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Royal Mail plays a crucial role in keeping people and businesses connected across the UK, especially during busy holiday periods.
As Easter approaches, questions often arise about how public holidays impact postal services. With many relying on timely deliveries for personal or commercial reasons, understanding the operational schedule becomes essential.
One of the most common queries involves Easter Monday — a national bank holiday. So, what happens to mail and parcel deliveries during this extended weekend?
What Are the Royal Mail’s Easter Bank Holiday Delivery Schedule?
The Easter Bank Holiday weekend in the UK is traditionally a period of reduced operations across many services, including postal and courier networks.
Royal Mail, being the national postal service, follows a specific delivery schedule which is aligned with national holidays.
Knowing how Royal Mail modifies its services during this time is important for individuals, small businesses, and eCommerce retailers who rely on timely deliveries.
The schedule typically spans from Good Friday through to Easter Monday, and involves a combination of complete pauses and limited service, depending on the day and location.
Royal Mail Delivery Services from Good Friday to Easter Monday
Royal Mail adopts a staggered approach to deliveries across the Easter weekend. Each day is treated differently based on national regulations and operational logistics.
Good Friday – 18 April 2025
On Good Friday, Royal Mail suspends all delivery and collection services in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
However, services operate as normal in Scotland, where Good Friday is not recognised as a public holiday.
This exception is important for Scottish customers and businesses, who can expect regular deliveries and collections on this day, unlike the rest of the UK.
Saturday Services – 19 April 2025
Saturday remains a functional day for Royal Mail. Standard weekend services are maintained, which include:
- Normal letter and parcel deliveries
- Collection of mail from post boxes and businesses
- Limited Customer Service Point operations for urgent pick-ups
It’s recommended that customers check local collection points via Royal Mail’s service locator for specific opening hours.
Easter Sunday – 20 April 2025
Easter Sunday sees a reduction in operations, with no standard mail delivery across the UK. However, Royal Mail continues to deliver parcels in selected areas. This is typically limited to:
- Tracked parcels scheduled for Sunday delivery
- Deliveries from major retailers offering weekend service options
There is no letter or non-tracked parcel delivery on Easter Sunday.
Easter Monday – 21 April 2025
Royal Mail does not deliver or collect mail on Easter Monday in any part of the UK. This includes:
- All first class and second class letters
- Tracked parcels
- Special Delivery items
All services are paused, and customers should expect a resumption of regular services on Tuesday, 22 April.
Summary of Royal Mail’s Easter Weekend Operations:
| Date | Delivery Service Status | Notes |
| Friday, 18 April (Good Friday) | No delivery or collection in most of UK | Services operate in Scotland |
| Saturday, 19 April | Regular weekend delivery and collections | Limited Customer Service Point access |
| Sunday, 20 April (Easter Sunday) | Parcel deliveries only in selected locations | No letter delivery |
| Monday, 21 April (Easter Monday) | No deliveries or collections across the UK | Full pause in operations |
Why Royal Mail Doesn’t Deliver on Easter Monday?
Royal Mail observes Easter Monday as a statutory bank holiday, which means it is officially recognised across the UK. As such, employees are granted time off, and operational logistics are suspended.
This practice aligns with many other postal services and government offices across the country.
The break helps manage staffing, ensures compliance with employment standards, and allows for system resets, especially after busy trading periods such as spring sales or pre-Easter retail campaigns.
Postal delivery during public holidays also poses logistical and efficiency challenges. Limited staffing, closed businesses, and inaccessible customer locations contribute to the rationale behind suspending operations on such days.
What Can You Do If You’re Expecting a Parcel?
If you’re anticipating an important delivery that may coincide with Easter Monday, there are several steps you can take to reduce disruption:
- Track your parcel in advance to anticipate possible delays.
- Visit your local Royal Mail Customer Service Point on Saturday if you’ve received a delivery notice.
- Use alternative delivery services or click-and-collect options where available for time-sensitive items.
In cases where Royal Mail delivery is not an option, some private couriers may still offer limited services through partnerships or special contracts, but these typically come at a higher cost and are not widely available during public holidays.
Exceptions to the Rule – Are There Any Deliveries on Easter Monday?
Unlike Good Friday, where Scotland maintains normal postal services, there are no regional exceptions for Easter Monday.
This holiday is observed uniformly across all UK regions, and Royal Mail operations are halted for the entire country.
While Royal Mail offers premium services such as Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®, even these services are affected. Items scheduled for Easter Monday delivery will instead arrive the next working day.
No alternative options are officially listed for Easter Monday delivery, reinforcing the need for pre-holiday planning.
