Christmas postal dates

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Got a mountain of parcels to post? Don't panic, you've still got time left to post those last minute presents - but get moving!

Sending gifts

Recommended UK last posting dates:
UK Special Delivery: Wednesday 23 December
1st Class (UK): Monday 21 December
2nd Class (UK): Friday 18 December
Western Europe airmail: Friday 11 December
USA, Canada, Japan and Eastern Europe airmail: Thursday 10 December
Australia and New Zealand, South and Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia and the Far East (except Japan) airmail: Friday 4 December

Christmas cards

Christmas stamps will be on sale at Post Office branches and Royal Mail's website from 3 November in six denominations, and will include letter and large letter stamps:

36p 1st class letter: For the majority of Christmas cards
52p 1st class large letter: For very large or bulky Christmas cards
27p 2nd class letter: Suitable for the majority of Christmas cards
42p 2nd class large letter: For very large or bulky Christmas cards
50p Europe letter: Cards up to 10g
81p Worldwide zones 1 and 2: Cards up to 20g

Postcodes

If you don't know the postcodes of your nearest and dearest, then don't worry - Royal Mail has a handy postcode checker online. All you need to do is type in the first line of an address and it'll generate a postcode for you.

Branches

To find out your nearest Post Office branch and its opening hours, visit postoffice.co.uk or ring 08457 22 33 44.

Letters to Santa

Did you know that there is a real address for Santa Claus?
Write a letter using our print out template and then kids can post their letters off to Santa with a stamp to:

Father Christmas,
Reindeerland,
SAN TA1.

Get it sent off by the first week in December and you should get a response.

By Charlotte Gunn