Yes, most shops are expected to be open on Good Friday 2027 in the UK. Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March 2027, and although it is a bank holiday across the UK, shops are not generally required by law to close.
Supermarkets, convenience stores, high street retailers, pharmacies and DIY stores can therefore open. However, individual businesses may introduce shorter bank holiday hours.
Exact Good Friday 2027 opening times have not yet been announced by most major retailers, so shoppers should check individual store locators closer to the Easter weekend.
| Easter 2027 Date | Expected Retail Position |
|---|---|
| Good Friday, 26 March | Most shops expected to open |
| Easter Saturday, 27 March | Mostly normal Saturday trading |
| Easter Sunday, 28 March | Large shops closed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Easter Monday, 29 March | Many shops expected to open with adjusted hours |
Good Friday on 26 March is an official bank holiday in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Easter Monday on 29 March is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but it is not listed as a nationwide Scottish bank holiday for 2027.
Are Shops Open On Good Friday 2027?
For most shoppers, the simple answer is yes.
Good Friday is a bank holiday, but there is no general law requiring UK supermarkets or high street retailers to close.
Retailers can therefore choose their own Good Friday trading hours, subject to any other licensing or local restrictions applying to their business.
You can expect many of the following to trade:
- Major Supermarkets
- Convenience Stores
- High Street Retailers
- Shopping Centres
- DIY And Home Improvement Stores
- Garden Centres
- Pharmacies
- Petrol Station Shops
Some independent shops and smaller businesses may decide to close or operate reduced hours.
The important distinction is between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is subject to specific large-shop restrictions in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
What Does The Law Say About Easter Shop Opening Hours?
Under the current trading rules in England and Wales, a small shop is one with a retail area of up to and including 280 square metres.
Small shops are free to open at any time.
Large shops measuring more than 280 square metres can normally open on Sundays for only six consecutive hours between 10am and 6pm. They must completely close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day.
The official GOV.UK retail trading rules also state that large shops opening when they are legally required to close can be fined.
Importantly, these restrictions do not make Good Friday a mandatory retail closure day.
Which Shops Are Exempt From Sunday Trading Restrictions?
Several types of premises are exempt from the normal large-shop Sunday restrictions in England and Wales.
These include:
- Airport And Railway Station Outlets
- Service Station Outlets
- Registered Pharmacies Selling Medicinal Products And Medical Appliances
- Farm Shops Mainly Selling Their Own Produce
- Motor And Bicycle Accessory Shops
- Businesses Supplying Ships Or Aircraft
- Exhibition Stands Selling Goods
This is why some shops can continue operating even when ordinary large retailers face Sunday restrictions.
Are Shops Open In Scotland On Good Friday 2027?
Most shops in Scotland are also expected to open on Good Friday 2027.
Scotland does not have the same statutory Sunday trading-hour restrictions that apply to large shops in England and Wales.
Retailers can therefore determine their own Sunday and Easter opening arrangements.
That does not mean every Scottish shop will remain open. Individual retailers can still close or introduce shorter Easter hours for staffing or operational reasons.
What Are The Shop Opening Rules In Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has separate retail trading legislation.
Small shops with a floor area of up to 280 square metres can choose their Sunday opening hours.
Large shops exceeding 280 square metres can normally open between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays.
However, large shops must close on:
- Easter Sunday
- Christmas Day
Official Northern Ireland business guidance states that significant fines may apply where businesses fail to follow these rules.
Good Friday itself is not covered by the Easter Sunday large-store closure requirement, meaning retailers can open on Friday, 26 March 2027.
Which Supermarkets Will Be Open On Good Friday 2027?
Most major UK supermarkets are expected to open on Good Friday 2027.
However, exact nationwide schedules are generally announced much closer to Easter. Store opening times can also differ according to location and format.
| Supermarket | Expected Good Friday 2027 Position |
|---|---|
| Tesco | Most stores expected to open |
| Aldi | Expected to open with possible adjusted hours |
| Asda | Most supermarkets expected to open |
| Sainsbury's | Most stores expected to open |
| Morrisons | Expected to open |
| Lidl | Expected to open, hours likely to vary |
| Co-op | Most convenience stores expected to open |
| M&S | Most stores and Foodhalls expected to open |
| Waitrose | Most supermarkets expected to open |
| Iceland | Most branches expected to open |
These are expected trading patterns rather than confirmed 2027 hours.
Shoppers should check the retailer’s official store finder before travelling because two branches belonging to the same supermarket can have different bank holiday opening times.
