What is open and closed
Bank Holiday Opening Times: What Is Open and Closed
Most shops open on bank holidays, usually for shorter hours. The law only forces large shops to close on two days of the year. Here is what to expect from shops, supermarkets and public services, and where to check.
Are shops open on bank holidays?
Yes. A bank holiday closes banks, not shops. No law stops a shop trading on a bank holiday, and for retailers a long weekend is one of the busiest times of the year.
What changes is the hours. Most supermarkets, retail parks and high-street chains open later and close earlier, often on something close to their Sunday timetable, and hours differ between branches of the same chain. Small independent shops are the most likely to close for the day.
The two real exceptions are Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, covered by the trading laws below. Neither is a bank holiday rule: Easter Sunday is not even a bank holiday.
Quick answers
- Good Friday
- Shops open
- Easter Sunday
- Large shops closed in England and Wales
- Easter Monday
- Shops open
- May and August bank holidays
- Shops open, shorter hours
- Christmas Day
- Large shops closed
- Boxing Day
- Most shops open; some chains stay shut
- New Year's Day
- Many open late; often closed in Scotland
The law: Easter Sunday and Christmas Day
A large shop is one with more than 280 square metres of floor space, which covers supermarkets and most chain stores. Small shops are not restricted.
| Nation | Ordinary Sundays | Easter Sunday | Christmas Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | Large shops may open for 6 continuous hours between 10am and 6pm | Large shops must close | Large shops must close |
| Scotland | No restriction on Sunday hours | No legal restriction | Large shops must close |
| Northern Ireland | Has its own Sunday trading rules for large shops | Check locally: Northern Ireland sets its own rules | Check locally: Northern Ireland sets its own rules |
Sources: GOV.UK, trading hours for retailers and the Christmas Day and New Year's Day Trading (Scotland) Act 2007.
When a bank holiday falls on a Sunday
The Sunday rules still apply to the Sunday itself. The bank holiday is taken on a substitute weekday, when shops are free to open normal hours. That is why Boxing Day trading can look different in years when 26 December is a Sunday.
Supermarket bank holiday opening times
Hours are set store by store and change with each bank holiday, so we do not list them. Each chain publishes the hours for your branch on its own store finder.
- TescoCheck your store ↗
- Sainsbury'sCheck your store ↗
- AsdaCheck your store ↗
- MorrisonsCheck your store ↗
- AldiCheck your store ↗
- LidlCheck your store ↗
- Co-opCheck your store ↗
- WaitroseCheck your store ↗
- Marks & SpencerCheck your store ↗
- IcelandCheck your store ↗
As a rule of thumb, large supermarkets open on every bank holiday except Christmas Day, with shorter hours than a normal weekday. Convenience-format stores such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local are small enough to open on Easter Sunday too. DIY and homeware chains follow the same pattern as supermarkets.
Banks, post offices, GPs, pharmacies and other services
Public services are where a bank holiday makes the biggest difference.
- Banks
- Branches are closed on bank holidays. Online banking, apps, cash machines and Faster Payments work as normal; Bacs and CHAPS payments wait for the next working day.
- Post offices
- Most branches are closed or keep short hours. Branches inside shops may follow the shop's hours, so check the branch finder.
- GP surgeries and dentists
- Closed on bank holidays. For urgent problems use NHS 111, online or by phone, which can direct you to out-of-hours care.
- Pharmacies
- A smaller number open, on a local rota and with reduced hours. The NHS pharmacy finder shows which are open near you.
- Schools and libraries
- State schools are closed, and most public libraries and council offices shut for the day.
- Bin collections
- Many councils move collections by a day for the rest of the week. Check your council's website for revised dates.
- Buses and trains
- Usually a Sunday or reduced timetable. Rail engineering work is often planned for bank holiday weekends.
- Parking
- Rules are set by each council and car park. Some treat a bank holiday like a Sunday and some charge as normal, so read the signs.
Find an open pharmacy with the NHS pharmacy finder. For post and parcels, see deliveries on bank holidays.
Bank holiday opening times: questions
Are shops open on bank holidays?
Yes, most are. There is no law closing shops on a bank holiday as such. Many open with shorter, Sunday-style hours. The exceptions are Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, when large shops in England and Wales must close.
Are supermarkets open on bank holidays?
Almost always, usually with reduced hours that vary from store to store. The retailer's own store finder is the only reliable source for a particular branch.
Are shops open on Easter Sunday?
Large shops over 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday in England and Wales. Small shops, such as convenience stores, can open. Scotland has no such restriction.
Are the shops open on Good Friday?
Yes. Good Friday is a bank holiday but there is no trading restriction, so shops and supermarkets can open as normal.
Are shops open on Christmas Day?
Large shops must close on Christmas Day in England, Wales and Scotland. Smaller shops can choose to open.
Is the post office open on bank holidays?
Most Post Office branches are closed or have reduced hours on bank holidays. Opening varies by branch.
Are banks open on bank holidays?
No. Bank branches close on bank holidays. Online banking and cash machines are unaffected.
Are doctors open on bank holidays?
GP surgeries are closed on bank holidays. Use NHS 111 for urgent medical help.
Are chemists open on bank holidays?
Some are. Pharmacies open on a rota with reduced hours, and the NHS pharmacy finder lists those open near you.
Is it free parking on bank holidays?
It depends on the council or car park operator. Some apply Sunday rules and others charge as normal, so check the signs where you park.
When is the next bank holiday?
In England and Wales the next bank holiday is Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026.