A small number of shops will be open on Christmas Day this year for incredibly last minute shoppers.

But don’t get your hopes up for big purchases, as almost all stores will be closed on December 25.

Major supermarkets will be closed, and even some petrol stations will not be opening their doors.

Opening times will also be significantly reduced.

So which shops are open on Christmas Day?

Which shops are open on Christmas?

Most shops will be closed on Christmas Day.

By law, under the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, practically all stores across different sectors of retail must close their doors on the big day.

Any corner shops or local stores that are open will be discretionary and you’ll have to check any notices to see their opening hours.

Major supermarkets, including Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s will be open again over the holidays from Boxing Day – although others such as Aldi and Iceland will remain shut.

Smaller shops are likely to remain open in motorway service stations.

Are petrol stations open on Christmas Day?

All motorway service stations must remain open for fuel, parking and toilets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

However, petrol stations attached to supermarkets will likely be closed, as will petrol stations on most A-roads.

Are post offices open on Christmas Day?

All post offices will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Some branches will reopen on Friday, December 27 but there will be no collections or deliveries.

Are banks open on Christmas Day?

Banks will be closed on Christmas Day.

If you need to withdraw cash, you can still use a cash machine.

Similarly, you’ll be able to pay using online banking, but payments and deposits might take longer to process.

The vast majority of banks will be closed on Boxing Day, and will re-open on Friday, December 27, with some reduced opening hours.

This article was first published on December 18 2023.

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