Are petrol stations open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

Most Brits will likely be tucking into a breakfast of chocolate coins in their pyjamas this morning in preparation for their Christmas[1] lunch - but others will be getting ready to head out onto the roads. If you're off to visit family and friends or maybe heading off on holiday, you might be planning on hopping in the car. So while most businesses will be shutting up shop for the day, there will still be fuel stations, services and shops open to make sure you get to your destination safely.

In the UK, motorway service stations are required to be open 365 days a year for 24 hours a day, to ensure people don't get stranded on the motorways. So if you're heading off on a long journey, you'll likely be able to top up your tank on the way. However, for motorists travelling on the main roads, there is no law that requires petrol stations to be open every day.

The UK has hundreds of petrol stations that are open 24 hours a day and these will usually remain open over the Christmas period. Most petrol stations that are located on main roads will remain open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, however some sites may choose to close so it is important to check there will be an open fuel station before you head off on your journey. Some supermarkets will be closing their filling stations on Christmas Day.

However, many will still offer the pay at pump fuel options, while stores are closed.

Esso, Shell and BP

Esso The vast majority of Esso petrol stations in the UK operate 24 hours a day and will remain open over the Christmas period. You can check the hours of individual filling stations here.[2]

Shell Most Shell petrol stations will remain open over the Christmas period, but some may close. You can find the opening hours of all of Shell's service stations here.[3]

BP Many BP service stations are open 24 hours a day and will remain open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Opening times for individual stations can be found here.[4]

Welcome Break

Welcome Break, which runs dozens of services stations on the UK motorways has confirmed that all of its locations will be open during the Christmas period.

The operator said: "All of our locations are open and ready to serve you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This includes our fuel stations, washrooms, retail outlets, and many of our food and drink brands." Welcome Break has published a list of its opening times over Christmas which you can find in full here.[5]

Burtonwood services - M62 The petrol forecourt will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Christmas period, as will WH Smith. KFC will be closed on Christmas Day, and Starbucks will only be open from 8am until 3pm.

On Boxing Day, Starbucks will open from 7am and KFC will open from 11am. Hartshead Moor services - M62 The petrol forecourt will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Christmas period, as will WH Smith.

Subway, KFC, The Good Breakfast, Chopstix, Burger King and the Starbucks drive through will all be closed on Christmas Day but will be open on Boxing Day.

Charnock Richard services - M6 The petrol forecourt will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Christmas period, as will WH Smith. Subway, Burger King, KFC, The Good Breakfast and Waitrose will all be closed on Christmas Day, but will open again on Boxing Day.

Keele - M6 The petrol forecourt will be open 24 hours a day throughout the Christmas period, as will WH Smith. Starbucks and Waitrose will be open on Christmas Day.

Subway, KFC, The Good Breakfast, Burger King and the Starbucks drive through will all be closed on Christmas Day but will be open on Boxing Day.

Moto

Moto service stations on UK motorways will also remain open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Fuel forecourts will be open 24 hours a day but some retailers may close on Christmas Day or operate with reduced hours. You can look up opening hours for individual sites here.[6]

Supermarkets

Sainsburys

All of Sainsbury's petrol stations will close on Christmas Day, but will be back open on Boxing Day for reduced hours. You can check opening hours for individual stores here.[7] Morrisons

Most Morrisons petrol stations will close on Christmas Day, but some will remain open. You can check the opening hours of individual Morrisons sites here.[8]

Tesco All of Tesco's petrol stations will close on Christmas Day, but will be back open on Boxing Day for reduced hours.

You can check opening hours on the website here.[9] Asda Asda[10] petrol stations will close on Christmas Day.

However, most of the supermarket's petrol stations have the option to fill up and pay at the pump, which means fuel is available 24 hours a day.

Petrol stations will be back open on Boxing Day but there may be reduced holiday hours.

You can check opening hours of your local Asda filling station here.[11]

References

1. ^ Christmas (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ here. (www.esso.co.uk)
3. ^ here. (www.shell.co.uk)
4. ^ here. (www.bp.com)
5. ^ here. (welcomebreak.co.uk)
6. ^ here. (moto-way.com)
7. ^ here. (stores.sainsburys.co.uk)
8. ^ here. (my.morrisons.com)
9. ^ here. (www.tesco.com)
10. ^ Asda (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
11. ^ here. (storelocator.asda.com)