Restrictions on opening times on Sundays are confined to large shops; defined as those having an internal sales area of over 280m2.

Shops must only open for six hours of trading on a Sunday which must be between the hours of 10am and 6pm. Smaller shops may trade freely on a Sunday.

A Regulatory Order came into force on 27th February 2004. The order removed the requirement for large shops in England and Wales to give prior notification to the local authority of their Sunday opening hours or change in these hours. The Order also repealed the restriction contained in section 26 of the Revenue act 1889 on the sale of methylated spirits between 10pm on Saturday and 8am on the following Monday.