Boxing Day 2020: M&S, Aldi, John Lewis, Home Bargains, Lidl and other stores closed on December 26

It has been a very strenuous year for retail workers due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Consequently, several stores across London have pledged to keep their doors closed on Boxing Day – a day when retailers often launch their January sales.

Christmas Day is a time for receiving presents, not buying them, although that doesn’t stop some of us from sticking our unwanted gifts on eBay, hoping for a few extra quid to spend on the January sales.

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Therefore, to ensure you don’t make a wasted journey on Boxing Day, we’ve compiled a list of stores and other amenities that won’t be open in London Tier 4 on December 26.

Boxing Day is a bank holiday, therefore all banks will be closed, although you will be able to use ATMs to withdraw and deposit money.

Royal Mail won’t be delivering on Boxing Day so if that card or gift hasn’t arrived in the post by Christmas Eve, there’s no chance of it arriving the day after Christmas Day, unfortunately.

There will be no TfL services operating on Christmas Day, but some will start up again on Boxing Day.

It’s the same story for many of the national rail train operators from major London stations like Paddington, Euston, King’s Cross, London Bridge and Victoria. Check here for the timetables of individual train operators.

And not all the shops and supermarkets are open either. Some of them are closed with staff taking a well-earned rest so they can enjoy Christmas too after a frantic year.

1. Marks and Spencer

Marks & Spencer will close its stores on Boxing Day, including its Oxford Street and Westfield branches, having previously planned to open over 200 stores on the day.

M&S chief executive Steve Rowe said. “Throughout the pandemic, our colleagues have gone above and beyond to deliver for our customers and as we enter the busy festive season they are doubling down on their efforts once again to help our customers deliver the Christmas magic for their families and friends,”

He added, “2020 has been a uniquely challenging year for everyone and this Christmas, the celebrations we have, will be more precious than ever.”

2. Wickes

Wickes has also decided to close its doors on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day as a “sign of appreciation” to their colleagues after a strenuous year amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

It’s the first time the retailer has shut its doors on Christmas Eve in its 48 years of trading on the high street.

The retailer gave staff a day off on Boxing Day last year as well.

There are 230 Wickes stores in the UK. The London ones tend to not be located in the centre. Locations include Battersea, Tottenham, Catford, Cricklewood, Blackheath, Muswell Hill, Canning Town, Wimbledon, and others.

Find your nearest Wickes store here.

3. Pets At Home

Pets At Home have given staff the day off on Boxing Day to spend with their families (and pets, presumably) after working hard during the Covid-19 crisis.

Pets at Home boss Peter Pritchard said. “As a small but tangible sign of our appreciation, I have decided to close all of our stores on Boxing Day this year to give our colleagues much-needed time with their families and loved ones,”

4. The Entertainer

The beloved toy store announced it would be giving its staff three “free days” to celebrate the Christmas and Boxing Day long weekend with loved ones.

This means the toy retailer will close all 171 of its stores across the UK at the end of the day on Christmas Eve, which falls on a Thursday this year, and won’t re-open until Monday, December 28.

The Entertainer chief executive Gary Grant said. “Our stores will close on Christmas Eve and will reopen on again until Monday 28 December, giving our employees three of the five days of the eased restriction period to spend Christmas with the people they cherish.”

5. John Lewis

Department store chain John Lewis closes all its branches on Boxing Day every year and 2020 is no different.

That includes the huge John Lewis store on Oxford Street and the John Lewis stores in both the Westfield Shopping centres.

The retailer has long said this is to give their hard-working partners a rest over the festive holidays.

Last year, shoppers were able to take part in the store’s clearance sale online from Christmas Eve – so keep an eye on the website if you want to grab any bargains.

6. Homebase

Homebase has also joined the list of retailers set to remain closed on Boxing Day this year.

The DIY and gardening giant said it would put its staff first following their hard work amid the pandemic by giving them a two-day break.

7. Home Bargains

Home Bargains has confirmed it will remain closed on Boxing Day.

The retailer took to Instagram and Twitter to say: “To all our staff: Thank you for all your hard work once again this year.

“All our stores will be closed on Boxing Day to ensure you are able to spend time with your friends and family.”

8. Aldi

Last month Aldi confirmed all of its 830 stores across the UK would be closed this Boxing Day, as they were in 2019, to allow staff to spend time with their families.

It’s the only major supermarket that’s not opening at all on Boxing Day.

9. Lidl

London is very lucky when it comes to Lidl.

All the Lidls outside the M25 will be closed on Boxing Day but in London, they’re going to be open from 10am to 7pm, despite Tier 4 restrictions being place.

This could still vary from place to place, so do double check your individual Lidl store, but rest assured you’ll probably be able to go if you need to.

10. Waitrose

Waitrose stores will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, except for those in Welcome Break motorway service stations and Shell forecourts, some of which will continue to be open 24 hours.

Opening times vary from store to store and so Waitrose advises customers to check times using their branch finder tool.

The following retailers will be closed across the UK on December 26, regardless of what tier you’re in.

Waitrose (except service stations)

Asda

Lidl (except London)

Marks & Spencer

John Lewis

Aldi

Wickes

Home Bargains

Homebase

Pets at Home

Poundland

Specsavers

The Entertainer

Will you be shopping on Boxing Day? Let us know in the comment section below.