Are shops open on coronation day? Supermarket opening hours for King Charles' coronation

The coronation takes place on Saturday 6 May

A collage of King Charles and a man holding a basket of shopping in a supermarket
(Image credit: Future / Getty)

Save yourself a wasted trip to the supermarket by checking which shops are open on coronation day and the following bank holiday.

Plans are now firmly in place for King Charles III's coronation, with the time of the coronation now revealed, along with other events across the weekend announced. As the big day falls on a Saturday, the UK Government has arranged for a bank holiday to follow the event on Monday 8 May. And while this allows Brits to make the most of the celebratory weekend, the plans have left some confused as to what will and won't be open as normal.

Alongside wondering if trains will be running on coronation day and whether schools will be closed, many want to know if shops will be open. Most shops and supermarkets shut their doors back in September for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, so it's no surprise that the public want to know the plans for the upcoming coronation too. Here's what we know about whether shops will be open on coronation day.

Are shops open on coronation day?

No major shops or businesses have announced they will be closed on coronation day. Therefore, shops which are usually open on Saturdays will remain open, because - unlike on the day of the late Queen's funeral - shops are not obligated to close on the day of the ceremony.

However, it's possible that some companies may choose to shut or have reduced hours in order to allow staff to celebrate the coronation. Meanwhile, Asda is offering its staff a paid day off on the bank holiday Monday, so that they can participate in the Big Help Out, which is a national day of volunteering to mark the coronation.

A trolley full of food in a supermarket aisle

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Supermarket opening hours on coronation day

Is Tesco open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 8am-6pm

Check your local Tesco store's opening times here.

Is Aldi open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 8am-8pm (10pm in Scotland)

Check your local Aldi store's opening times here.

Is ASDA open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 7am-8pm

Check your local ASDA store's opening times here.

Is Sainsbury's open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 8am - 8pm (10pm in Scotland, and 7am-11pm for Sainsbury's local)

Check your local Sainsbury's store's opening times here.

Is Lidl open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: Normal hours

Check your local Lidl store's opening times here.

Is Morrisons open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 7am-8pm

Check your local Morrisons store's opening times here.

Is Waitrose open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 8am-6pm (7am to 10pm for Little Waitrose)

Check your local Waitrose store's opening times here.

Is Co-op open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: Check local store

Check your local Co-op store's opening times here.

Is Iceland open on coronation day?

  • Coronation day: Normal hours
  • Sunday 7 May: Normal Sunday hours
  • Monday 8 May: 8am-7pm

Check your local Iceland store's opening times here.

Are any shops closed on coronation day?

Most supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies will be open on the coronation day. Any shops that will be closed for the coronation are more likely to be local or independent stores, so you'll need to check ahead to find out if they're open.

As well as the smaller versions of superstores - such as Tesco Express or Sainsbury's Local - other supermarket shops that will likely be open include:

  • Budgens
  • The Co-op
  • M&S Simply Food
  • Service station supermarkets

Farm shops are also likely to be open to sell their produce, but it's always best to check ahead.

Will pubs and restaurants be open on coronation day?

Pubs, bars and restaurants will be open as normal on coronation day, and some may even be open with extended hours, because venues will be able to continue serving customers for an extra two hours between Friday 5 May and Sunday 7 May. 

This comes after Parliament passed an order extending licensing hours for pubs, clubs and bars in England and Wales from 11pm until 1am on Friday 5 May, Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May 2023

Did shops close for the Queens funeral?

Yes, many  shops and businesses across the UK shut their doors as a mark of respect for Queen Elizabeth II on the day of her funeral. The exception was in London, where many supermarkets and convenience stores remained open to accommodate the thousands of people who had travelled to the capital for the occasion.

Aldi, Lidl, Morrisons and Waitrose closed all of their stores, Asda stores, Sainbury's Locals and Tesco Express' were closed until 5pm, while larger Sainsbury's and Tescos were shut all day. 

In addition, food and drink chains such as Wetherspoons, McDonalds and Greggs also closed their doors.

Related features:

Video of the Week

Ellie Hutchings
Family News Editor

Ellie is GoodtoKnow’s Family News Editor and covers all the latest trends in the parenting world - from relationship advice and baby names to wellbeing and self-care ideas for busy mums. Ellie is also an NCTJ-qualified journalist and has a distinction in MA Magazine Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and a first-class degree in Journalism from Cardiff University. Previously, Ellie has worked with BBC Good Food, The Big Issue, and the Nottingham Post, as well as freelancing as an arts and entertainment writer alongside her studies. When she’s not got her nose in a book, you’ll probably find Ellie jogging around her local park, indulging in an insta-worthy restaurant, or watching Netflix’s newest true crime documentary.