Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl are among the supermarket retailers to release adjusted operating hours at stores across the UK over the festive period.
As Christmas is fast approaching, many have already started to stock up on food and drink for the big day ahead of time, but with so much to prepare for, it’s pretty easy to forget something important, which usually leaves us running to the shops before 25th.
Despite many having opted for home deliveries or Click & Collect services this year, others still prefer to shop in-store.
And while some of big name chains are still yet to release statements – expected to do so in due course – a number of leading supermarket retailers have already begun releasing Christmas opening hours.
Here’s everything we know so far.
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Tesco
Tesco announced recently that a number of its stores across the UK will be open for extended hours a day in the lead-up to Christmas, with 300 branches set to open 24 hours a day – except for Sundays – from 14th December – 24th December.
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The rest of Tesco’s stores will also operate at extended trading hours from 5am – 11pm between those dates.
Although specific opening times have not yet been announced for Christmas Day this year, if previous years are to provide a reflection, stores will close on 25th December, and reopen on Boxing Day.
You can check opening times via the Tesco Store Locator here.
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Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s has also revealed that it will be introducing extended opening hours at its branches nationwide this Christmas, with most supermarkets set to be open from 6am until midnight on 21st, 22nd & 23rdDecember.
On top of this, the chain says that most of its shops will be open from 6am – 7pm on Christmas Eve too.
All Sainsbury’s stores will close on Christmas Day.
A message on Sainsbury’s website says: “Between 21st to 23rd December, 90% of Sainsbury’s supermarkets will extend their opening hours from 6am until midnight, to help customers buy everything they need for their Christmas celebrations this year.”
You can check opening times via the Sainsbury’s Store Locator here.
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Aldi
Aldi has published its operating hours at stores across the UK for the festive period in the run-up to the big day, which are as follows:
Saturday 19th December:7am – 11pm
Sunday 20th December:10am – 4pm
21st, 22nd & 23rd December:7am – 11pm
Christmas Eve:7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day:STORES CLOSED
Sunday 27th December:10am – 4pm
28th, 29th & 30th December:8am – 8pm
New Year’s Eve:8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day:STORES CLOSED
Saturday 2nd January 2021:Normal Hours Resume
You can find more information on your local branch via the Aldi Store Finder here.
Lidl
Lidl has also published a full list of operating hours at stores across the UK for the festive period, which are as follows:
Saturday 19th December:7am – 11pm
Sunday 20th December:Open as Normal
21st, 22nd, 23rd December:7am – 11pm
Christmas Eve:7am – 6pm
Christmas Day & Boxing Day: STORES CLOSED
27th, 28th, 29th & 30th December:Open as Normal
New Year’s Eve:8am – 6pm
New Year’s Day:STORES CLOSED
Saturday 2nd January 2021:Normal Hours Resume
You can find more information on your local branch via the Lidl Store Finder here.
Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Co-op & Iceland
For each of the above and remaining food retailers, a national schedule of Christmas opening hours is yet to be released and so it’s currently advised that you check the opening times of your local branch individually before making any trips to stores over the festive period.
Want to order your festive food to be delivered to your home, or take advantage of Click & Collect services this month instead?
You can find the final order dates before Christmas for each supermarket retailer here.
Trending
ITV is reviving an iconic music trivia gameshow Name That Tune from the 70s
Emily Sergeant
ITV is set to revive one of the most iconic music-themed gameshows of all time for a new generation.
That’s right – Name That Tune is making a comeback.
Based on the successful US format of the same name, and airing in the UK on its original run from 1976 through to 1987, before being rebooted for the first time by Channel 5 from 1997-98, Name That Tune is being revived for the third time and is set to hit screens on ITV early next year.
If you’re unfamiliar with the premise of the show, Name That Tune sees contestants pitted against each other as their music knowledge is put to the test in a series of fast-paced rounds that featuring tracks from some of the world’s best-loved music artists and bands across every genre, all building towards a nail-biting finale.
Competitors will be tasked with correctly deciphering iconic riffs, melodies and lyrics from some of the biggest songs on the planet.
Set to be presented by Alison Hammond, and with a studio audience singing along, the show’s reboot will invite viewers at home to play from their living rooms, making it the ultimate soundtrack for all generations.
Every round is designed to challenge music enthusiasts by asking them just one simple question – can you name that tune?
“As a massive music lover, my biggest challenge as a host will be trying not to grab the mic and start singing along when one of my all-time favourite tunes comes on,” commented Alison Hammond as she was announced as the host for the reboot.
“And trust me… that will take serious self control.
“I grew up absolutely loving the original show so being part of this now feels like a real full-circle moment. I cannot wait to get into the studio, put the contestants through their paces, and see who really knows their music.”
ITV has told viewers to expect the show to be ‘bigger, louder, and more feel-good than ever’ once it returns in January.
Featured Image – ITV
Trending
Manchester to celebrate National Play Day next week with 100+ FREE activities for families
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to celebrate National Play Day next week, and there’ll be more than 100 free activities for families to join in with.
You may remember that Manchester City Council announced it would be bringing 14 weeks of free activities for children to parks across the city this summer, as Parktastic returned by popular demand with everything from sports, games, arts, and crafts, to dance, drama, nature activities, storytelling, and messy play to get stuck into.
And now, a packed programme of activities to celebrate National Play Day – which is taking place this year on Wednesday 5 August – has been revealed.
There’ll be whole series of free events taking place right across the city on a drop-in basis throughout the day – with more than a hundred different activity sessions taking place in the city’s parks, libraries, community centres, and youth clubs.
PLAY DAY is in one week!
Wednesday 5 August
All FREE
🤾🏽Outdoor games 🎪Bouncy castles 🎨Arts &Crafts ⚽Sports coaching 📚Poetry Trail 🤹🏽Circus Skills 🚴🏻Bikes and more!
Activities for children of all ages, across the city
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 29, 2026
Families can also head on down to two big Family Fun Days taking place on the day – one at Platt Fields Park, and one at Boggart Hole Clough.
Activities will run from 11am through to 2pm at both parks, and will include things like sports coaching, circus skills, cycling taster sessions, live demonstrations, storytelling, and a range of other interactive and hands-on experiences.
National Play Day is actually a country-wide celebration of a child’s right to play, but the day has a special significance for Manchester this year, coming off the back of the city earning recognition from UNICEF as a Child Friendly City last month.
Manchester is celebrating National Play Day next week with 100+ free activities for families / Credit: Manchester City Council
“Having fun and playing with other children is such an important part of growing up and helping children and young people of all ages to gain confidence and develop their skills,” commented Councillor Julie Reid, who is the Executive Member for Early Years, Children and Young People at Manchester City Council.
“We’re very lucky in Manchester to have so many fantastic parks, playgrounds, and sports and leisure facilities across the city for our children and young people to enjoy, as well as amazing libraries, galleries and museums right here on our doorstep.”
Cllr Reid said Manchester’s National Play Day on Wednesday 8 August will be offering ‘a whole host’ of different activities for young people to get involved in and enjoy.
You can find out everything happening on the day here.
The Manc -
8th December 2020 
