Do Royal Mail deliver on bank holidays? How post is affected on all three May bank holidays in 2023

The May bank holiday weekends, including the extra one for King Charles III's coronation, could cause delays to letter and package deliveries
Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on the three May bank holidays depends on where you live. Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on the three May bank holidays depends on where you live.
Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on the three May bank holidays depends on where you live.

In May, with have three bank holidays to look forward to in 2023, the usual early and late May ones and also an additional one for the coronation of King Charles III.

This year, early May bank holiday falls on 1 May, followed by the extra bank holiday for King Charles' coronation on May 8, and then late May bank holiday is 29 May. Many people are looking forward to having three extended weekends during the month, and in recognition of this a lot of workers will be given the early 1, 8 and 29 May off work, including Royal Mail and Post Office workers.

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But, what does this mean for deliveries of letters and packages? Here’s what you need to know.

Do Royal Mail deliver on bank holidays?

Royal Mail delivers and collects mail on most days of the year, including Saturdays. However, workers do not usually deliver or collect on bank and public holidays, but there are some exceptions.

Will Royal Mail deliver on the three May bank holidays?

Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on 1, 8 or 29 May depends on where you live.

Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on Good Friday or Easter Monday depends on where you live. Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on Good Friday or Easter Monday depends on where you live.
Whether or not you can expect any letters or packages to be delivered to your home on Good Friday or Easter Monday depends on where you live.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, there will be no collections or deliveries on these days. In Scotland, however, there will be collections and deliveries for residents who live in Ayr in postcode areas KA6 to KA8 but none in other areas.

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Normal posting and deliveries will be carried out on the days following all three bank holidays in all four nations, but there may be a slight delay in service as postal workers deal with demand. You can find out more about post deliveries in your area on public holidays by visiting the official Royal Mail website.

Will post offices be open on all three May bank holidays?

Like many shops, most post offices will be closed on all three May bank holidays. Some may be open, including those operating from inside other stores, however they are likely to have reduced opening times.

People are advised to check the opening and closing times of their local branch before making a visit. You can use the Post Office branch finder to do this.

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