That all changed in 1994 for England and Wales, with the introduction of the Sunday Trading Act, and in 1997 for Northern Ireland, as the Shops (Sunday Trading &c.) Order was approved.
Scotland never had the same restrictions on Sunday opening as the rest of the UK, though many shops chose to stay closed.
Today, shops across the UK are as busy as ever on Sundays, albeit with restricted opening hours for larger stores in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
But how did we fill our hours on a Sunday before the lure of retail therapy was an option?
This retro photo gallery shows some of the most popular pastimes of the 70s and 80s in the UK, from fitness trends to DIY pursuits.
How did you spend your weekends back then? Do these nostalgic photos bring back any memories for you?
For more 70s and 80s nostalgia, check out our look back at popular sweets and chocolate bars that were discontinued before their time.
7. Go for a jog
Jogging boomed during the 70s and 80s as more people became aware of the health benefits, and parks were full of runners sporting shiny new tracksuits and wristbands. It suffered a blow in 1984, when Jim Fixx, the man who had helped popularise the pursuit, tragically died of a heart attack while jogging, aged just 52. | Getty Images Photo: Geoff Bruce/Central Press/Hulton Archive
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8. Watch a movie
The 70s were a great era for movies. One of the biggest, and scariest films of the decade was 1974 horror movie The Exorcist. | Getty Images Photo: Evening Standard/Hulton Archive
9. Head to the arcade
Aracades were a popular source of entertainment during the 70s and 80s, whether you wanted to play the latest video game or try your luck on the slot machines. | Getty Images Photo: Reg Lancaster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive
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10. Watch TV
Your options for TV were much more limited in the 70s and 80s than they are today, with just three channels available before Channel 4 launched in 1982, but many people still enjoyed settling down in front of the box back then. The Sunday film, which usually followed Songs of Praise on BBC One, was among the highlights. | Getty Images Photo: Express
11. Get your skates on
Roller skating was particularly popular in the 80s | Getty Images Photo: Colin Davey
12. Head out for a Big Mac
McDonald's only arrived in the UK in 1974, but by the end of the 80s it had more than 300 restaurants across the country as we developed a taste for Big Macs and Egg McMuffins | Getty Images Photo: Harry Dempster/Daily Express/Hulton Archive