This festive season, as families gear up for celebrations filled with feasts and festivities, many will find themselves scrambling for last-minute essentials. Fortunately, major UK supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi, and Waitrose have laid out their holiday opening hours well in advance, ensuring shoppers know which stores are open and when.
Tesco stands out due to its varied opening times across the country. The supermarket giant will operate under reduced hours on key dates: on Boxing Day, most Tesco Extras, and superstores will open from 9 am to 6 pm, with Express stores opening slightly later from 9 am to 7 pm. New Year's Eve sees these larger stores available from 5 am until 7 pm, whereas local stores extend their hours from 6 am to 10 pm. On New Year's Day, shoppers can visit superstores from 8 am to 6 pm, with Express versions operating until 10 pm.
Meanwhile, at rivals like ASDA, the approach is similarly flexible, albeit with set patterns. On December 26, ASDA will be open from 9 am until 6 pm, continuing normal operation from December 27 to 30. For New Year's Eve, hours will be shortened, allowing shoppers access from 7 am to 7 pm, and New Year's Day operations mirror Boxing Day with hours from 9 am to 6 pm.
Sainsbury's has also announced its hours, addressing the holiday rush. On Boxing Day, Sainsbury's stores will welcome customers from 9 am until 6 pm, with local branches extending to 9 pm. On December 31, hours shift to 10 am and close at 7 pm, followed by New Year's Day when stores open from 8 am to 8 pm. These efforts aim to accommodate shoppers seeking after-holiday deals or New Year celebrations.
For those planning to shop at Morrisons, the situation is slightly different, with stores operating convoluted hours. On Boxing Day, stores will be available from 9 am to 6 pm, with some filling stations opening earlier at 8:30 am. Shoppers will find normal hours reinstated from December 27 to 30, but expect reduced operation on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, where hours will be from 9 am to 6 pm on January 1.
Marks and Spencer is taking a more conservative approach, closing its stores on Boxing Day due to the holiday. From December 27 to 30, it anticipates reduced hours, with most stores shutting their doors by 7 pm. On New Year’s Day, operations are suspended entirely, which may frustrate last-minute shoppers.
Aldi's policy this Christmas appears more lockdown-like, remaining closed on both Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. After closing on the 25th, many stores will reopen on December 27 and 28 from 8 am to 8 pm. Hours shift on December 29 from 9:30 am to 4 pm, and then revert to the 8 am to 8 pm schedule on December 30, before limited opening on New Year's Eve.
Lidl similarly reflects this trend, closing on both significant holidays. Specific stores will also lock their doors on Boxing Day, though store hours will resume between December 27 and 30. New Year’s Eve will see reduced hours, closing at 6 pm, followed by total closure on New Year’s Day.
Waitrose has taken to shutting many of its Welcome Break Service stations and Shell petrol stations on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Some Waitrose locations will offer limited availability for Uber Eats and Deliveroo deliveries during this time – offering some relief to last-minute customers.
For those who prefer convenience, Amazon Fresh presents its own schedule. Customers can shop until 6 pm on Christmas Eve for same-day delivery, but access is slightly less extensive on December 24 with certain locations open until 9 pm. Online orders remain available right through to Boxing Day for those who opt to avoid the hustle and bustle of store shopping.
With such varied hours across the supermarkets, shoppers are encouraged to verify opening times with their local outlets before setting out. This not only ensures availability but can also save time, particularly during the hectic holiday season when stock often runs low.
From festive staples to those last-minute snacks for New Year’s celebrations, planning is key. With the right knowledge of opening hours, your holiday shopping experience can be seamless and stress-free.
So get your shopping lists ready and prepare to hit the stores or order online – just make sure you know when your favorite supermarket is open to avoid any surprises!