The pattern for other public holidays can also be seen in the UK bank holiday supermarket opening times, where large supermarkets commonly adjust trading hours while convenience stores are more likely to maintain longer schedules.
Will Tesco Be Open On Good Friday 2027?
Most Tesco stores are expected to open on Friday, 26 March 2027.
Tesco Extra and Superstore branches may operate adjusted bank holiday hours, while Tesco Express outlets can have longer opening periods.
Exact 2027 Easter hours should be confirmed through Tesco’s store locator nearer the date rather than assuming that a previous year’s schedule will apply.
Will Aldi And Lidl Be Open?
Aldi and Lidl are also expected to open most branches on Good Friday.
Both retailers have historically modified opening and closing times around Easter, which means normal Friday hours should not automatically be assumed.
Easter Sunday is different, particularly for larger stores in England and Wales where statutory closure rules apply.
Will Sainsbury’s, Asda And Morrisons Be Open?
Most Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons supermarkets are expected to trade on Good Friday 2027.
Larger supermarkets may adopt special bank holiday schedules, while convenience formats such as Sainsbury’s Local can have different opening hours.
Checking the exact branch remains important because opening times are decided at retailer and store level rather than through one universal Good Friday timetable.
Are Home Bargains, B&M And Poundland Open On Good Friday?
Home Bargains, B&M and Poundland are also likely to operate on Good Friday 2027.
Good Friday does not legally require these retailers to close.
However, Easter policies can vary considerably between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
For example, Home Bargains attracted attention during Easter 2026 when reports indicated that 560 of its 630 branches would close on Easter Sunday, while its Scottish stores remained open.
That previous arrangement should not be treated as confirmation of its 2027 schedule, but it demonstrates why customers should distinguish between Good Friday opening and Easter Sunday closures.
B&M and Poundland branches are likewise expected to open on Good Friday, although stores inside shopping centres may have to follow the centre’s own bank holiday trading hours.
Is Primark Open On Good Friday 2027?
Primark stores are expected to open on Good Friday 2027, although individual opening times have not yet been confirmed.
Shopping-centre locations can have different schedules from standalone stores.
Primark has also previously closed stores across much of the UK on Easter Sunday, giving staff time away from work. The legal situation differs in Scotland, where the same statutory Sunday trading restrictions do not apply.
Customers planning a Good Friday shopping trip should therefore check their local Primark shortly before travelling.
Are Boots And Superdrug Open On Good Friday?
Many Boots and Superdrug stores are expected to open on Good Friday, but pharmacy opening times require extra attention.
A retail shop may be open while its pharmacy counter has shorter operating hours.
Bank holiday pharmacy arrangements can also be organised through local NHS services, meaning one nearby pharmacy may open while another closes.
If you need prescription medicine over Easter, check the local NHS pharmacy service rather than relying only on the retailer’s usual shop hours.
Are B&Q, Wickes And Screwfix Open On Good Friday?
DIY chains such as B&Q, Wickes and Screwfix are generally expected to trade on Good Friday 2027.
Easter is traditionally an important period for DIY, decorating and gardening purchases, so retailers have a commercial reason to remain open.
However, they may operate bank holiday hours rather than their standard Friday timetable.
Garden centres and independent hardware businesses can set their own schedules, so local opening times should still be checked.
Are Banks Open On Good Friday 2027?
Most physical bank branches will be closed on Good Friday, 26 March 2027 because it is an official bank holiday.
Customers should generally still be able to use:
- Mobile Banking
- Online Banking
- Cash Machines
- Debit And Credit Cards
- Faster Payments Subject To Normal Banking Arrangements
Some payments and transactions that rely on banking working days may not be processed until the next appropriate working day.
This is an important difference between banks and retailers. A supermarket can remain open on Good Friday even though most bank branches are closed.
Are Post Offices Open On Good Friday 2027?
Post Office arrangements are less straightforward because branches operate through several different formats.
Some are located inside:
- Convenience Stores
- Supermarkets
- Independent Retailers
- Dedicated Post Office Branches
A host shop being open does not necessarily mean its Post Office counter will operate normal hours.
Royal Mail collections and deliveries can also follow a separate bank holiday timetable.
Customers sending important documents or business parcels should check the official Easter 2027 service schedule once it is published.
Can You Get Grocery Deliveries On Good Friday 2027?
Supermarket home deliveries and Click and Collect services are expected to operate around Good Friday 2027, although capacity will depend on the retailer and postcode.
