Once Christmas Day is done and dusted, Boxing Day is the perfect time to indulge in a family shopping trip - or you can go at it solo if you need a little break from the fam - to take advantage of some of the biggest sales of the year. But in order to do that, you need to know what shops are open on Boxing Day – because, surprisingly enough, not all of them are.
While you can, of course, shop for Boxing Day deals online - as many do - the option of getting out of the house to go through the sales IRL is to some even more exciting. But the thing is that retailers’ Boxing Day opening hours and whether they even open their doors on the day at all is a little bit all over the place and differ case by case.
So if you’re heading out for a shop this Boxing Day to bag your next best sofa or the best pillows at bargain prices then consider this your map of where to go and what stores to avoid on the day and shop online instead.
What shops are open on Boxing Day
Some of our (and your) favourite retailers are open as usual, while others are shut the whole day or open for a few hours only. It can all get a little confusing but hopefully, this Boxing Day guide will clear things up a little bit.
Is Wickes open on Boxing Day?
If you’re hoping to shop at Wickes on Boxing Day IRL, we’re sorry to say that all Wickes stores remain shut for the entirety of 26th December and only reopen on the 27th.
Is Next open on Boxing Day?
Next is a great place to get stylish yet affordable homeware. But sadly, this is one of the stores that remains shut every year on Boxing Day. And this year is no exception.
However, the brand's Boxing Day sale will be running online and we're keeping an eye on this dreamy cloud-shaped cosy boucle swivel chair from Next – fingers crossed it pops up in the sale.
Is Primark open on Boxing Day?
Primark, on the other hand, is open on Boxing Day. That is especially great as its impressive range is largely not available online. So most customers have to rely on in-store shopping.
However, the opening hours on Boxing Day vary from store to store. We recommend checking out the store locator tool on the brand’s website to find out when exactly your local Primark will be opening and shutting.
But to give you an idea, one of Primark's most popular stores, the London Tottenham Court Road branch, will be open from 8am to 10pm which are the shop's regular opening times.
Is Aldi open on Boxing Day?
It’s no secret that we love Aldi at Ideal Home, especially for its affordable prices and accessible dupes such as the Aldi espresso machine for £60.
But unlike most other supermarkets, Aldi keeps its doors closed throughout Boxing Day and reopens only on the 27th December.
Is IKEA open on Boxing Day?
Who doesn’t love an IKEA hack? We certainly do. And thankfully, we can pick up our necessities for our next project come Boxing Day as most IKEA stores reopen on the 26th December.
But similarly to Primark, the opening hours of IKEA stores differ so it’s best to check the IKEA store locator for the opening hours of your nearest store. But as a guide, most stores we checked were opening at 10am and closing at 6pm.
Is John Lewis open on Boxing Day?
Part of the same company, both John Lewis and Waitrose famously remain shut for the duration of the 26th December year after year. And while that is largely the case this year, too, there are two exceptions this time around as John Lewis in London's Stratford shopping centre and the Manchester Trafford John Lewis are both to be open.
But if you don't happen to live anywhere near either of these, you can still shop the Boxing Day sale online. We believe that John Lewis is one of the best places to buy a sofa so we're hoping for a few to go into the sale, including our best-rated sofa, the John Lewis Draper.
Is Matalan open on Boxing Day?
Yes! Matalan is indeed open on Boxing Day and most stores are open from 9am to 6pm. There are some exceptions though, which the brand listed out on its Christmas opening times page. So we recommend having a look there before heading out.
Is M&S open on Boxing Day?
If you’re craving to bag the sought-after M&S Kirsten table lamp or one of the brand’s other wonderful homewares (or food) then you will have to stick to the brand’s website or wait until the 27th as every M&S store is closed on Boxing Day.
Is Currys open on Boxing Day?
If you’re after home appliances like the best air fryers or other electronics, Currys will likely be the first stop on your shopping spree. And luckily for you, Currys is indeed open on Boxing Day.
Again, opening hours differ based on the specific store, which you can find out through the Currys store finder. But for the majority, the retailer exercises normal opening hours with a general opening time of 9 or 10am.
Is B&Q open on Boxing Day?
B&Q is the one-stop-shop for all things DIY and home improvement. But if you have any DIY projects lined up for Boxing Day and find yourself short on some tools or supplies, we’re sad to say that you can’t just pop out to your nearest B&Q store. As it will be closed, they all are for Boxing Day.
Is Selfridges open on Boxing Day?
Selfridges, the beautiful, luxury department store located in the hearts of the UK’s three biggest cities, does open its fabulous doors come Boxing Day. But the opening times differ slightly store to store, as listed below.
- London: 9:00 - 22:00
- Birmingham: 9:00 - 20:00
- Manchester Trafford: 9:00 - 21:00
- Manchester Exchange Square: 9:00 - 20:00
Now you can plan your exact shopping route come Boxing Day to make the most of the sales and deals on offer!
