The UK government has announced plans to roll-out the next phase of the country’s lockdown and those plans include the reopening of gyms.

Across England from July 25, gyms will finally reopen to the public.

Since Britain went into lockdown on March 23, gyms and swimming pools have been shut off from the public.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden, in a one-off press briefing today, stated: "From Saturday 25th, people will no longer have to work out in their park or on their living room floor.

"They'll be able to get back into their gyms, their indoor swimming pools, their leisure centres and jump on that spin bike or treadmill for the first time in months."

After barbers as well as pubs and restaurants reopened at the start of this week, Dowden has also stated that the government will extend this opening to similar businesses from Monday, July 13.

Dowden stated: "Beauticians, tattoo artists and spas, tanning salons and other close contact serves can do the same from Monday."

After facing a backlash last Friday with places such as pubs and restaurants reopening, but not gyms, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told LBC: "People, I think, listening to this debate do know the answer to that, and that is to stop the spread of the disease.

"We are going to reopen gyms as soon as we can do it in a Covid-secure way and I think that the date for reopening gyms at the moment, if we can do it, is in just a couple of weeks' time."

Dowden also addressed the public’s concerns about gyms reopening in a tweet that read: "Many people keen to hit the gym and keeping Britain fit is key in Covid battle.

"We've made lots of progress and I know steps businesses have taken to make their spaces and equipment safe.

"Subject to public health, our aspiration is to reopen gyms & leisure facilities in mid-July."

However, in Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stated in a briefing today that gyms will not be allowed to reopen until July 31 at the very earliest.

Sturgeon laid out the plans for phase three of its easing of lockdown measures and stated that cafes and pubs will reopen from July 15.

She has asked her citizens to remain cautious, particularly of meeting others indoors: "We know that the risk of transmitting the virus indoors is significantly higher than it is outdoors.

"So it is essential that we all take great care and strictly follow all of the public health advice."