Royal Mail delivery delays hit 150+ UK postcodes just days before Christmas

Royal Mail has confirmed delivery delays across more than 150 UK postcodes. Check if your area is affected and what to do if post is late.

Royal Mail has confirmed delivery disruption across more than 150 UK postcodes, with letters and parcels delayed at one of the busiest times of the year.

The update affects large parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some households may not receive post on their usual delivery days, and Christmas deliveries could arrive late.

Here’s what’s happening, why it matters, and what you can do if you’re waiting for something important.

What’s going on with Royal Mail right now

Royal Mail says a number of local delivery offices are struggling to keep services running as normal.

The main reasons given are:

• high staff sickness levels
• shortages of delivery workers
• local operational problems

Because of this, Royal Mail has admitted it cannot currently meet its usual six-day-a-week delivery target in some areas.

To manage the pressure, delivery rounds are being rotated. That means some streets may be skipped on certain days, with post arriving later than expected.

You can check on their service update page to see if your postcode is impacted.

Royal Mail says extra support is being sent to the worst-hit areas, but delays are still likely in the short term.

Which areas are affected

A total of 151 postcode areas are listed as having serious disruption.

They cover towns and cities across the UK, including parts of:

• Greater London
• the North East and North West
• the Midlands
• Scotland
• Wales
• Northern Ireland

This is not limited to one region, and the list can change as local situations improve or worsen.

If you are expecting something time-sensitive, it’s worth checking Royal Mail’s service update page directly to see if your delivery office is affected.

Why this matters right now

This update comes just days before Christmas, when post volumes are already very high.

Late deliveries could affect:

• Christmas cards
• online shopping orders
• important letters
• tracked and signed-for items

For many families, this means gifts may arrive after Christmas Day, even if they were ordered in good time.

If you’re relying on the post for something essential, delays could also cause knock-on stress around refunds, returns, or missed deadlines.

What Royal Mail says it’s doing

Royal Mail has apologised for the disruption and says it is:

• rotating delivery routes to reduce long backlogs
• sending extra staff to the most affected offices
• prioritising safety and fairness for workers

The company says updates will continue to be published as the situation changes.

Recent performance problems at Royal Mail

Regulator Ofcom recently fined Royal Mail £21 million for missing delivery targets. During the last financial year:

• only 77% of first-class post arrived on time
• second-class deliveries also missed their target

Ofcom said customers were not getting what they paid for and warned that further penalties could follow if improvements are not made.

What to do if you’re waiting for a delivery

If you’re affected by delays, here are some practical steps that can help.

Check tracking first

If your item was sent tracked, use the tracking number before contacting anyone. Many parcels are still moving, just slower than usual.

Contact the sender, not Royal Mail

If something is late, your contract is usually with the retailer, not Royal Mail. Sellers can raise issues directly and may offer replacements or refunds.

Avoid re-ordering too quickly

Before buying again, check whether the original item is still likely to arrive. Ordering twice can mean extra costs and more returns later.

Keep proof if something goes missing

If an item does not arrive at all, keep order confirmations and tracking details. These are usually needed for refunds.

What this means for Christmas deliveries

If you’re still waiting on post:

• late delivery does not automatically mean lost
• delays may continue right up to Christmas
• some items may arrive after the big day

If you’re sending anything else now, faster or guaranteed services may still work, but postcode exceptions apply.

Next step

If you’re worried about a delivery, check whether your local delivery office is on the affected list and keep an eye on tracking updates.

Acting calmly now can save stress and wasted money later.