There are 8 bank holidays in the UK each year, two pairs of bank holidays occur together — at Christmas and at Easter. There may be special additional bank holidays, such as for a royal wedding or coronation. There are 9 days off in total for bank holidays in 2023, due to the coronation of King Charles.
During bank holidays, schools, banks, and government offices close. Some businesses and attractions may close or have limited opening hours, and public transport may have reduced hours of operation.
The UK's 8 bank holidays are:
- New Year's Day: January 1st each year
- Good Friday: in March or April
- Easter Monday: in March or April
- Early May bank holiday: first Monday of May
- Spring bank holiday: last Monday of May
- Summer bank holiday: last Monday of August
- Christmas Day: December 25th Boxing Day: December 26th
UK Public Holidays in 2024 (England and Wales)
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Monday |
| March 29 | Good Friday | Friday |
| April 1 | Easter Monday | Monday |
| May 6 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 27 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| August 26 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Wednesday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Thursday |
UK Public Holidays in 2025 (England and Wales)
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Wednesday |
| April 18 | Good Friday | Friday |
| April 21 | Easter Monday | Monday |
| May 5 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 26 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| August 25 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Thursday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Friday |
Public Holidays in Scotland 2024
In Scotland, there are two more bank holidays (January 2nd — Hogmanay and St. Andrews Day — November 30th, unless on a weekend, when it is the following Monday), and the Summer Bank Holiday is the first Monday in August rather than the last Monday.
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Monday |
| January 2 | Hogmanay Day 3 | Tuesday |
| March 29 | Good Friday | Friday |
| May 6 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 27 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| August 5 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 2 | St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Wednesday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Thursday |
Public Holidays in Scotland 2025
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Wednesday |
| January 2 | Hogmanay Day 3 | Thursday |
| April 18 | Good Friday | Friday |
| May 5 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 26 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| August 4 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 1 | St Andrew's Day Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Wednesday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Thursday |
Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland 2024
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Monday |
| March 18 | Saint Patrick's Day Bank Holiday | Monday |
| March 29 | Good Friday | Friday |
| April 1 | Easter Monday | Monday |
| May 6 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 27 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| July 12 | Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day | Friday |
| August 26 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Wednesday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Thursday |
Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland 2025
| Date | Bank Holiday | Day |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year's Day | Wednesday |
| March 17 | Saint Patrick's Day Bank Holiday | Monday |
| April 18 | Good Friday | Friday |
| April 21 | Easter Monday | Monday |
| May 5 | Early May Bank Holiday | Monday |
| May 26 | Spring Bank Holiday | Monday |
| July 14 | Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day | Monday |
| August 25 | Summer Bank Holiday | Monday |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Thursday |
| December 26 | Boxing Day | Friday |
Easter Bank Holidays in the UK
Easter is one of the two instances of two bank holidays together in the UK, with the other being Christmas. The Easter holiday starts from Good Friday and continues to Easter Monday, with 4 days off in total, known as an Easter long weekend. It is a popular time for UK citizens to travel with many making trips across the country for leisure. Most attractions are open over Easter.
Schools typically have 2 weeks of holiday around Easter, although the exact timing varies across the UK.
Public transport is reduced on the Easter bank holidays. Roads in certain areas become busier, and often some train lines and stations are closed for maintenance over the Easter long weekend.
Christmas Holidays in the UK
Christmas is the biggest holiday in the UK. From the beginning of December (and often earlier in commercial areas), streets are adorned with lights and households set up their Christmas trees.
The Christmas bank holidays are Christmas Day (December 25th) and Boxing Day (December 26th), unless they fall on a weekend, when the following Monday or Monday, and Tuesday become bank holidays.
Businesses, government offices, attractions, and most shops all close during Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Public transport closes on Christmas Day and has reduced operating hours on Boxing Day.
School Holidays in the UK
School holidays in the UK vary each year and between school districts. Local-authority-run schools and independent schools may have different term dates even within the districts.
Typically, the school year is divided into three terms, with week-long mid-term (half-term) breaks, and longer breaks between terms:
- Summer vacation: late July to early September (6 weeks)
- Autumn half-term: last week of October (1 week)
- Christmas holidays: late December to early January (2 weeks)
- Spring half-term: mid-February (1 week)
- Easter holidays: around Easter Sunday in March/April (2 weeks)
- Summer half-term: at the end of May or in early June (1 week)
However, some local authorities have adopted a school year made up of six terms, each of a similar length.
