Christmas bank holidays mean many services and supermarkets will close or alter their opening hours this week
Christmas is coming and with it the complications of finding places still open or working during the festive period.
Whether you need to do last-minute shopping, get emergency medication, make a doctors appointment or have your rubbish collected, all will be affected by the festive holidays and changes to timings.
Many places will be shutting up shop for a few days and so getting ahead of the game is key. We take a look at where will be open and when this week.
Are supermarkets open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
Supermarket opening hours over the Christmas week will be altered.
These are guide times provided by each supermarket chain and may alter according to different localities, so shoppers should check for their local store using the store link attached.
Aldi
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve:Â Â 7am-6pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: Closed
You can check opening times for your local Aldi here.
Asda
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 5am-7pm Â
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed Â
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 9am-6pm
You can check opening times for your local Asda here.
B&M
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 8am- 6pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 8am-6pm
You can check opening times for your local B&M here.
Co-op
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 7am-8pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 9am-7pm
You can check opening times for your local Co-op here.
Lidl
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: Outside M25: 7am-6pm. Inside M25: 7am-7pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: Outside M25: Closed. Inside M25: 7am-7pm
You can check opening times for your local Lidl here.
Morrisons
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 6am-6pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 9am-6pm
You can check opening times for your local Morrisons here.
M&S
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 8am-7pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: Closed
You can check opening times for your local M&S here.
Sainsbury’s
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 6am-7pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 9am-6pm
You can check opening times for your local Sainsbury’s here.
Tesco
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 5am-7pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 9am-6pm
You can check opening times for your local Tesco here.
Waitrose
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 8am-6pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: Closed (except a few for Uber Eats and Deliveroo orders)
You can check opening times for your local Waitrose here.
Are pharmacies open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?
Pharmacy opening hours over the Christmas week will be altered.
These are guide times and may alter according to different localities, so consumers will need to check on the link provided.
Boots
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 8am-8pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 11am-5pm
Opening times will vary according to location, check for your local Boots here.
Superdrug
- Tuesday 24 December, Christmas Eve: 9am-5.30pm
- Wednesday 25 December, Christmas Day: Closed
- Thursday 26 December, Boxing Day: 10am-5pm
Opening times will vary according to location, check for your local Superdrug here.
Independent pharmacies will have their own separate opening hours for the Christmas period.
There are also a list of pharmacies for each region of the country which will remain open for emergencies over the bank holidays of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
To find out which local pharmacy is open in your area go to nhs.uk for those in England and NHS Inform for Scotland and enter your postcode.
Are GP and dentist surgeries open on Christmas and Boxing Day?
Most GP surgeries will be closed on the bank holidays of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Those needing urgent medical care during this period can call the NHS 111 services to speak to a medical practitioner by dialing 111 or visit the website here.
Like GP surgeries, most dental practices will be closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
However, there will be some still open in each region for urgent treatment over the festive period.
To find out which one is local to you call the NHS 111 services or visit the website here.
Do bin collections take place over Christmas?
Rubbish collections are altered over the Christmas week to allow for the two bank holidays when staff are off work.
There are generally collections right up to Christmas Eve and in the days after Boxing Day but no domestic collections on Christmas Day or Boxing Day itself.
Those who would normally have collections on the bank holiday days can expect to have them delayed to the succeeding days.
However, householders should check their local council website to find out which days their rubbish will be collected over the festive period.