Betting shops change their hours over Christmas and New Year, and each bookmaker decides its own. The bookmakers have not yet published their 2026 holiday hours. This page gives the dates, the usual hours we hold for each bookmaker on those days of the week, and what to check before you go. We will add each bookmaker’s holiday hours here once they are announced.
Christmas and New Year dates for 2026
| Day | Date | Bank holiday? |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Thursday 24 December 2026 | No |
| Christmas Day | Friday 25 December 2026 | Yes, across the UK |
| Boxing Day | Saturday 26 December 2026 | The bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December |
| New Year’s Eve | Thursday 31 December 2026 | No |
| New Year’s Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | Yes, across the UK |
| 2 January (Scotland only) | Saturday 2 January 2027 | The bank holiday moves to Monday 4 January |
Dates are from the GOV.UK bank holidays list.
Christmas Day
There is no British horse racing on Christmas Day, so it is the quietest day of the year for betting shops. Do not assume your local shop will be open. Check the bookmaker’s own announcement or the shop’s page nearer the time.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is one of the biggest racing days of the year, with the King George VI Chase at Kempton and a full programme of football. In 2026 it falls on a Saturday. These are the usual Saturday hours we hold for each bookmaker. Holiday hours may be different.
| Bookmaker | Shops open | Most common hours | Earliest and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes | 1,354 of 1,354 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| Coral | 1,063 of 1,063 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| William Hill | 1,021 of 1,021 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| Betfred | 835 of 835 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:30, closes by 22:15 |
| Paddy Power | 300 of 300 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| BoyleSports | 118 of 118 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 06:45, closes by 22:00 |
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
Both fall on a Thursday in 2026. Shops often close earlier than normal on these evenings, so the usual Thursday hours below are a starting point, not a promise.
| Bookmaker | Shops open | Most common hours | Earliest and latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladbrokes | 1,354 of 1,354 | 08:30–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| Coral | 1,063 of 1,063 | 08:30–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| William Hill | 1,021 of 1,021 | 09:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| Betfred | 835 of 835 | 08:30–22:00 | opens from 07:30, closes by 22:00 |
| Paddy Power | 300 of 300 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 07:00, closes by 22:00 |
| BoyleSports | 118 of 118 | 08:00–22:00 | opens from 06:45, closes by 22:00 |
New Year’s Day and the bank holiday Mondays
New Year’s Day is a Friday in 2027. The Boxing Day bank holiday moves to Monday 28 December, and in Scotland the 2 January holiday moves to Monday 4 January. Bank holiday hours are usually shorter than a normal weekday. Our bank holiday opening times guide explains how they tend to work.
How to check before you go
- Open the shop’s page on BookieFinder for its normal week of hours and the date we last checked them.
- In larger towns, the bookmaker pages list every branch side by side, for example Ladbrokes in London or William Hill in Glasgow.
- Phone the shop, or check the bookmaker’s own shop locator, on the day.
- If you find a shop’s holiday hours, use the report link on its page and we will add them.
For the rest of the year, see betting shop opening times and Sunday opening times.
Christmas can mean more time and money spent than planned. Set a limit before you go in. If betting has stopped being fun, our responsible gambling page lists free support.