If you've got friends and family around the UK and further afield then make sure you get any Christmas cards and presents posted out in time.
The Royal Mail has published its list of Christmas post dates, which are the deadlines for sending mail to different locations around the world in time for December 25. They are advisory, so they do not all guarantee delivery in time, but if you stick to them you should be fine and expect your gifts or cards to arrive by Christmas Day.
If you not as organised perhaps you should be, the absolute final date you can send anything through Royal Mail and expect Christmas Delivery is Monday December 23 - but it'll cost you, as you'll have to pay for Special Delivery Guarenteed. Do yourself a favour and don't be that person.
Royal Mail Christmas post deadlines for letters, cards, parcels and packages
Sending parcels and cards to the United Kingdom
Second Class -Wednesday, December 18
First Class - Friday, December 20
Royal Mail Tracked 24* - Saturday December 21
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed - Monday December 23.
Sending parcels and cards abroad
Royal Mail International Standard and International Tracking and Signature services
Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East -Tuesday, December 4
Cyprus, Malta - Tuesday December 10
Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) - Wednesday December 11
Australia, Greece, New Zealand and Turkey - Thursday December 12
Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA - Saturday December 14
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland - Monday December 16
Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg - Wednesday December 18
Royal Mail International Economy
Australia, Middle and Far East (except Hong Kong and Singapore), New Zealand and all other non-European destinations (except Canada, South Africa, USA) - Saturday October 5
Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, USA - Saturday October 12
Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey - Saturday November 2
Western Europe - Saturday November 16
