Help please people who know the rules well

[Grassbox]

Can I drive DD back to uni, and stay in a hotel overnight? It's 350 miles each way which I can't face in one day as I have arthritis. We are in T4, uni is in T3.

No, they can open to accommodate those who need to travel for work or for homelessness where it would become their residence. There’s no exception for travelling and staying to break a journey.

Thanks that was my worry.

www.gov.uk/guidance/tier-4-stay-at-home

Here are the tier 4 rules in England. Read them. They are published by the Govt so you can find out from the horse's mouth rather than asking people to misinterpret them on a forum.

I wouldn't be surprised if return to uni is postponed anyway.

I’d say that staying in a hotel is safer than driving 700 miles in a day! Can you stay with your DD even if it means one of you sleeping on the floor?

I don't know what you should do but this isn't within the rules!

Can she go by train and you follow with any excess baggage when tiers change?

I think when they decide on uni return dates there will be exceptions for this. I'd just hang on to see how things develop.

I doubt she will need to be back anytime soon. Personally I would have her get the train, that is far too far for you to drive!

She’s probably got too much stuff to go back by train, I know my ds has. I’m driving him back in a day, but if I had to I’d stay overnight.

Why do you need to drive her at all? I'm not aware of any uni in the uk which is not accessible by public transport. And I can't think of any reason a student back for a few weeks at Christmas would need so much stuff it cannot be transported without a car.

Unless mobility issues of course - do they apply? If so then can you share the journey with another adult? Or send stuff using a removal company? I suppose you could sleep in the car...

@Cookerhood

I think when they decide on uni return dates there will be exceptions for this. I'd just hang on to see how things develop.

The dates have already been decided - there's a five (four for Wales and Scotland) week window in which students should (note should, not must) return.

I’m not really an expert on the rules but there’s no way I’d be driving my DD back to uni any time soon.

You can stay for essential reasons, breaking a 700 mile round trip is essential. Speak to the premier inn or whoever you would use and explain, pretty sure it's within the guidance. The reasons given are examples not an exhaustive list of possible exceptions, this was explained by the police to me when I enquired. I will be staying overnight when I drop dd back (with exh but I would book a hotel if that wasn't an option)

@movingonup20

You can stay for essential reasons, breaking a 700 mile round trip is essential. Speak to the premier inn or whoever you would use and explain, pretty sure it's within the guidance. The reasons given are examples not an exhaustive list of possible exceptions, this was explained by the police to me when I enquired. I will be staying overnight when I drop dd back (with exh but I would book a hotel if that wasn't an option)

I'd question whether doing the 700 mile round trip is necessary

Thanks all, we're just considering all possibilities.

I guess the problem isn’t whether it’s a good idea or not, its that in toer 3 hotels and bnbs etc can’t accept people who aren’t staying for work or other allowed reasons. This isn’t allowed so won’t be accepted.

Hotels aren't allowed to open in T3 except in very limited circumstances so you might have a job finding one to book even if you can crowbar your circumstances into the rules.

My DB is not able to break his drive home from Cornwall to Scotland as the hotel he had booked is closed. I suspect this may be the same for most hotels. I would find another way for her to get back.

@titchy

Why do you need to drive her at all? I'm not aware of any uni in the uk which is not accessible by public transport. And I can't think of any reason a student back for a few weeks at Christmas would need so much stuff it cannot be transported without a car.

Unless mobility issues of course - do they apply? If so then can you share the journey with another adult? Or send stuff using a removal company? I suppose you could sleep in the car...

@Titchy, my DD is an art student and has spent the holiday making the components for her next sculpture. There's no way she'd get it all back on a train. I doubt she's unique in this. Just because you personally cannot think of any instances, doesn't mean there aren't!

@movingonup20 The reasons given where it is permissible to stay in a hotel are exhaustive, and detailed in the statutory instrument.

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1374/contents

Check with the hotel, if its open then I'd be surprised if they didn't allow you to stay.
It seems pretty essential to me and in the spirit of the guidance (ie: you're not just after a jolly).

Travelling for education is permitted. You'd be allowed to drive a younger child across the border of two tiers for school if necessary so I don't see why you wouldn't be allowed to drive an older "child" back to university.
And to all those saying "she's old enough to take herself by train" - why would you put her health at risk with a long journey on public transport if you don't have to? Plus, knowing they will be going back for an extended period and unlikely to get home during the term, they will have a lot of gear to take with them.
Most students home for Christmas here in Tier 4 will be absolutely gagging to get back to their friends at Uni by mid January; I'm told it's very boring being stuck at home with your mum, dad and younger siblings, not even able to see friends or boyfriend.

Did OP say her DD is clinically vulnerable?

Sheesh. DD is heading back to Uni later this week. She misses her boyfriend and the train is fine.

The guidance says avoid public transport if at all possible! Sheesh.