Is there post today? How Royal Mail deliveries work around the UK on Good Friday and if Post Offices are open

Easter is eagerly awaited by Christians and non-Christians alike in the UK, with many people in the getting a long weekend with two national holidays.

The first of these falls on Good Friday on 7 April, which commemorates the biblical story of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary, and the second on Easter Monday.

Despite the welcome day off work, bank holidays do bring some disruption too, with shop opening times changing and restricted postal services.

Is there post in the UK today?

The Royal Mail says: “We deliver and collect your mail on most days of the year, including Saturdays. However, we don’t usually deliver or collect on bank and public holidays.”

However, whether you receive post on Good Friday depends on where you are in the UK.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there will be no Royal Mail collections or deliveries on Good Friday or Easter Monday. You can find out more here.

However, for those in Scotland there will be normal collections and deliveries today – although there are none on Easter Monday.

Most Post Offices will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday – to find the details of your local branch’s opening times over the bank holiday weekend, you can use the postcode checker here.

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People walk through cherry blossom trees in Battersea Park ahead of the Easter weekend (Photo: PA)

Do DPD, Evri and other firms deliver today?

The following courier firms will also not deliver parcels on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday:

• DPD
• Evri, formerly known as My Hermes
• DHL
• Parcelforce
• Yodel

When are shops open on Good Friday?

Most supermarkets are operating different opening hours today – here are the key details for the UK’s major stores:

• Tesco: Tesco stores will be open on Good Friday between 6am and 10pm.
• Morrisons: Stores will be open as usual on Good Friday (7am to 10pm).
• Asda: Asda advises that on Good Friday and Saturday, most stores will be open from 7am to 10pm
• Aldi: On Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Aldi stores will be open 8am to 10pm.
• Lidl: Lidl is understood to be open from 8am to 8pm on Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday. 
• Co-op: As a convenience retailer, Co-ops will open as usual over the Easter weekend, although large stores in England and Wales will close on Easter Sunday.
• Sainsbury’s: On Good Friday and Saturday, the “vast majority” of Sainsbury’s supermarkets will be open from 7am until 10pm.
• Waitrose & Partners: On Good Friday, most Waitroses will be open from 8am to 10pm, with some Little Waitrose shops opening from 7am to 10pm.

You can see full details of supermarket openings over the Easter holidays here.

When are the other UK bank holidays in 2023?

Bank holiday dates vary slightly across the UK: England and Wales always have the same bank holidays, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have some of their own dates.

For example, Scotland’s summer bank holiday falls at the start of August, rather than the end of the month.

England and Wales bank holidays 2023

• Friday 7 April – Good Friday
• Monday 10 April – Easter Monday
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

Scotland bank holidays 2023

•  Friday 7 April – Good Friday
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Monday 7 August – Summer bank holiday
• Thursday 30 November – St Andrew’s Day
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

Northern Ireland bank holidays 2023

• Friday 17 March – St Patrick’s Day
• Friday 7 April – Good Friday
• Monday 10 April – Easter Monday
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Wednesday 12 July – Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
• Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

For the first time since 2019, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be marked with bank holidays on the correct days, after falling on the weekend for three years in a row.