Supermarket opening times Christmas 2020: when Tesco, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Morrisons will be open this Xmas

A growing number of supermarket chains are extending their opening hours in the run up to Christmas to allow their customers more time to shop safely.

Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi are among the chains that have signalled their intent to increase trading hours to better enable social distancing in stores ahead of Christmas Day.

Online delivery slots and click and collect bookings are already in high demand as customers organise their festive food shopping in a bid to avoid any last minute rushes.

Shoppers will be able to take advantage of extended opening hours this festive season. (Pic: Getty Images)

Yet, in an effort to combat lengthy queues in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, many grocers have looked at extending their opening hours to safely satisfy demand.

So fear not if you’re in need of an emergency trip to the shops!

Tesco

More than 300 Tesco stores are set to open their doors for 24 hours a day in the run up to Christmas, according to The Sun newspaper.

The report says those Tesco stores will open around the clock from 14 December to Christmas Eve, with the rest of the chain’s stores operating from 5am to 11pm in the same period.

With more than 4,000 stores, customers are encouraged to view what stores will be open and when using the supermarket’s online store locator HERE.

All of Tesco’s shops closed on Christmas Day last year and reopened on Boxing Day morning. Tesco is yet to confirm its festive opening hours this year.

Aldi

Aldi will extend its opening hours to 11pm for three days leading up to Christmas Eve, from 21 December to 23 December.

It will operate a normal Sunday service on 20 December from 10am to 4pm before the change to opening hours from 7am-11pm on Monday 21 December.

There could be variations from branch to branch so it’s best to check the online store locator for the opening times of your local Aldi.

Aldi stores will shut at 6pm on 24 December, close on Christmas Day and remain closed on Boxing Day.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s has also extended its opening hours from 21 December to 23 December in a decision which will see 90% of its stores open from 6am to midnight.

The retailer is also encouraging customers to shop alone and early this year - offering 10 times the Nectar points on long-life food products between 4-13 December.

Check your local Sainsbury’s store HERE.

Its stores will open from 6am-7pm on 24 December but remain closed on Christmas Day.

Marks and Spencer

Around 400 M&S food halls will stay open until midnight over the 21-23 December period, which is around two-thirds of the chain's stores.

Its other stores will stay open until 10pm - check out which stores will remain open for longer in the run up to Christmas HERE.

Opening times will change on Christmas Eve, with a 6pm closure, and the shops will remain closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Waitrose

In the run up to Christmas Day, local Waitrose stores will also extend their opening hours until 11pm. Check the opening times of your local store HERE.

Lidl

Lidl has just released its opening hours with its stores across Scotland staying open until 10pm on the days leading up to Christmas Eve, excluding Sunday 20 December.

Its shops will close at 6pm on 24 December, remain closed on Christmas Day and open 11am-5pm on Boxing Day before normal opening hours resume.

Check in with your local store HERE.

Morrisons

Morrisons is yet to reveal its Christmas opening hours for 2020. Last year the supermarket extended opening hours to midnight on two of the three days leading up to Christmas Eve (the other was a Sunday). Its stores were open until 6pm on 24 and 26 December but closed Christmas Day.

Asda

Likewise, Asda hasn’t revealed its festive opening hours and isn’t expected to until two weeks before Christmas. Most of its stores were open from 6/7am to 6/7pm on Christmas Eve last year, remained closed on Christmas Day and were again opened between 9am and 6pm on Boxing Day.