Royal Mail Service Updates and Communication Channels
To stay updated on delivery schedules, Royal Mail offers several customer-facing resources. These are especially useful during periods of service disruption like the Easter Bank Holiday.
| Communication Method | Purpose | Access |
| Royal Mail Website | Service updates, local collection hours | www.royalmail.com |
| Service Near You Tool | Locate Customer Service Points and hours | www.royalmail.com/services-near-you |
| SMS & Email Notifications | Delivery updates for tracked parcels | Via account preferences |
| Social Media | Real-time alerts and announcements | Twitter, Facebook |
Using these tools, customers can manage expectations, avoid unnecessary trips, and arrange alternative collection or delivery options if needed.
What Is the Delivery Plan for the Easter Bank Holiday?
The Easter Bank Holiday is one of the busiest periods of the year for many businesses, especially in retail, logistics, and e-commerce.
To ensure smooth operations and manage customer expectations effectively, it is essential to implement a well-coordinated delivery plan tailored to the unique demands of the holiday period.
During the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which typically includes Good Friday and Easter Monday, many courier services operate on reduced schedules or suspend deliveries altogether.
This affects both domestic and international shipments, and failing to prepare for these service gaps can result in delays, missed deadlines, and dissatisfied customers.
Adjusted Courier Schedules
Most major delivery companies in the UK—including Royal Mail, DPD, Evri, and UPS—either suspend or significantly limit operations over the Easter weekend.
- Good Friday and Easter Monday are considered non-working days by most couriers, meaning no collections or deliveries will take place on these dates.
- Saturday service may still operate with restricted hours and limited service areas, depending on the courier.
- Normal service generally resumes on Tuesday following the Easter weekend.
It’s important for businesses to verify courier-specific schedules and communicate cut-off times clearly to their customers in advance.
Suggested Delivery Planning Timeline
To minimise disruption and maintain customer satisfaction, businesses should develop a delivery strategy that accounts for these non-operational days. A common approach includes:
- Order Cut-off Dates: Set final ordering dates for delivery before Easter (e.g., by the Wednesday before Good Friday).
- Customer Notifications: Clearly communicate any changes to delivery times or availability via email, website banners, or checkout messages.
- Inventory Preparation: Ensure sufficient stock and packaging supplies are in place well before the holiday rush begins.
Example: Easter 2025 Delivery Calendar
| Date | Courier Status | Action for Businesses |
| Wednesday, 16 April | Normal Service | Finalise pre-Easter orders and dispatch deadlines |
| Thursday, 17 April | Normal Service | Last full day for despatch before Easter break |
| Friday, 18 April (Good Friday) | No Service (Bank Holiday) | No collections or deliveries |
| Saturday, 19 April | Limited Service (if applicable) | Prepare for backlog; confirm courier availability |
| Sunday, 20 April (Easter Sunday) | No Service | None |
| Monday, 21 April (Easter Monday) | No Service (Bank Holiday) | None |
| Tuesday, 22 April | Services Resume | Resume fulfilment and customer service operations |
Managing Customer Expectations
Customer satisfaction over the Easter period hinges on transparent communication. It is recommended to:
- Display delivery notices on product pages and during checkout.
- Provide realistic estimated delivery windows.
- Offer click-and-collect or in-store pickup options, where possible, to mitigate delays.
Conclusion
For anyone relying on Royal Mail over the Easter weekend, understanding the adjusted delivery schedule is key.
With no deliveries or collections on both Good Friday (except Scotland) and Easter Monday, it’s important to plan accordingly, especially for time-sensitive communications or business needs.
By checking updates ahead of time and utilising tracking tools and local Customer Service Points, individuals and businesses can manage their postal needs more effectively and avoid unnecessary delays.
FAQs
Are post offices open on Easter Monday in the UK?
Most Post Office branches are closed on Easter Monday, although some may operate inside retail stores that remain open. It’s best to check with your local branch.
Can I pick up my parcel from a depot on Easter Monday?
Royal Mail’s Customer Service Points are typically closed on Easter Monday. Collection services resume when normal operations continue on Tuesday.
Does Royal Mail deliver first class letters on Easter Monday?
No. All Royal Mail deliveries, including first class letters, are suspended on Easter Monday.
What about special delivery items are they delayed too?
Yes, Special Delivery items are also affected. Items due on Easter Monday will be delivered the next working day, usually Tuesday.
Is there Sunday delivery from Royal Mail during Easter?
Yes, parcel deliveries are expected on Easter Sunday, but this is limited and dependent on location and service type.
Will Royal Mail resume normal service on Tuesday?
Yes, full delivery and collection services resume on Tuesday, 22 April 2025.
How do I contact Royal Mail during a bank holiday?
Customer service channels may be limited during bank holidays. For queries, the best method is via the Royal Mail website or using their online help and tracking tools.