Royal Mail suspends deliveries and collections across most of UK for Summer Bank Holiday

Royal Mail confirms Bank Holiday suspension

Royal Mail has confirmed that deliveries and collections will be suspended across most of the United Kingdom on Monday, August 31, in observance of the Summer Bank Holiday.

In a statement, Royal Mail said: "There will be no deliveries or collections of mail in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland on Monday, August 31 (Summer Bank Holiday)."

The suspension affects customers across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the majority of Scotland. However, a number of Scottish postcode areas will continue to receive normal service on the day.

Scottish postcode exemptions

The following Scottish postcode areas are exempt from the suspension and will continue to have deliveries and collections as usual:

DG13, EH43-EH46, G, HS1-HS3, HS6, KA (excluding 6, 7 and 8), KW15-KW17, ML1-ML12, PA1-PA20, PA22-PA28, PA30-PA35, PA37-38, PA42, PA45, PA60, PH1, PH2, PH14, TD3, TD4-TD6, TD10-TD12, TD14 and ZE1-ZE2.

Return to normal service

For customers outside these exempt areas, normal Royal Mail operations will resume on Tuesday, September 1.

Scotland's additional local holidays

Scotland also has several additional local public holidays in the coming weeks, which will bring further delivery suspensions in specific postcode areas.

On Monday, September 21, no collections or deliveries will take place in the KA1-KA5, KA6-KA8 and KA16-KA18 postcode areas.

On Monday, September 28, the suspension broadens to include the G, KA9-KA15, KA19-KA30, KW15-KW17, ML1-ML12, PA1-PA13, PA20-PA28, PA30-35, PA37-38, PA42, PA45, PA60 and ZE1-ZE2 postcode areas.

On Monday, October 5, all collections and deliveries within the PH1, PH2 and PH14 postcode areas will be paused.

More Bank Holidays ahead

For the rest of the UK, the next Bank Holiday affecting postal services will be Christmas Day on Friday, December 25. Collections and deliveries will also be suspended on Boxing Day, Saturday, December 26, and on the substitute Bank Holiday on Monday, December 28.

Standard delivery hours and services

Royal Mail typically delivers letters and smaller parcels six days a week, Monday to Saturday. Postal workers may begin deliveries as early as 7am and continue until around 30pm, though some parcels may arrive as late as 6pm.

First Class items are normally delivered by the next working day, including Saturdays, while Second Class post generally arrives within two to three working days. Some services, such as Tracked 24, may include Sunday parcel deliveries in certain areas.