Primark will close every single store in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on Easter Sunday 2026, giving thousands of workers a rare full day off while Scottish shops stay open as normal.
The budget fashion giant has confirmed the move, which affects 184 stores south of the border and follows the long-standing Sunday Trading Act 1994. Shoppers planning last-minute Easter outfits or homeware hauls will need to get in before Saturday night or wait until Monday morning.
Why the Shutters Come Down in Three Nations
Large stores over 280 square metres must close on Easter Sunday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland under laws designed to protect workers and family time.
Primark falls firmly into that category. Every one of its big high-street and shopping-centre locations in those nations will shut from Saturday evening until Easter Monday.
A Primark spokesperson told The Sun: “On Easter Sunday only stores in Scotland will be open and all stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland will be closed.”
The rule is strictly enforced. Even flagship stores like Oxford Street East and West in London, Bristol Cribbs Causeway, and Manchester Trafford Centre will go dark for more than 24 hours.
Scotland Keeps Shopping as Usual
North of the border, there are no equivalent trading restrictions.
All 36 Primark stores in Scotland will trade normal Sunday hours on 5 April 2026.
That means shoppers in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and beyond can still hunt for £5 jeans or £12 trainers while the rest of the UK takes a break.
The difference has long highlighted the patchwork of UK retail laws that still exist 30 years after devolution began.
Exact Closing Times You Need to Know
Stores close at different times on Saturday 4 April depending on location.
Here are some of the biggest branches and their plans:
- London Oxford Street East & West – close 10pm Saturday, reopen 8am Monday
- Manchester Trafford Centre – close 10pm Saturday, reopen 10am Monday
- Birmingham High Street – close 8pm Saturday, reopen 9am Monday
- Bristol Cribbs Causeway – close 9pm Saturday, reopen 10am Monday
- Liverpool Church Street – close 8pm Saturday, reopen 9am Monday
- Leeds White Rose – close 7pm Saturday, reopen 10am Monday
- Newcastle Northumberland Street – close 6pm Saturday, reopen 10am Monday
Primark urges every customer to check their local store finder online because some smaller or outlet branches have different hours over the bank holiday weekend.
Staff Welcome the Guaranteed Break
For the retailer’s 30,000-plus UK workers, the closure means something bigger than lost sales.
One Primark employee in Yorkshire told the Daily Express: “We never get Easter Sunday off unless we book it as holiday. This year the company is giving it to us automatically and it feels massive.”
Another worker in Cardiff said: “I’ll actually get to do the Easter egg hunt with my little boy for once instead of opening the store at 8am.”
The day off comes at a time when retail staff are increasingly vocal about work-life balance after years of seven-day trading.
Other Big Names Closing Too
Primark is far from alone.
- Waitrose – all 350+ stores closed Easter Sunday (except a handful of Scottish sites)
- Home Bargains – 560 of 630 stores shut, only Scottish and some small convenience shops open
- Aldi, M&S, and Poundland – also closing most or all large stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Meanwhile John Lewis, Next, and TK Maxx have not yet confirmed final plans but traditionally follow the same pattern.
Growth Continues Despite the Pause
Even with one quiet day, Primark is charging ahead.
The chain opens its brand-new 44,000 sq ft Epsom store in Surrey on 25 March 2026 – just 11 days before Easter – in the former House of Fraser unit at the Ashley Centre.
More openings are planned throughout 2026 and 2027 as the retailer targets 530 stores worldwide by the end of the decade.
For millions of British families, Primark remains the go-to for affordable Easter dresses, baby outfits, and pyjamas. Just remember: if you’re in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, get there before the shutters drop on Saturday night.
Because when Easter Sunday arrives, the only place you’ll find Primark bags swinging will be on Scottish streets.
