Best time to shop at Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Aldi and Lidl

Aside from the social distancing measures you should adopt when visiting, another way you can also minimise the risk of spreading or catching germs, is to shop at a quieter time.

So, we’ve trawled through Google visiting data for the main supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi and Lidl - in Colchester to give a guide for the best times to do your grocery shopping.

And though the data pertains to individual stores in Essex, the shopping patterns are likely to be mirrored across most stores.

Tesco Hythe

The best time to go to Tesco is between 6am and 9am and after 6pm on Monday - Thursday.

Google’s visiting data suggests these times are “usually not too busy”.

However, if you leave your shopping until Friday you can expect it to be busy from 9am until 7pm.

And on Saturdays, the peak time for footfall is between 12pm and 3pm, which is “as busy as it gets,” Google says.

On Sunday it is busy from opening until closing. 

Tesco Extra, Highwoods

The best time to go to Tesco is between 6am and 9am and after 4pm on Monday. 

From Tuesday to Friday  Google suggests the store is busy from 9am to 6pm. 

However, if you leave your shopping until Friday you can expect it to be busy from 9am until 7pm.

On Saturdays, the shop is "usually busy" from 9am to 7pm with 11am to 3pm the busiest times. 

On Sunday it is busy from opening until closing. 

Read more >> 'We've enjoyed every minute' - shop owners bid farewell to town after 37 year

Asda Colchester

The best time to go to Asda appears to be between 7am and 10am on Monday – Thursday.

Footfall then drops off at around 6pm on these days.

It then becomes gradually busier on Friday, with Google saying it is “usually a little busy” from 9am until 6pm.

On Saturday peak shopping time is 11am to 4pm with it slowing down after 5pm. 

On Sunday 10am or 3pm are the quietest times to shop. 

Sainsbury's, Stanway

The data shows the store is "usually a little busy" from 9am to 4pm each weekday. 

On Thursdays and Fridays this extends to 6pm. 

On Saturday the best time to shop is between 6am and 10am and after 7pm. 

And on Sunday the quietest time is between 10am and 11am. 

Sainsbury's, Priory Walk

The store is “usually not too busy” from 8am to 11am and from 6pm onwards on weekdays.

And while Friday sees a slightly higher footfall, it still doesn’t get really busy until Saturday.

From 11am until 3pm on Saturday, it is “as busy as it gets”, says Google.

On Sunday the quietest times are 10am and 4pm. 

Aldi, Cowdray Avenue

From Monday to Friday, it is “usually a little busy” from 10am until 3pm, with quietest times either side of this.

On Saturday the data says Aldi is as "busy as it gets" between 11am and 5pm. 

And on Sunday Google says it is at its busiest between 11am and 12pm. 

Read more >> Sainsbury's join Tesco in charging £100 deposit fee at petrol stations

Aldi, Magdalen Street

On weekdays Google says the store is 'usually busy' between 11am and 3pm and by 5pm is at its busiest. 

On Saturday peak shopping time is between 11am and 5pm, when it begins to get quieter. 

On Sunday it is busiest at 2pm. 

Aldi, London Road

From Monday to Thursday the store is “usually a little busy” from 10am until 7pm. 

Friday is busier with Google saying it is as busy as it gets between 10am and 6pm. 

On Saturday peak shopping times are between 10am and 5pm while on Sunday it is busy from 11am to 2pm. 

Lidl, Abbots Road

On Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 5pm, the store is “usually a little busy”, Google says.

So, the best time to shop on these days appears to be before 10am and after 6pm.

And on Friday it is “usually a little busy” from 11am until 6pm.

On Saturdays, it is usually busy throughout the day, with footfall peaking at 12pm and on Sunday it is busiest at 11am.

Lidl, Gosbecks Road

On Monday to Thursday, from 10am to 5pm, the store is “usually a little busy”.

By Friday it has increased to 9am to 6pm with peak shopping time at 4pm. 

On Saturday the businest time to shop is at 2pm while on Sunday it is 11am. 

Waitrose 

According to Google the quietest times to shop from Monday and Tuesday are between 8am and 10am and after midday. 

On Wednesday and Thursday it is usually busy from 10am to 6pm and on Friday this extends to closing. 

On Saturday peak shopping time is from 10am to 4pm when Google says it is 'as busy as it gets'. 

Sunday it is described as 'usually a little busy' all day.