Sunday trading laws in England and Wales are now more than thirty years old. Introduced in 1994, they were designed for a very different economy and a very different way of life. Since then, how people work, shop and spend their leisure time has changed beyond recognition, yet the rules governing Sunday trading have remained largely untouched.

Sunday is now one of the busiest and most commercially important days of the week. It plays a crucial role in driving footfall not only for retailers, but also for cafés, restaurants, pubs and the wider hospitality sector. Despite this, many large shops are still limited to just six hours of trading on Sundays, while online retailers operate without restriction at all hours of the day.

This imbalance places physical shops at a disadvantage, limits consumer choice and suppresses economic activity on high streets, in shopping centres and on retail parks. When fewer shops are open, fewer people visit town centres, which directly reduces footfall and trade for nearby hospitality businesses and independent retailers. At a time when high streets and hospitality are under intense pressure, these restrictions continue to hold back growth.

There is clear evidence that allowing shops greater freedom on Sundays can increase economic activity. During the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, all shops were permitted to open freely on Sundays for eight weeks. The Office for National Statistics reported that shop turnover rose by 3.2 percent year on year during this period, with retail sales outside London increasing by 6.2 percent. This demonstrated that extended Sunday opening can generate additional spending rather than simply shifting it from other days.

Despite this evidence, proposals to update Sunday trading laws were blocked in Parliament in 2016. As a result, shoppers in England and Wales now have fewer freedoms than those in Scotland. Since then, public support for change has continued to grow, alongside increasing concern about the future of the high street and the need to support hospitality and local economies.

Allowing shops to open more freely on Sundays would benefit businesses of all sizes. Large stores often act as anchors that draw people into town centres. Increased activity leads to longer dwell times and higher spending across nearby independent shops, cafés, pubs and local services. A busier Sunday economy helps create stronger, more vibrant town centres where small businesses can thrive alongside larger ones.

Modern Sunday trading would also better reflect the realities of working life today. Many people, particularly students, rely on weekend work to balance studies, finances and other commitments. Sundays are often the most convenient and popular day to work, with rotas frequently oversubscribed. Current restrictions limit earning opportunities and unnecessarily restrict individual choice over when to work or rest.

These laws were created for a different era. Not everyone follows a traditional weekly routine, and not everyone experiences Sunday in the same way. People should be trusted to decide how they use their own time, whether that is working, shopping, socialising or relaxing.

This petition calls on the UK government to update Sunday trading laws in England and Wales so they reflect modern life, support high streets and hospitality, and give consumers and workers greater freedom and choice.

Please sign this petition to support a more active, vibrant and economically resilient Sunday economy.

To find out more about the Open Sundays campaign and the work we do, click here.