Christmas post deadlines 2017: When is the last day to send 1st class, special delivery cards and packages?

Santa’s not the only one who needs to deliver his presents on time

(Getty Images)

With less than a week until Christmas, the time has come for the last-minute Christmas present frenzy.

For some of us, buying gifts in the nick of time is just a part of who we are.

We wish it wasn’t so, but every year we inevitably find ourselves in a panic trying to deliver all our presents in time for the big day.

While there is a small element of excitement over whether you’ll manage it, it does pay to be prepared.

With that in mind, perhaps it’s time to make this the year that you finally post your presents promptly.

The Royal Mail has provided their latest recommended posting dates for Christmas this year, so you have no excuse not send your Mancunian grandma her lovely new gift-wrapped socks.

While it may be pushing it slightly to attempt to deliver presents to friends or family overseas on time, you can definitely still send gifts to people in the UK if you hurry.

Here are the dates recommended by The Royal Mail for the UK’s Inland Services:

Wednesday 20 December:

• 2nd Class and Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class

Thursday 21 December:

• 1st Class and Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class
• Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®

Friday 22 December:

• Royal Mail Special Delivery Saturday Guaranteed

Nothing quite beats receiving a special delivery in time for Christmas... except perhaps magically finding presents under the tree.