What time do the Boxing Day sales start?

While Black Friday has become the UK's biggest day for sales shopping, Boxing Day has the weight of tradition behind it.

While there have recently been calls for shops to remain closed that day - a petition has hit nearly a quarter of a million signatures - this is unlikely to have much effect.

New petition calls for shops to be shut on Boxing Day

Last year, according to analysts' figures, 22 million of us hit the streets in search of a bargain, spending £3.74 billion between us. And prices are generally the best that you'll find all year.

How to master the January sales

As a result, the best offers get snapped up extremely quickly, and if you want to be sure of bagging a bargain you'll need to hit the stores early - or even queue overnight. And with some of them closed for the day, you'll want to avoid a wasted trip.

We look at some of the biggest stores' and shopping centres' Boxing Day opening times.

Stores
Argos: Most stores open from 9am - 5.30pm, although some branches will vary.
Boots: Some stores will be closed, and others will be open for shorter hours than usual. You can check out individual stores here.
B&Q: stores closed.
Debenhams: most stores open from 8am - 6pm.
House of Fraser: most stores open from 7am - 9pm.
John Lewis: stores closed.
Marks & Spencer: variable, but larger stores open from 8am - 6pm.
Next: most stores open from 9.30am - 6pm.
Primark: stores will be open, but with variable opening times. Check them out here.

Shopping centres
Westfield Shepherd's Bush, London: open from 7am - 11pm.
Westfield Stratford, London: open from 7am - 10pm.
Bullring, Birmingham: open from 8am – 8pm.
St David's, Cardiff: open from 9.30am – 8pm.
Intu Metrocentre, Tyne and Wear: open from 9am – 8pm.
Trafford Centre, Manchester: open from 8am – 8pm.
Arndale Centre, Manchester: open from 'early' - 6pm (food court opens at 7am).
Bluewater, Kent: open from 8am – 7pm.
Meadowhall Centre, Sheffield: 8am – 8pm.
Liverpool ONE, Liverpool: open from 10am – 6pm.