What time does Lidl open today? Opening times and delivery

SUPERMARKETS remain open despite covid restrictions, and opening hours have mostly returned to normal.

Lidl still has rules in place that shoppers must stick to when visiting their local store.

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Lidl has been allowed to remain open throughout the third lockdown[/caption]

It has stayed open throughout lockdown because supermarkets are classed as essential retailers – which means they sell food, medicine, or building supplies.

Non-essential retailers – those which only sell clothing, toys or homeware – were ordered to close in January when Boris Johnson announced England’s third national lockdown.

But after months of remaining shut, they were given the green light to reopen on April 12, alongside hairdressers, gyms and more.

Here’s what you need to know when taking a trip to your local Lidl.

When are Lidl stores opening and closing?

Lidl stores typically open from 8am Monday to Saturday, and then close between 9pm and 11pm.

Shops are then usually open from 10am or 11am until 4pm or 5pm on Sundays.

The opening hours vary though, so it’s best to double-check these in advance before making the trip.

You can find your nearest one including contact details by using Lidl’s store locator tool.

When is the best time to shop there?

Google has a tracker which allows you to see when the peak times are.

If you search for “Lidl” and then click on your nearest store, it will show a bar chart of when the store’s busiest times are.

Usually, the busiest times to go to your local Lidl store are between 8am and 11am.

The quietest times to shop are from 2pm to closing time.

What are the shopping rules for Lidl?

Lidl has no store-wide restrictions in place, but managers are able to bring in limits to their specific shop if they spot customers panic buying.

The retailer is asking shoppers to avoid busy times, and has security at the doors to limit entry when needed.

Face masks must be worn in store, and staff outside its shops will also remind customers to wear one.

There are social distancing markers and signs in place, while at the checkouts there are screens and contactless purchases are encouraged.

The elderly, vulnerable and single parent families should ask for assistance if they need it.

Customers are encouraged to pay by contactless payment and it has increased the limit to £45.

And if you can, you should shop alone to help reduce the number of people in store and maintain social distancing.

Can I order online?

No, Lidl doesn’t currently do grocery deliveries so you’ll have to head in-store to pick up any food items.

You can order things from the specialbuy range online though, and that service is free if you’re spending over £30 but £3.95 if you’re anything short of that.

However, in October 2019 they advertised for a Digital Project Manager to head up a “new online platform” and be tasked with “driving online sales”.

Yet, a year later, the supermarket was believed to have ditched plans to launch online shopping and delivery in the UK.

It came after the budget supermarket shut down the part of its business which ran digital logistics.

Non-essential retail reopened on April 12 and many shoppers welcomed the return of the high street.

Shoppers have been warned to return items to shops ASAP ahead of extended returns policies ending.

It won’t be until May 17 that we will see the return of businesses like cinemas and bingo halls.