Sunday opening times – what time are Aldi, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Lidl and Sainsbury’s open on Sundays?
MANY stores close their doors early on a Sunday, leaving some shoppers in the lurch for the important weekly shop.
Under government rules, there are only two days that large shops have to close on: Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.
And on Sundays, large shops (so shops over 3,000 sq ft, like superstores) must only be open for six consecutive hours.
This doesn't affect the smaller stores, so say Tesco Express and Sainsbury's Local, as they are smaller than 3,000 sqft.
Here are the latest opening and closing times on shops on Sundays.
What is the Sunday trading law?
Large shops and supermarkets in England and Wales are allowed to open on Sundays, but only for six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm.
So this means large shops are either open from 10am to 4pm, 11pm to 5pm or 12pm to 6pm.
They also often have reduced hours on other Bank Holidays.
The large stores - including Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's - also need permission from local councils to have stock deliveries before 9am on a Sunday.
The law does not apply to "small shops", which is why you can find some off-licenses and smaller local chain supermarkets open outside of these hours.
Stores in Northern Ireland can only trade between 1pm and 6pm. There are no trading time restrictions in Scotland.
Exemptions to the Sunday Trading Act 1994
* Airport and train station shops
* Service and petrol station shops
* Registered pharmacies selling only medicinal products and medical and surgical appliances
* Farms selling mainly their own produce
* Stores mainly selling car or bike supplies and accessories
* Shops supplying goods to planes or boats on arrival at - or departure from - a port, harbour or airport
* Exhibition stands selling goods
What are the Sunday opening hours at your favourite supermarkets?
Sainsbury's, Aldi, Asda, Lidl, Morrisons and Tesco superstores will either be open between:
- 10am and 4pm
- 11am and 5pm
- Or 12pm and 6pm
The rules do not apply to most Sainsbury's Local and Tesco Express stores - which often still stay open until 10pm or 11pm, even on a Sunday.
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What about the Sunday opening hours during the coronavirus outbreak?
Several supermarkets changed their opening hours during the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.
They reduced their opening times originally to allow staff time to restock shelves and clean the premises.
But after several shops recruited thousands of extra pairs of hands to help with demand, their opening times have largely returned to normal or been extended.
We've listed the opening times of the branches nearest to us, using The Sun's London Bridge office postcode, SE1 9GF, as a representative sample.
Click on the supermarket's name below to find the store locator tool and find out if your nearest branch has different opening hours on Sunday.
- : 10am to 4pm
- : 11am to 5pm
- : 10am to 4pm
- : 11am to 5pm
- : 11am to 5pm
- Sainsbury's local: 7am to 12am
- : 11am to 5pm
- Tesco express: 6am to 1pm
Several supermarkets are also offering a "silver hour" to allow elderly people to do their shopping before usual shoppers arrive.
Most of the supermarkets still have the hour in place, however, you should ring your local branch and check before heading out.
We've created a list of when all the supermarkets start putting yellow stickers on their products and slashing their prices.
There's also a guide on our website of how to book a supermarket slot to get food delivered to your door.
And here are the quietest times to go food shopping.