Christmas is here, which means you're stocked up with enough food from now until the end of 2026. Except, there's always something you've forgotten.
Whether it's batteries for toys, cranberries for sauce or an extra bottle of something fizzy to mark the big day, we all have that blank spot that means we forgot one essential. When it happens, we're usually lucky enough to be able to run to a shop.
But with so many big supermarkets, who knows when they're open? Help is at hand from HertsLive, with their rundown of Christmas opening hours.
Aldi
Aldi is extending its opening times this December with stores opening from 7am-10pm over the festive month. However, on the week leading up to Christmas their times do vary:
Fom Monday December 19 until December 23 you will see the extended opening times of 7am-10pm. Christmas Eve sees a shorter day of 7am-6pm and then Christmas Day and Boxing Day will see the store close before reopening on December 27 where stores will be open from 8am until 8pm until December 30.
December 31 also sees a shorter day from stores operating 8am-6pm before closing on January 1 and then reopening on January 2 at 8am. You are advised to check your local store as times may vary in different stores.
Lidl
Lidl is also altering its opening times this Christmas period. On December 23 stores are open from 7am-11pm.
On December 24 sees a shorter day of 7am-7pm before closing on Christmas Day. Lidl is open on Boxing Day from 10am-4pm before resuming on December 27 from 8am-10pm until New Year's Eve which sees them open from 8am-8pm. On New Year's Day Lidl is open from 10am-7pm then on January 2 they are open 10am-4pm.
Morrisons
Morrisons will be open from 6am-12am on December 23 before seeing a shorter working day on Christmas Eve when it opens from 6am-6pm. Morrisons will then close on Christmas Day before reopening on Boxing Day from 9am-6pm.
From Monday, December 27 Morrisons stores will open from 7am-10pm until New Year’s Eve on December 31 when it will close at 6pm. On January 1 Morrisons will open at 10am until 4pm.
Sainsbury’s
The vast majority of supermarkets will be open from 6am until 11pm from December 21 to 23 December. On Christmas eve, most of our supermarkets will be open from 6am to 7pm and on Christmas day, all Sainsbury's stores will be closed.
The vast majority of our supermarkets will be open on Boxing Day between 10am and 5pm. Most supermarkets will also be open on December 27 from 8am to 8pm. However, Sainsbury's advises that it is best to check each individual store's opening hours as they can vary from shop to shop.
On December 28, 29 and 30 most stores will trade their normal hours.
On New Year’s Eve, the majority of our supermarkets will be open from 7am to 7pm while convenience stores will be closing at 9pm. On New Year's Day, the majority of our supermarkets will be open between 10am and 4pm which is the company's normal Sunday trading hours, while convenience stores will be trading between 9am and 9pm.
Co-op
December 24, Christmas Eve, will see Co-op stores open at 7am and close at 9pm before shutting on Christmas Day. The Co-op will reopen on Boxing Day from 8am-8pm before resuming on December 27 from 7am-11pm. New Year’s Eve will see the store open from 8am-9pm and then on January 1 will open from 8am-8pm.
Asda
On Christmas Eve Asda will see its stores opening from 6am-7pm before closing on Christmas Day and reopening Boxing Day from 10am-4pm. December 27 and 28 will see the stores opening from 8am-8pm.
While on December 29 and 30 the stores will open at 7am until 10pm. On New Year’s Eve Asda stores will be open from 7am-7pm and then opening at 10am-5pm New Year’s Day.
Tesco
Tesco’s will only be closed on Christmas Day but for more times regarding the opening hours over the Christmas period make sure to check your local store for their opening times.
Marks and Spencers
M&S will see its stores open on Christmas Eve from 6am-7pm before closing on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. M&S will reopen on December 27 at 9am-8pm which is the same on December 28.
December 29 and 30 will see stores open from 8am-10pm. Then New Year's Eve, the Co-op will open from 8am-8pm and on New Year’s Day 10am-6pm.
Waitrose
On Christmas Eve the majority of Waitrose stores will be open from 7am-6pm and its stores will then be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with the exception of their Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts, some of which will be open 24 hours.
On New Year’s Eve most stores will be open from 8am-6pm and then closed on New Year’s Day. Opening times may vary so it is advised to check your local store for their opening times over the Christmas period.
Iceland
Iceland stores will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day but to check opening times for the rest of the Christmas period you will have to check your local branch.
