the first in the queue at Egg nightclub in north London, where revellers waited for more than an hour - cheering as the clock struck midnight.
Speaking to the Press Assocation, fundraiser Waite said: "It's going to be a special night.
Advert
"For me this is a New Year's-type event and something we're going to remember for a long, long time and we might not get the opportunity for a while."
Over in Leeds, people were also queuing to get into Bar Fibre, with owner Terry George saying: "It feels so special.
"People are treating it like a very special occasion, like a New Year's Eve type affair. Freedom Eve is what we're calling it.
Advert
"Finally, we're going to be able to dance. That's the biggest thing, which is kind of a little bit sad really, because we're given back something that's our given right, to be able to dance in a bar, in a club.
"It should've been something that was there much earlier than this."
George, who had to close one of his three bars due to financial pressures from the pandemic, said it would take a 'long time' to recoup lost revenue, but was excited to 'have the place rocking again'.
Advert
Other changes coming into action today include the scrapping of social distancing rules and face masks no longer being mandatory in shops and on public transport.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged the public to be 'cautious' as lockdown ends amid concerns over the 'extremely contagious Delta variant'.
In a video message posted on his Twitter feed, Johnson defended the decision to go ahead with unlocking the country - originally set for 21 June under the government's roadmap - but added that cases were still on the up.
Advert
He said: "We've got to do it cautiously. We've got to remember that this virus is sadly still out there.
"Cases are rising, we can see the extreme contagiousness of the Delta variant.
"But we have this immense satisfaction that the vaccine programme has very severely weakened the link between infection and hospitalisation, and between infection and serious illness and death.
"So please, please, please be cautious and go forward tomorrow into the next step with all the right prudence and respect for other people.
"And above all, please, please, please, when you're asked to get that second jab, get the jab, please come forward and do it."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: UK News, lockdown, News