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Are shops open on Sundays in the UK?

Yes, but large shops in England and Wales open for only 6 hours, between 10am and 6pm. Small shops can open any time, and Scotland has no trading-hours restrictions.

Fatti verificati l'ultima volta il 1 nov 2026. Britlens è indipendente: leggi la nostra politica editoriale.

Stalls and shops under the roof of the Covered Market in Oxford
Photo: Jorge Royan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Short answer: Yes, but large shops in England and Wales open for only 6 hours, between 10am and 6pm. Small shops can open any time, and Scotland has no trading-hours restrictions.

What are Sunday opening hours in England and Wales?

Shops over 280 square metres can open on Sundays for only 6 consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm, and must display their Sunday hours. Small shops, up to 280 square metres, can open any day or hour.[1]

Are shops open on Sunday in Scotland?

GOV.UK says there are no trading hours restrictions in Scotland.[1]

Covered lane of St Nicholas Market in Bristol with stalls and signs
Photo: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Which days must large shops close?

In England and Wales, large shops must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.[1]

Which shops are exempt from the Sunday rules?

Exemptions include shops at airports and railway stations, service station shops and registered pharmacies, among others.[1]

These are the legal limits; each shop sets its own hours within them, so check the shop. Northern Ireland is not covered by the GOV.UK page we read.

Fonti

Read on the dates shown. Rules, fees and services change: check the source before you rely on it. Pages marked “not read” refused automated access, so we state nothing from them.

  1. Trading hours for retailers: the law (opens in new tab), GOV.UK, read 1 November 2026