Bank Holidays, Sundays and Opening Hours in London

Published 18 September 2026 · By the Guide to London editorial team · Editor: Terje Moy

In London, large shops may open for only six hours on a Sunday, must close on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, and most public transport stops on Christmas Day. On other bank holidays, most attractions stay open but get busier, and transport runs at off-peak fares all day.

A bank holiday is a public holiday in the UK. The name comes from the days when banks closed, and banks and many offices still do. For a visitor, though, the effect is usually smaller than you might expect: museums, shops, restaurants and the Tube mostly carry on, and many Londoners use the day to go out. The big exceptions are Christmas Day and Easter Sunday.

Sundays have their own rules too. A law from 1994 limits the hours of large shops, which is why a department store that opens at 10:00 on a Saturday may not open until later on a Sunday. This guide explains the rules, lists the bank holiday dates, and shows how to plan museum visits, shopping and travel around them.

Bank holiday dates in England for 2026 and 2027

England and Wales have eight bank holidays a year. Scotland and Northern Ireland have slightly different lists, but London follows the England and Wales dates below, taken from GOV.UK. When Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend, a "substitute day" is given on the next weekday.

Most bank holidays fall on a Monday, creating a long weekend. These weekends are popular for short breaks, so expect busier attractions, parks and trains, particularly around Easter and in May. The summer bank holiday weekend in late August is also Notting Hill Carnival weekend, one of the busiest weekends of the year in west London. Our guide to choosing the best time to visit shows how these dates fit into the wider calendar.

Sunday shopping: why big stores keep shorter hours

Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, a "large shop" in England and Wales, meaning one with a sales area of more than 280 square metres, may open on a Sunday for one continuous period of six hours, between 10:00 and 18:00. Each shop chooses its own six hours, so Sunday opening times vary from store to store.

The rule affects department stores, big supermarkets and flagship shops on streets such as Oxford Street and Regent Street. Smaller shops are not covered by the six-hour rule, so convenience stores, many independent shops and small supermarket branches can open longer on Sundays. The law also exempts certain types of shop, so do not assume that every large shop follows the same pattern. If you plan a Sunday shopping trip, check the store's own website. For the busiest shopping street, see our Oxford Street guide.

Easter Sunday and Christmas Day: the two closed days for big shops

Two days are different. On Easter Sunday, large shops may not open at all; the six-hour Sunday allowance does not apply. In 2027, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March.

On Christmas Day, the Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004 says a large shop must not be open to retail customers. This covers every large shop, whatever day of the week Christmas falls on. Small shops may open, and some convenience stores do, but many businesses close anyway.

Pubs, restaurants and hotels are not covered by these shop rules and set their own hours. Opening on Christmas Day varies widely, and places that do open are often fully booked well ahead. If you will be in London over Christmas, book any meals in advance. Our guide to spending Christmas in London has more practical advice.

Transport on Christmas Day and other holidays

Christmas Day is the one day when London's public transport largely stops. TfL's own wording is that there is no service on the majority of public transport on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day parts of the network also do not run, including the Elizabeth line in 2025, and on Christmas Eve services finish early. TfL publishes the exact plan each December, so check it before you travel.

Without Tube and buses, getting around on 25 December means walking, cycling, a taxi or a car. Black cabs can charge an extra £4 at set times over Christmas and New Year. If you arrive by air on Christmas Day, plan your airport transfer in advance, as most of the usual rail links may not be running.

On other bank holidays, services run much as they do at weekends. Peak fares do not apply on public holidays, so Tube and rail journeys are charged at the off-peak rate all day, and Off-Peak Day Travelcards are valid all day. Engineering works are sometimes scheduled on long weekends, so check TfL's service status before a long journey. Our guide to contactless and Oyster fares explains peak and off-peak times in more detail.

Drivers should know that the Congestion Charge runs from 12:00 to 18:00 on bank holidays, as at weekends, and is not charged at all from Christmas Day to the New Year's Day bank holiday. The ULEZ charge, by contrast, runs every day of the year except Christmas Day. Details are in our guide to the Congestion Charge and ULEZ.

Museums and attractions over Christmas and New Year

Most major museums and attractions open on normal bank holidays, including Easter Monday and the May and August Mondays. The main closures come at Christmas. Here are the published closures for some of the best-known places:

That means 24 to 26 December is the hardest time of year for sightseeing indoors. Plan walks, parks, church services or a hotel meal for those days, and save the big museums for the days between Christmas and New Year, when they reopen and are often busy. New Year's Eve itself centres on the ticketed fireworks by the Thames; see our New Year's Eve guide for how tickets work.

