NEW YORK, December 31, 2025, 03:53 ET
Britain’s Aldi will close its UK stores on New Year’s Day, according to the discounter’s holiday opening hours.
The timing matters because Wednesday is New Year’s Eve, a peak day for last-minute grocery runs ahead of celebrations. New Year’s Day is a UK bank holiday, and shorter trading windows can leave fewer options for shoppers.
Retailers are publishing holiday schedules branch by branch, and hours can differ sharply between big supermarkets and smaller convenience formats. Most chains are directing customers to check store locators for specific sites before travelling.
In London, local guide Secret London said many major supermarkets would close earlier than usual on New Year’s Eve, with hours varying by chain and store type across the capital.
Tesco store listings show reduced hours across formats, though times vary by location. A Tesco Extra listing for Reading shows 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on New Year’s Day, while a Tesco Express in central London lists 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 1 (all times local).
Asda’s store locator also flags holiday trading changes. One superstore listing shows Dec. 31 hours of 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., followed by 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Jan. 1.
Morrisons’ store details similarly show shortened hours around the holiday. A west London listing puts New Year’s Eve at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and New Year’s Day at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with its in-store cafe closing earlier on both days.
Sainsbury’s listings show a comparable pattern at some branches. A store page for Washington lists 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Jan. 1.
Aldi’s London store listings show the chain closing earlier on New Year’s Eve and remaining shut on Thursday. One branch page lists 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, with Thursday marked as closed.
Lidl’s festive timetable shows patchwork trading on Jan. 1 across the UK. The retailer lists stores inside the M25 — the motorway ring road around London — opening 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while many other areas are marked closed.
Convenience chains are advertising holiday schedules too. A Co-op store listing shows trading from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on New Year’s Day.
Waitrose said most of its shops will be open on New Year’s Day, while warning that individual store hours may vary.
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