Guide
Are charity shops open on Sunday? UK opening hours guide
Are charity shops open on Sunday?
Many UK charity shops open on Sunday, typically 10am–4pm — larger stores most reliably. Weekday hours are usually 9am–5pm. Always check your branch first.
Sunday hours, by type of shop
| Type of shop | Open Sunday? | Typical hours |
|---|---|---|
| Retail-park & superstore formats (BHF furniture & electrical, Emmaus) | Usually | 10am–4pm |
| City-centre and busy high-street branches | Often | 10:30am–4:30pm |
| Small-town, volunteer-run branches | Often closed | — |
These are patterns, not promises: every chain sets hours branch by branch. The reliable route is the chain's store locator — the charity shop near me page links every major one, and the charity shops directory shows what each chain accepts once you're there.
Donating on a Sunday: go early
Sorting space fills fast on short trading days, so shops that accept Sunday donations tend to want them before mid-afternoon — and most stop taking bags an hour before closing every day. If you arrive to a closed door, don't leave donations outside: weather-damaged bags cost the charity disposal fees. Clothing banks, or a booked free furniture collection for larger items, work whatever the day.
The charity shop with no opening hours
This one is open now: an online charity shop for animal rescue where £10 feeds a rescue dog for a week and £25 sees a hedgehog through winter — certificate delivered instantly, Sundays included.
Common questions
What time do charity shops open on a Sunday?
Branches that open on Sunday usually trade in the afternoon window — around 10am–4pm or 10:30am–4:30pm — mirroring England and Wales Sunday-trading patterns. In Scotland, where trading isn’t restricted, some stores keep longer Sunday hours.
Which charity shops are most likely to open on Sunday?
Larger-format stores: British Heart Foundation furniture & electrical stores, Emmaus superstores, and branches in retail parks or busy city high streets. Small-town high-street shops run by volunteers are the most likely to stay closed on Sundays.
Can I donate to a charity shop on a Sunday?
If the branch is open, usually yes — but many shops stop accepting donations up to an hour before closing, and some accept none on Sundays because there’s no space to sort. Clothing banks in supermarket car parks take donations any day, at any hour.
Are charity shops open on bank holidays?
Many larger stores open on bank holidays with Sunday-style hours; smaller branches vary widely and often close. Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday are the days you can most safely assume shops are shut.
What are typical charity shop opening hours in the week?
Roughly 9am–5pm or 9:30am–5:30pm, Monday to Saturday. Volunteer-run branches sometimes open later, close earlier, or close one weekday — the chain’s store locator shows exact hours for each branch.