Whether you need to stock up on everyday essentials, or wish to replenish your champagne supply, a trip to the supermarket over the Christmas period is likely to be on the cards for many people. Especially as lots of areas in tier 4 are now seeing other non-essential shops close.
But, with shops planning to close their doors at various times over the festive season, you may be unsure of where to go and when.
To help keep stress to a minimum at this busy time of year, we’ve compiled a handy list of the major supermarket’s opening and closing times over Christmas and New Year.
Aldi
This year, Aldi has extended its opening hours from 7am to 11pm, Monday to Friday, giving you extra time to fill your basket with festive faves.
Saturday 19 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Sunday 20 Dec: 10am to 4pm
Monday 21 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Tuesday 22 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Wednesday 23 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: CLOSED
Sunday 27 Dec: 10am to 4pm
Monday 28 Dec: 8am to 8pm
Tuesday 29 Dec: 8am to 8pm
Wednesday 30 Dec: 8am to 8pm
New Year’s Eve 31 Dec: 8am to 6pm
New Year’s Day 1 Jan: CLOSED
Saturday 2 Jan: 8am to 10pm
Check your local store opening times here.
Asda
All 631 Asda stores will close for two days over the Christmas break to allow staff to spend time with family and friends, it has been confirmed.
All branches will close on Christmas Eve and reopen on 27 December, with customers advised to use the store locator tool for specific details of their nearest store opening hours over the festive period.
Staff contracted to work on Boxing Day will be paid, while “all eligible hourly-paid colleagues will receive a guaranteed 100 per cent bonus for their unstinting hard work and commitment during 2020.”
Co-op Food
Co-op has yet to confirm its opening hours over the festive period, but we’ll update this page as soon as it does. Last year, the retailer only closed its doors on Christmas Day, opening again from 8am on Boxing Day. In the meantime, you can find out more about your local shop using the store locator tool.
Lidl
This year, Lidl shoppers in London stores (those inside the M25) can benefit from additional shopping time on Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Shopping hours differ in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but we’ve listed these below.
England
Saturday 19 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Sunday 20 Dec: 10am to 4pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 21 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Tuesday 22 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Wednesday 23 Dec: 7am to 11pm
Christmas Eve: Inside M25 - 7am to 7pm, outside M25 – 7am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: Inside M25 – 10am to 7pm, outside M25 - CLOSED
Sunday 27 Dec: 10am to 4pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 28 Dec: 8am to 10pm
Tuesday 29 Dec: 8am to 10pm
Wednesday 30 Dec: 8am to 10pm
New Year’s Eve 31 Dec: Inside M25 – 8am to 8pm, outside M25 – 8am to 6pm
New Year’s Day 1 Jan: Inside M25 – 10am to 7pm, outside M25: CLOSED
Saturday 2 Jan: 8am to 10pm
Scotland
Saturday 19 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Sunday 20 Dec: 8am to 10pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 21 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Tuesday 22 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Wednesday 23 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: 11am to 5pm
Sunday 27 Dec: 8am to 10pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 28 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Tuesday 29 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Wednesday 30 Dec: 7am to 10pm
New Year’s Eve 31 Dec: 8am to 7pm
New Year’s Day 1 Jan: CLOSED
Saturday 2 Jan: 7am to 10pm
Wales
Saturday 19 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Sunday 20 Dec: 11am to 5pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 21 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Tuesday 22 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Wednesday 23 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: CLOSED
Sunday 27 Dec: 11am to 5pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 28 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Tuesday 29 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Wednesday 30 Dec: 7am to 10pm
New Year’s Eve 31 Dec: 8am to 6pm
New Year’s Day 1 Jan: CLOSED
Saturday 2 Jan: 7am to 10pm
Northern Ireland
Saturday 19 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Sunday 20 Dec: 12.30pm to 6pm (30 minute early browsing)
Monday 21 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Tuesday 22 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Wednesday 23 Dec: 7am to 10pm
Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm
Christmas Day: CLOSED
Boxing Day: CLOSED
Sunday 27 Dec: 1pm to 6pm
Monday 28 Dec: 9am to 9pm
Tuesday 29 Dec: 8am to 9pm
Wednesday 30 Dec: 8am to 9pm
New Year’s Eve 31 Dec: 8am to 6pm
New Year’s Day 1 Jan: CLOSED
Saturday 2 Jan: 8am to 9pm
Marks & Spencer
To ensure customers have the time and space to shop safely, M&S will be opening “the majority (around two thirds)” of their stores until midnight on 21, 22 and 23 December.
This includes nearly all of their food-only stores, while shops on the high street and in major shopping centres will generally be open until 10pm.
Their stores will remain closed on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day “so that as many colleagues as possible can spend time with family and friends”.
The store has not yet confirmed what time stores will close on Christmas Eve, although stores shut their doors at 6pm on this day last year.
M&S advises shoppers to use their store locator for specific details about your local branch.
Morrisons
Morrisons have yet to confirm their opening hours over the Christmas break, although in 2019, the supermarket extended its opening hours until midnight on 23 December to ensure shoppers got everything they needed ahead of the big day. Last year, the retailer closed at 6pm on Christmas Eve, remaining shut for just one day on Christmas Day.
We’ll update this page with more information as soon as it’s available. Until then, you can use their store locator for specific information about your nearest branch.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s is introducing longer opening hours this festive season, in a bid to encourage shoppers to shop early and safely this Christmas.
The retailer said that 90 per of its supermarkets will open from 6am to midnight on December 21, 22 and 23.
To minimise time spent queuing, Sainsbury’s is asking customers to shop early and, where possible, to shop alone at their busiest time of year.
The supermarket is yet to release exact details of their Christmas and New Year opening, but we’ll update this page as soon as the information becomes available.
In the meantime, you can find information specific to your nearest branch at their store locator.
Tesco
Like other major supermarket chains, Tesco has not released exact details of its Christmas and New Year opening schedule.
The retailer confirmed to The Independent that it will open 300 of its stores for 24 hours from December 14 to Christmas Eve, but it’s currently unknown which will be affected.
Last year, Tesco only shut their doors on Christmas Day, but it’s unclear whether this will be the case this year.
It’s worth noting that store opening hours differ depending on whether you shop in a superstore or a smaller Express branch.
We’ll update this page as soon as more information becomes available.
In the meantime, you can find information specific to your nearest branch at their store locator.
Waitrose
Winner of the 2020 Which? Supermarket of the Year award, Waitrose says that “most” of its stores will open with extended hours, closing at 11pm in the days leading up to Christmas Eve. Elsewhere, some convenience shops will open until midnight.
On Christmas Eve, “the majority” of stores will open from 7am to 6pm.
Stores will close on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with the exception of those in Welcome Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts, some of which will be open 24 hours.
On New Year’s Eve, most stores will open from 8am to 6pm, while most will remain closed on New Year’s Day, with the exception of a small number that will open between 7am and 10pm.
As opening times vary from store to store, Waitrose advises customers to check times using their branch finder tool.