Easter slots can become popular because shopping demand becomes concentrated before Easter Sunday closures.
Major services likely to offer Easter booking options include:
- Tesco
- Sainsbury’s
- Asda
- Morrisons
- Ocado
- Amazon Fresh In Supported Areas
Do not rely on 2026 booking dates for 2027.
For example, Tesco Easter delivery slots were released in stages in 2026, including priority access for some Delivery Saver customers. Tesco’s 2027 release dates will need to be confirmed separately when the retailer announces them.
For businesses ordering groceries, catering supplies or office essentials, booking earlier than usual can reduce the risk of limited delivery availability.
What Is The Best Time To Shop On Good Friday?
If retailers follow their usual Easter pattern, early morning is likely to be the easiest time to shop on Good Friday 2027.
A practical approach is to visit between opening time and around 10am or 11am.
Late morning and afternoon can become busier as households prepare for Easter weekend meals and gatherings.
Shopping early can provide:
- Better Fresh Food Availability
- Shorter Checkout Queues
- More Parking Availability
- Better Choice Of Seasonal Products
- More Time To Use Another Store If Something Is Out Of Stock
Businesses buying last-minute stock should also avoid leaving purchases until late Friday because some branches may close earlier than they would on a normal weekday.
Do Shop Workers Automatically Get Good Friday Off?
No. Employees do not automatically have a legal right to take Good Friday off simply because it is a bank holiday.
The official UK bank holiday guidance states that employers do not have to provide paid leave on bank or public holidays.
Whether a worker gets the day off normally depends on:
- Their Employment Contract
- Holiday Entitlement
- Employer Policy
- Shift Arrangements
- Workplace Agreements
Employees also have no automatic statutory right to receive double pay or another enhanced rate simply because they work on a bank holiday. Additional pay applies where the employment contract or another applicable agreement provides for it.
For retailers, this means Good Friday opening decisions often involve staffing arrangements as well as customer demand.
How Will Shop Opening Hours Change Across Easter 2027?
The most important date for retail closures is Easter Sunday rather than Good Friday.
| Day | Date | Likely Retail Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | 26 March 2027 | Most shops open, some reduced hours |
| Easter Saturday | 27 March 2027 | Mostly normal Saturday opening |
| Easter Sunday | 28 March 2027 | Large shops closed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland |
| Easter Monday | 29 March 2027 | Many stores open with bank holiday hours |
Large shops over 280 square metres in England and Wales must close on Easter Sunday under the current rules.
Northern Ireland applies a similar Easter Sunday closure to large shops over 280 square metres, although its wider Sunday trading rules are different.
Scotland does not impose equivalent statutory Sunday trading-hour restrictions.
Conclusion
So, are shops open on Good Friday 2027? For the majority of UK retailers, the answer is expected to be yes.
Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March 2027, and is an official bank holiday throughout the UK. However, it is not a general mandatory shop closure day.
Most supermarkets, high street retailers, convenience stores, DIY chains and shopping centres are therefore expected to open, although bank holiday trading hours may be shorter.
The major statutory restrictions arrive on Easter Sunday, 28 March, when large shops must close in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland has no equivalent Sunday trading-hour restrictions.
Because individual retailers have not yet published most of their Easter 2027 schedules, customers should check official store locators closer to 26 March rather than relying on previous years’ opening times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Shops Open On Good Friday 2027 In The UK?
Yes. Most shops are expected to open on Good Friday, 26 March 2027. Individual retailers may use shorter bank holiday opening hours.
Is Tesco Open On Good Friday 2027?
Most Tesco stores are expected to open, but exact Good Friday 2027 times have not yet been confirmed and will vary by branch.
Are Supermarkets Closed On Good Friday?
No. Good Friday does not generally require supermarkets to close. Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s are all expected to operate most branches.
Are Shops Closed On Easter Sunday 2027?
Large shops over 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday in England and Wales. Large shops are also required to close in Northern Ireland. Scotland has no equivalent statutory Sunday trading-hour restriction.
Are Banks Open On Good Friday 2027?
Most physical bank branches will be closed because Good Friday is an official bank holiday, although online and mobile banking services should remain available.
Are Pharmacies Open On Good Friday 2027?
Some pharmacies will open with special bank holiday hours while others may close. Check your local NHS pharmacy information closer to Easter.
Do Retail Workers Get Good Friday Off?
Not automatically. Whether an employee receives Good Friday off or additional bank holiday pay depends primarily on their employment contract and workplace arrangements.
