Get ready for Christmas 2021
Last posting dates 2021All you need to make this Christmas a cracker
Latest Recommended Posting Dates
Beat the festive rush and get all your letters and parcels in the post on time.
Allow plenty of time for posting. Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries. Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe
| Friday 17 December | Royal Mail Bulk Mail Economy |
| Saturday 18 December | 2nd Class 2nd Class Signed For Royal Mail 48® |
| Tuesday 21 December | 1st Class 1st Class Signed For Royal Mail 24® Royal Mail Tracked 48®** |
| Wednesday 22 December | Royal Mail Tracked 24®** |
| Thursday 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed® |
** Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48® are not available to purchase at Post Office® branches.
Sending internationally?
| Monday 13 September | All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA) |
| Friday 15 October | Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa |
| Monday 1 November | Canada and USA |
| Friday 26 November | Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey |
| Monday 29 November | Western Europe |
| Wednesday 1 December | Caribbean |
| Monday 6 December | Australia Greece, Italy, New Zealand and Portugal |
| Wednesday 8 December | Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Far and Middle East |
| Friday 10 December | Cyprus, Malta and Sweden |
| Saturday 11 December | Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia), Turkey |
| Monday 13 December | Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland and USA |
| Thursday 16 December | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland |
| Monday 29 November | Airmail to Operational HM Forces |
| Monday 6 December | Airmail to Static HM Forces |
Latest recommended posting dates for Christmas (PDFs)
Personal customerspdf, 78.39 KB
Business customerspdf, 89.8 KB
Welsh versions
Personal customerspdf, 134.04 KB
Business customerspdf, 124.84 KB
Parcelforce Worldwide
Parcelforce Worldwide has a range of international delivery services to over 225 countries across the world
Go to Parcelforce.com
Christmas and New Year deliveries and collections
| Date | Royal Mail Services |
|---|---|
| Saturday 18 December | Normal deliveries and Saturday collections |
| Sunday 19 December | Normal Sunday deliveries and collections |
| Monday 20 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Tuesday 21 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Wednesday 22 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Thursday 23 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Christmas Eve Friday 24 December |
Normal deliveries, ‘Eve’ collections |
| Christmas Day Saturday 25 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Boxing Day Sunday 26 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Christmas Day Bank Holiday Monday 27 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Boxing Day Bank Holiday Tuesday 28 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Wednesday 29 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Thursday 30 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| New Year’s Eve Friday 31 December |
Normal deliveries, ‘Eve' collections |
| New Year’s Day Saturday 1 January 2022 |
No deliveries or collections* |
| Sunday 2 January 2022 | No deliveries or collections |
| New Year Bank Holiday Monday 3 January 2022 |
No deliveries or collections |
| Tuesday 4 January 2022 Public Holiday in Scotland |
Normal deliveries and collections - exception for Scotland |
* Confirmed following regulatory approval by Ofcom.
Download the Delivery and Collection calendar for Christmas and New Year
English versionpdf, 79.27 KB
Welsh versionpdf, 113.3 KB
If you're planning on being away for the Christmas period, or if your business is closing for the break, we can take care of your post for you:
Preparing your post
Getting your parcels and letters to their destination safely is always our priority, especially at this time of year. Use these handy guides to help you get your items to their destinations safe and sound.
Good Addressing Guide
A handy guide to good addressing and packaging.
Some goods are restricted or prohibited from being mailed in the UK and internationally. Check before you send to make sure your item is fit for travel at royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods
Join us this Christmas
Christmas 2021 Special Stamps
Uncover a modern take on the Nativity story
