When do shops close on Boxing Day 2021 - and are banks open? UK opening hours over Xmas explained

The Boxing Day sales have arrived and you might well be on the hunt for a bargain or two - and possibly even a Christmas present for next year if you’re highly organised.

If you’re planning to head out on Boxing Day or beyond, you will probably find high streets and shopping centres are quieter than normal.

Not only are some major retailers not opening their doors until after Boxing Day’s over but many people could be giving their traditional trip into town a miss due to Covid, according to polling.

Almost half (45%) of those questioned in a Barclaycard Payments survey of 2,000 Brits said they would be shopping less frequently in stores over the festive sales period, while a further 40% said they would be doing their browsing online in an effort to avoid queues and crowds.

NationalWorld has compiled a list of key high street businesses and when they will be open until on Boxing Day - if, indeed, they’re open at all.

And, if you are heading out, please check with your local branch for more information as opening times can vary.

Banks

None of the UK’s major banks will be open again until Wednesday 29 December.

Because Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on weekend days this year, their respective bank holidays will fall on Monday (27 December) and Tuesday (28 December).

It also means that transactions and other banking processes will most likely not take place until Wednesday 29 December.

While their bricks and mortar branches will be closed, some banks have confirmed they will run some form of customer service over the coming days.

Here are the ones which will be doing this:

• HSBC - its customer service lines will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but will run as normal from 27 December

• Halifax - Phone lines for help on core services appear to be open as usual between 7am and 11pm every day. It’s worth checking before contacting them

• Nationwide - It appears the building society’s phone lines will remain open from 8am to 8pm every day over the Christmas period. However, once again, you should check before calling to avoid disappointment

Other banks are likely to be offering some form of out-of-hours emergency advice.

Post Office

Many of the major high street banks allow you to check into your current accounts at the Post Office.

However, most branches are closed on Boxing Day and will not reopen until Monday (27 December).

Only corner shops with Post Office capabilities are likely to be open on Boxing Day.

High street retailers

John Lewis

The department store has remained closed on Boxing Day and will not be opening its doors until 9am in some locations on Monday (27 December).

Some of its stores are unlikely to open until 10am.

Next

The retailer is open in some locations from 6am on Monday (27 December) to kick off its in-store sale.

M&S

Almost all the M&S stores that are open on Boxing Day are based in BP garages and in service stations.

On Monday, many branches of the food and fashion store will be open from 9am until 6pm, with longer hours in many locations on Tuesday (28 December).

H&M

The high street fashion retailer’s stores are set to be closed by 5pm on Boxing Day, although branches in some major urban centres are likely to be open for at least another hour.

They will be open again from 9am on Monday.

Argos

Standalone Argos shops and its concessions in Sainsbury’s stores will then reopen from Monday 27 December.

Primark

Primark has been open on Boxing Day - although its stores appear set to close by 5pm on Boxing Day in most locations.

Sports Direct

Sports Direct stores ran shorter opening hours today and have now closed in most locations.

Normal service is expected to resume from Monday.

JD Sports

The fitness fashion retailer will close its doors between 5.30pm and 6pm this afternoon.

Its stores will be open as usual from tomorrow.

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