Royal Mail: Christmas and New Year 2022 delivery and collection schedule - and when normal postal service resumes

The Christmas rush may finally be over for those sending Christmas cards and gifts to loved ones across and outside the UK.

However, the Boxing Day sales and gifts sent too late for the Christmas cut off will be sure to keep mail rooms busy over the coming weeks.

Despite this, postmen and women also need a break after a hectic advent period which is always the busiest time of the year for delivery services, including the Royal Mail.

So, when can you expect your Royal Mail items to arrive - and when will normal postal service resume in the New Year? This is what you need to know.

Which days will you not receive Royal Mail items across Christmas?

Royal Mail workers are entitled to a few well-earned days off over the Christmas period and there are no deliveries on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as these are public holidays.

However, as both these dates fell on a weekend in 2021 there are no deliveries on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December as the public holiday rolls over to the next consecutive weekdays.

Therefore, normal delivery and collection services will resume on 29th December and continue to operate normal working hours and services on December 30th.

Will there be Royal Mail deliveries and collections on New Years Eve and New Years Day?

While normal delivery services will operate on New Years Eve, collections will operate on an ‘eve’ schedule, meaning some depots and stores may operate reduced opening hours.

There will be no collections or deliveries on New Years Day, Saturday 1 January. This is following a request by the Royal Mail to Ofcom, which regulates public communication services.

As January 2 falls on a Sunday, there will also be no deliveries this day.

The first two days of the new year are usually public holidays, but as January 2 falls on a Sunday the public holiday will be honoured on the 3rd January.

When will normal postal services resume in 2022?

Across England and Wales, normal postal services will resume on Tuesday 4 January. In Scotland, services will commence on Wednesday 5 January.

However, due to the high demand of postal services at this time of year and the continued isolation of high numbers of staff due to Covid, there could still be short delays on ordinary delivery services.