Christmas is right around the corner, so chances are you’re preparing to make a trip to the Post Office with a bag full of goodies to send to friends and family all over the world – but you’ll need to ship them before these dates to ensure they arrive by December 23.
Let’s start with the United Kingdom. Those looking to send a letter – or package – via Royal Mail’s Second Class or Second Class Signed For service will need to do so by December 20, while customers who are comfortable shelling out a little more for a First Class or First Class Signed For label have until December 21.
Related: The very best Amazon Christmas price cuts
The last date for mainland shipments is December 22, although customers wanting them to arrive in time for Christmas will need to take advantage of the firm’s pricey Special Delivery Guaranteed distribution method.
The postage cut-off for parcels leaving the UK are a little different – and the economy deadline has already passed. Don’t panic, though. There are plenty of International Standard and International Tracking & Signature services available. Here’s when shipments need to reach the Post Office by for those.
- December 15: Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Switzerland
- December 16: Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg
Are you planning to ship a package using Royal Mail this Christmas? Have you found any independent couriers that are offering later last postage dates? Be sure to let us know over on Facebook or Twitter, or even both, @TrustedReviews.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
