It’s that classic Christmas moment. You’ve got leftover turkey ready for sandwiches, the kettle’s boiling for yet another brew… and then you discover you’ve run out of milk. Or the gravy granules have mysteriously disappeared. Or suddenly everyone fancies trifle, but the cream has gone missing.

It’s at that point many people across Yorkshire, from Leeds to Harrogate, Barnsley to Bridlington, find themselves wondering: which supermarkets are actually open?

During the festive season, all the major chains operate reduced hours, with Christmas Day closures and shorter trading times around Boxing Day and New Year. Knowing these hours ahead of time makes the difference between a calm holiday and a frantic dash to a dark, locked supermarket door.

Why planning ahead is essential this Christmas

Nobody wants to pack the whole family into the car, drive through Boxing Day traffic, and then find the shop closed. Christmas is already a full-on time, the last thing you need is extra stress.

Most big supermarkets shut completely on Christmas Day, and several scale back their hours on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. Aldi and Lidl even close for two full days. The best plan? Check the timings now and avoid unwanted surprises later on.

A quick word about local variations

The hours below reflect nationally announced Christmas 2025 schedules, but individual stores in Yorkshire may differ slightly, especially:

• Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local, and Co-op convenience branches
• Small-town stores vs. large out-of-town superstores
• 24-hour supermarkets that temporarily reduce overnight trading

For absolute certainty, shoppers should check their local store pages on each supermarket's website before heading out.

Christmas 2025 Supermarket Opening Hours

(For Yorkshire shoppers, Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Morrisons and more)

ALDI & LIDL

Both chains shut for a full two days so staff can enjoy a proper Christmas break.

Aldi & Lidl Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve (24 Dec): 7am – 6pm
• Christmas Day (25 Dec): Closed
• Boxing Day (26 Dec): Closed
• New Year’s Eve (31 Dec): 8am – 6pm
• New Year’s Day (1 Jan): Closed

If these are your usual supermarkets, make sure you stock up early.

ASDA

Most Asda superstores open very early on Christmas Eve and operate shorter hours on Boxing Day.

Asda Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve: 5am – 7pm
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
• New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
• New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm

MORRISONS

Hours vary slightly by location, but the general pattern remains consistent.

Morrisons Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve: 6am – 6pm (some variation store to store)
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
• New Year’s Eve: 7am – 7pm
• New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm

SAINSBURY’S

Large supermarkets and the smaller Local stores operate different festive hours.

Sainsbury’s Supermarkets

• Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
• New Year’s Eve: 10am – 7pm
• New Year’s Day: 8am – 8pm

Sainsbury’s Local Convenience Stores

• Christmas Eve: 6am – 9pm
• Boxing Day: 9am – 9pm
• New Year’s Eve: 6am – 9pm
• New Year’s Day: 9am – 9pm

TESCO

Tesco Express shops are often a lifesaver over Christmas with extended hours.

Tesco Superstores & Extras

• Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: 9am – 6pm
• New Year’s Eve: 6am – 7pm
• New Year’s Day: 9am – 6pm

Tesco Express

• Christmas Eve: 7am – 10pm
• Boxing Day: 9am – 7pm
• New Year’s Eve: 7am – 10pm
• New Year’s Day: 8am – 10pm

CO-OP

The Co-op stays open longer than most convenience chains, though Christmas Day is still a shutdown.

Co-op Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve: Usual opening time – 7pm (some convenience stores until 8pm)
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: 10am – 7pm (convenience stores 9am – 7pm)
• New Year’s Eve: Usual time – 7pm (some stores until 8pm)
• New Year’s Day: 10am – 7pm (convenience stores 9am – 8pm)

M&S (Marks & Spencer)

M&S closes for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, so stock up earlier if it’s your go-to.

M&S Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve: 6am – 7pm
• Christmas Day: Closed
• Boxing Day: Closed
• New Year’s Eve: 8am – 7pm
• New Year’s Day: Closed

WAITROSE

Waitrose gives its staff extra time off, with several festive closures.

Waitrose Opening Hours

• Christmas Eve: Open (hours vary)
• Christmas Day: Closed (except a few service stations)
• Boxing Day: Closed
• New Year’s Eve: Open
• New Year’s Day: Closed

Final tip for Yorkshire shoppers

Whether you’re in Sheffield, York, Huddersfield, or Hull, the golden rule is simple:

Check your specific store online before travelling.

With a bit of planning, you can avoid last-minute panics, keep the celebrations flowing, and enjoy a stress-free Christmas, with fully stocked cupboards and no emergency dashes required.