Weekly closing days that catch visitors out

Bank holidays are not the only thing to plan around. Some attractions are closed on certain days every week, and some open only in certain seasons:

• Buckingham Palace State Rooms open only in summer (9 July to 27 September in 2026), and in September 2026 they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• Windsor Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except for two Tuesdays in late December.
• St Paul's Cathedral is open for sightseeing Monday to Saturday only; Sundays are for services. See our guide to visiting St Paul's.
• Sir John Soane's Museum opens Wednesday to Sunday, but also opens on bank holidays.
• The Museum of the Home in Hoxton opens Tuesday to Sunday, plus bank holiday Mondays.

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace also follows a calendar rather than a daily pattern. In September 2026 it takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:00, with some exceptions. Check our guide to the ceremony and the official schedule before you go.

Late openings and bank holiday hours

Several major galleries stay open into the evening once a week, which is a good way to avoid daytime crowds:

• The V&A South Kensington is open until 22:00 on Fridays, although some galleries close at 17:45.
• The National Gallery is open until 21:00 on Fridays.
• Tate Modern is open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• V&A East Museum and V&A East Storehouse are open until 22:00 on Thursdays and Saturdays.

Our guide to museum late openings lists more, including special evening events. Some places switch to weekend hours on bank holidays. Sky Garden, for example, uses its weekend hours (11:00 to 21:00) on bank holidays, and it does not release new free tickets on bank holiday Mondays. See our Sky Garden booking guide for how the release works.

The IFS Cloud Cable Car (London Cable Car) also runs its Sunday timetable, 09:00 to 21:00, on bank holidays. Outdoor attractions and gardens change hours with the seasons rather than with holidays: Kew Gardens, for example, closes at 15:15 from mid-November to early January.

Planning a trip around bank holidays

A bank holiday does not need to spoil a trip, but it helps to plan for it. These are the points we would keep in mind:

1. Book popular attractions ahead. Long weekends bring more visitors to the Tower, the London Eye and the big museums.
2. Enjoy the cheaper fares. Off-peak fares all day make a bank holiday a good day for longer trips across the city.
3. Check engineering works. Tube lines and rail routes sometimes close for repairs over long weekends.
4. Plan Christmas carefully. From 24 to 26 December, check every opening time and book meals and transfers in advance.
5. Remember Sunday rules on Easter weekend. Large shops are closed on Easter Sunday, but open on Good Friday and Easter Monday.

If you are still deciding how long to stay, our guide to how many days to spend in London helps you build in some flexibility. A Sunday can also be a good day for a traditional Sunday roast in a pub, which many Londoners book ahead.

Frequently asked questions

Are shops open on Sundays in London?

Yes. Small shops are not limited by the six-hour rule, and large shops (over 280 square metres) can open for six continuous hours between 10:00 and 18:00. Each store chooses its own hours, so check before you go. The exception is Easter Sunday, when large shops must stay closed.

Is the Tube running on bank holidays?

Yes, on all bank holidays except Christmas Day, when there is no service on the majority of London's public transport. Services on Boxing Day are also reduced. On other bank holidays the Tube runs normally, with off-peak fares all day, although engineering works sometimes close lines.

Are London museums open on bank holidays?

Most are, including on Easter Monday and the May and August bank holidays. The main closures are from 24 to 26 December at museums such as the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the V&A and the National Gallery. Always check the museum's website for the exact day.

What is open in London on Christmas Day?

Very little. Large shops are closed by law, most public transport does not run, and most museums close. Some hotels, pubs and restaurants open, often only for guests who have booked, and parks are free to walk in. Plan the day in advance and book meals early.

Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in London?

Yes. Boxing Day, 26 December, is a bank holiday in England. When it falls on a weekend, the holiday moves to the next weekday: in 2026 the substitute day is Monday 28 December. Parts of the transport network do not run on Boxing Day, so check TfL's plan.

Sources

• GOV.UK - UK bank holidays (checked September 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk - Sunday Trading Act 1994, Schedule 1 (checked September 2026)
• legislation.gov.uk - Christmas Day (Trading) Act 2004, section 1 (checked September 2026)
• Transport for London - Services over Christmas and New Year (checked September 2026)
• Transport for London - Tube and rail fares (checked September 2026)
• Transport for London - Congestion Charge (checked September 2026)
• The National Gallery - Plan your visit (checked September 2026)