Major supermarkets including Morrisons, Tesco, Asda, Lidl and Sainsbury’s are going to shut all stores for one day. 

Britons take for granted nipping to the shop for a pint of milk, kitchen paper or a bottle of champers – but need to prepare themselves for going a day or two without. With Christmas Day fast approaching, households are writing their shopping lists ready to stock up on essentials and festive food before stores shut.

Many are planning to align their final trip with when final markdowns are made and the supermarkets put yellow (or red, in the case of Aldi) stickers on their perishable and festive items. Others simply want to know when’s the last time they can grab a box of mince pies to bring to feed the children.

You should check your local store’s opening hours, but in general smaller local shops are more likely to be open earlier and later than the large superstores. Many petrol station shops will be open too, to cater to emergencies and workers who are hitting the road as normal on December 25.

Here are the opening hours of the top supermarkets.

Lidl

Christmas Eve

7am – 6pm except for inside the M25, where it closes at 7pm.

Christmas Day

Closed

Boxing Day

England: Inside M25: 10:00 – 18:00

England: Outside M25: Closed

Wales: Closed

Scotland: 11:00 – 17:00

Tesco

Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm (Express stores 7am to 10pm)

Christmas Day: Closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm (Express stores 9am to 7pm)

Sainsbury’s

Christmas Eve: 6am to 7pm (convenience stores 6am to 9pm)

Christmas Day: Closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm (convenience stores 9am to 9pm)

Aldi

Christmas Eve: 7am to 6pm

Christmas Day: Closed

Boxing Day: Closed

Asda

Christmas Eve: 5am to 7pm

Christmas Day: Closed

Boxing Day: 9am to 6pm

Co-op

Christmas Eve: Usual opening time to 7pm (convenience stores 6am or 7am to 8pm)

Christmas Day: Closed

Boxing Day: 10am to 7pm (convenience stores 9am to 7pm)