Are Shops Open Today? Your Complete Guide to New Year’s Day Shopping in the UK
Understanding New Year’s Day Shopping Hours
As the UK welcomes 2026, many shoppers are asking ‘are shops open today?’ The answer is more complex than you might expect. New Year’s Day, which falls on Thursday January 1, is a bank holiday, meaning retail operations across the country follow significantly reduced schedules, with some major chains closing entirely whilst others operate limited hours.
With New Year’s Day being a bank holiday, many major retailers either close entirely or run on reduced hours, creating potential confusion for shoppers hoping to pick up essentials after the festivities. Understanding which stores are open becomes crucial for those needing to restock after New Year celebrations.
Major Supermarkets: Who’s Open and When
The supermarket landscape on New Year’s Day presents a mixed picture. Waitrose, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s and almost all major supermarkets will be open on Thursday, but with reduced hours, and larger shops typically don’t open before 10am. More specifically, most Tesco supermarkets will reopen from 9am to 6pm, whilst Express branches trade longer, from 8am to 10pm.
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets are opening from 8am to 8pm whilst their Convenience stores will open from 9am to 9pm. Meanwhile, Asda stores will generally open from 9am to 6pm. However, shoppers should note significant closures: major UK retailers including Aldi, M&S, Lidl, and Home Bargains will close on New Year’s Day 2026.
Alternative Shopping Options
For those finding their usual supermarket closed, alternatives exist. Convenience stores and petrol stations are often the most dependable places to shop on New Year’s Day, with many remaining open across the UK, and petrol stations with attached convenience stores or food retailers typically remain open 24/7, even on holidays.
Smaller stores, such as Costcutter, Londis, Premier, and One Stop were almost universally open, especially in residential areas. Shops like Boots, Next, and WHSmith typically open in retail park locations, with Westfield London expected to open from 10am to 6pm, though individual store hours may vary.
Planning Your Shopping Trip
Customers who frequent particular supermarkets are advised to check the opening times for January 1 before heading out so that they are not disappointed. The importance of verification cannot be overstated, as many shops which will be open will be changing their opening hours to give their workers a chance to enjoy the season, with some stores operating with reduced hours.
The New Year’s Day bank holiday reflects a broader retail trend towards respecting employee rest time during the festive period. While this may create temporary inconvenience for shoppers, advance planning using online store locators and understanding general opening patterns can help UK residents navigate this annual shopping challenge successfully.