UK stores are closed on Easter Sunday because the law bans shops over 280 square metres from opening. It’s one of just two days a year that the giant supermarkets drop the shutters. The other is Christmas Day. Frustrating, sure. But those are the rules.
- Large shops (over 280 sq m) in England and Wales must shut on Easter Sunday.
- It all stems from the Sunday Trading Act 1994.
- Small shops under 280 sq m can open whenever they like.
- Scotland ignores the whole thing. Shops there stay open.
- Only Easter Sunday and Christmas Day force big shops to close.
This guide covers Easter Sunday store hours for 2026 — check back each year as dates and hours can change.
Why Can’t the Shops Open?
Blame a law from the nineties. The Sunday Trading Act 1994 decides when shops in England and Wales can trade on a Sunday. It came into force on 26 August 1994, replacing the older Shops Act 1950, when Sunday selling was mostly illegal. It was a messy compromise, cooked up after MPs threw out the Shops Bill 1986.
Gov.UK states that large shops “must close on Easter Sunday” and “must close on Christmas Day”. A “large” shop means one over 280 square metres — roughly 3,000 square feet — and it includes every inch used to display goods or serve you. No sneakily roping off aisles to duck under the limit.
Anything smaller can “open any day or hour”. Later, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 went further, banning big shops from opening on Christmas Day, whatever day it lands on.
The Six-Hour Rule
On a normal Sunday, giant stores get just six hours, between 10 am and 6 pm. That’s why your local megastore often runs from 10 am to 4 pm. Retail park shops lean towards 11 am to 5 pm, while Oxford Street favourites go for 12 pm to 6 pm. Even 24-hour supermarkets have to shut on Saturday night to squeeze those six hours in.
Some open half an hour early so you can “browse” – but they won’t ring anything through the till until the clock strikes 10. And deliveries can’t be loaded or unloaded before 9 am.
Scotland Does Not Have the Same Rule
Sunday trading in Scotland has always been a free-for-all, so shops can open whenever — Easter Sunday included — though plenty still trim their hours. Workers got a say too, with the Sunday Working (Scotland) Act 2003 letting them turn down Sunday shifts. Northern Ireland, meanwhile, runs its own separate rulebook.
It’s Caused a Right Old Row
Not everyone’s happy. The Lord’s Day Observance Society and the Keep Sunday Special campaign, backed by the shopworkers’ union USDAW, fought hard against the changes. USDAW only came round once Sunday work was made voluntary.
The fight’s flared up since. During London 2012, the rules were paused for eight weekends from 22 July to cope with the Olympic crowds. Then, a 2014 poll by Open Sundays found that 72% of us want to shop whenever it suits us. MP Philip Davies branded the law “completely absurd and unjustifiable” and tabled five amendments to scrap it — all rejected. Even the Commons voted down a 2015 budget bid to loosen things.
The Shops That Get a Free Pass
Some big places sail on regardless. Exemptions cover:
- Airport and railway station shops
- Motorway service stations and petrol stations
- Pharmacies selling only medicines and medical kits
- Farm shops flogging their own produce (fishmongers too)
- Motor and bicycle supply outlets
- Suppliers to aircraft and ships at ports and airports
- Exhibition stalls selling goods
Break the Rule, and It’ll Cost You
Big shops that open when they shouldn’t can be fined. They also have to clearly show their restricted hours, both inside and outside. And loading before 9 am? That needs the nod from the local council.
As for staff, there’s no automatic right to Easter Sunday or Christmas Day off unless your contract says so, and extra holiday pay is optional too.
The Full List: Who’s Open, Who’s Shut
So where does that leave your Easter shop? The Standard rounded up the big chains – always check your local branch first.
- Tesco – Big Extra stores shut; Tesco Express is open. Good Friday 6 am–10 pm; Easter Monday 8 am–6 pm.
- Asda – Closed Easter Sunday. Good Friday and Saturday 7 am–10 pm; Monday 8 am–10 pm.
- Sainsbury’s – Large stores are shut; convenience shops are open 7 am–11 pm. Monday 8am–8 pm.
- Morrisons – Shut in England and Wales, open in Scotland. Monday 7 am–8 pm.
- Aldi – Closed Easter Sunday. Good Friday, 8 am–10 pm; Monday, 8 am–8 pm.
- Lidl – Closed, but open in Scotland. Reduced Monday hours.
- Marks & Spencer – Big stores shut; some food halls open, roughly 9 am–6 pm.
- Co-op – Convenience stores are open 7 am–10 pm; larger shops shut.
- Waitrose – Large stores shut; a few Little Waitrose stores are open.
- Iceland – Most shut; some franchise branches may open.
Good Housekeeping states that big supermarkets in England and Wales close by law, corner shops can stay open, and Scotland carries on as normal. And as Chronicle Live neatly puts it, you can’t wander a huge Tesco Extra on Easter Sunday — but your Tesco Express should be open.
FAQs
Q. Why are UK stores closed on Easter Sunday?
A. Big shops over 280 square metres in England and Wales must shut under the Sunday Trading Act 1994. Only Easter Sunday and Christmas Day carry this rule.
Q. Can any large shops open on Easter Sunday?
A. Yes, exempt ones like petrol stations, pharmacies, and airport or railway outlets can trade as long as they like.
Q. Are shops open in Scotland on Easter Sunday?
A. Yes. Scotland has no Sunday trading limits, so shops can open, though many run shorter hours.
Q.Is Tesco open on Easter Sunday?
A. Big Tesco Extra stores stay shut, but Tesco Express convenience shops usually open as normal. Check your local one.
Q. Can small shops open on Easter Sunday?
A. Yes. Shops of 280 square metres or less can open any day or hour — Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and every Sunday.
Q. Do shops reopen on Easter Monday?
A. Yes. Easter Monday has no trading limits, so most reopen, though plenty run reduced hours.
Sources & References:
- GOV.UK – Large shops must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
- The Standard – Always check your local branch first on Easter Sunday.
- Good Housekeeping – Big supermarkets in England and Wales close by law, and corner shops can stay open.
- Chronicle Live – You can’t wander a Tesco Extra on Easter Sunday, but your Tesco Express should be open.
