Are shops open on bank holidays in Scotland? When are Edinburgh shopping centres open over Christmas?

Don’t get caught short by reduced retail hours this Christmas by planning your shopping trips in advance.

In the run up to Christmas, many shopping centres and malls run longer hours so that customers can get all their festive shopping done.

This year is slightly different to other years as Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on the weekend.

As a result, we have two replacement bank holidays on December 27th and 28th.

Ahead of longer festive opening hours, St James Quarter has decked their halls in Christmas decorations. Photo: Ian Georgeson Photography.

So where does that leave you with shopping centres in Edinburgh on these days?

Here’s when all the shopping centres in Edinburgh are open over the Christmas period.

Are shops open on bank holidays in Scotland?

Despite December 27th and 28th being bank holidays, most retail stores, supermarkets, and restaurants will be open in Scotland.

Ocean Terminal will operate largely the same during the festive period. Photo: JPI Media.

What’s more, many retail locations are also holding post-Christmas, Boxing Day sales over these few days in between Christmas and the New Year.

Of course, some shops may run their own hours, so it’s best to check in advance if you’re keen to shop at a specific location.

When are Edinburgh shopping centres open over the Christmas period?

St James Quarter

Shops within Gyle Shopping Centre are operating individually changed festive hours. Photo: Lisa Ferguson.

St James Quarter is operating slightly longer shopping areas in the month of December, starting from Saturday December 11th.

During the week, the shopping centre will stay open until 9pm, and until as late as 10pm on some Thursdays.

Here are the ties in full leading up to Christmas:

- Saturday December 11th: 9am - 9pm

- Sunday December 12th: 10am - 7pm

- Monday December 13 – Wednesday December 15th: 9am - 9pm

- Thursday December 16th: 9am - 10pm

- Friday December 17th - Saturday December 18th: 9am - 9pm

- Sunday December 19th: 10am - 7pm

- Monday December 20th – Wednesday December 22nd: 9am - 9pm

- Thursday December 23rd: 9am - 10pm

- Friday December 24th (Christmas Eve): 9am - 6pm

- Saturday December 25th (Christmas Day): Closed

- Sunday December 26th (Boxing Day): 9am - 6pm

- Monday December 27th – Wednesday December 29th: 9am - 9pm

- Friday December 31st: 9am - 6pm

- Saturday January 1st: 11am - 6pm

Cameron Toll Centre

Cameron Toll is not having later opening hours until later on in December, starting from the 23rd.

Here are the full opening hours over the festive period:

- Monday December 20th – Thursday December 23rd: 6am – 11pm- Friday December 24th (Christmas Eve): 6am – 7pm

- Saturday December 25th (Christmas Day): Closed

- Sunday December 26th (Boxing Day): 8am – 8pm- Monday December 27th – Thursday December 30th: 8am – 10pm- Friday December 31st (New Year’s Eve): 7am – 7pm

- Saturday January 1st (New Year’s Day) –