Back in the olden days, long before ‘next day delivery’ or ‘Amazon’ existed, one institution was responsible for getting all the letters and packages from point A to point B. That group, known as Royal Mail, established in 1635 by King Charles I, has been ensuring Brits receive their post, sometimes in a timely fashion, for nearly 500 years.
Although most communication is no longer done by letter, and several other postal services have become available since the seventeenth century, Christmas remains a very busy time for Royal Mail. Digital gifts and cards just don’t quite hit the same, so a lot of people still send them by post, meaning that there ends up being a bit of a backlog around December. On top of that, nothing is delivered on Christmas Day itself, or Boxing Day, so you’ve got to get in early if you want to be sure your friends and family will receive their scarf/bath bombs/socks on time.
Royal Mail states that you should always ‘allow plenty of time for posting,’ and, ‘post items and gifts for Christmas early,’ but let’s face it, it’s a bit late for that. Anyone who was organised sent all their cards weeks ago, so now it’s just the rest of us left scrambling to try and get everything off on time.
So when actually is ‘on time’? Luckily, Royal Mail has created a handy guide as to when the very last days you can send things away to ensure they have a good chance of reaching their destination before the 25th. Note that the dates are different for different types of postage. Those dates are as follows.
Royal Mail Christmas deadlines
Here are the deadlines for Royal Mail and other parcel delivery companies, including Evri and DPD.
- Wednesday December 18: Second class and second class signed for
- Thursday December 19: Parcelforce Express48
- Friday December 20: First class, first class signed for, Royal Mail Tracked 48, Parcelforce Express24
- Sunday December 21: Royal Mail Tracked 24, DPD, Evri Priority
- Monday December 23: Special Delivery Guaranteed
Tis’ the season at Time Out
Looking to spread the Christmas cheer? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a ranking of the UK’s best Christmas lights displays, and if you’re in the mood for mulled wine, here’s where you can find the best Christmas markets in the country. We are also keeping you up to date on all the latest Christmas news, including exactly where you can find the Coca-Cola truck.
Here's a full list of the 2025 UK Bank Holidays.
Plus: The UK’s 10 most beautiful scenic areas have been named by Which?
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.