Last-minute late-night shopping is a quirk of Christmas in the UK but not all shops will remain open too close to December 25.
While some will keep their doors open to customers well into the evenings in the run-up to Christmas Day, many will close even earlier than usual to give staff some well-deserved time off.
Express.co.uk has rounded up the opening hours for every major supermarket so shoppers know exactly when they can stock up on those festive essentials.
Marks and Spencer
The retailer is one of few that will extend its opening hours ahead of Christmas, with seasonal shopping available in select stores between December 18 and 23.
- December 18-23 – 6am to 10pm
- Christmas Eve- (December 24) – 6am to 4pm
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
Aldi
- December 18-23 – 7am to 10pm
- Christmas Eve- (December 24) – 9.30am to 4pm
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
- Boxing Day (December 26) – closed
- December 27-30 – 8am to 8pm
Waitrose
The retailer will be open as normal between now and Christmas Eve, with ordinary Sunday hours observed on December 24. However, some smaller outlets will remain open over the festive period.
- Christmas Eve- (December 24) – 10am or 10.30am to 4pm
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
- Christmas Day- closed, except those in Welcome Break service stations and Shell forecourts
- Boxing Day- closed
Lidl
Lidl will close its stores across the UK on Christmas Day though a select few will re-open on Boxing Day. It is recommended to keep an eye on opening hours for your local branch.
- Christmas Eve (December 24) – Sunday hours
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
- Boxing Day (December 26) – most shops will remain closed
Asda
The supermarket’s Express and Superstore sites will open at varying times over Christmas, particularly on Boxing Day.
- Christmas Eve- (December 24) – Sunday hours
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
- Boxing day (December 26) – Express stores open 8am – 6pm/8pm, Superstores open 9am – 6pm
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s shoppers will find “Local” branches open later over Christmas than the larger supermarket sites. A spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “Any associated petrol filling station will open 30 minutes before the main store and close 30 minutes after the main store during this period. On Christmas Eve and New Year’s eve, the petrol stations will open an hour later than the main store.”
- December 18-23 – 6am to 11pm
- Christmas Eve (December 24) – Superstores open 10am – 4pm, convenience stores open 10am-9pm
- Christmas Day (December 25) – all stores closed
- Boxing Day (December 26) – majority of supermarkets will open 9am to 6pm, convenience stores open 9am to 9pm
- 27-30 December – normal hours for supermarkets and convenience stores
Morrisons
Morrisons shoppers will notice varied opening hours between December 20 and 30 this year.
- December 20 – 7am to 10pm
- December 21-23 – 6am to midnight
- Christmas Eve (December 24)- 10am to 4pm (Sunday hours)
- Christmas Day (December 25) – closed
- Boxing Day (December 26) – 9am to 6pm
- December 27 – 7am to 10pm
Tesco
Tesco opening hours will depend on the size of the store type – Express of Superstore.
- Christmas Eve (December 24) – Tesco Extra and Superstores close at 6pm, most Express stores open until 10pm
- Christmas Day (December 25) – all stores and petrol stations closed
- Boxing Day (December 26) – Extras and Superstores open 9am to 6pm, majority of Express stores open 9am to 7pm, some larger Express stores will close at 6pm
Between December 27-30, trading hours will vary across different store types. - England, Wales and Northern Ireland Tesco Extra stores open 5am to 7.30am, close at times ranging between 9pm and 11.59pm
- Scotland Extra and Superstores open at times ranging from 6am to 7am, majority will close at 11.59pm,
- Majority of Express stores are open for normal trading hours, with 24 hour stores opening at 6am. Selected larger Express stores will open shorter hours, from 8am to 6pm
