If you are looking for a quick getaway or a long weekend away to get married or even some time to do the boring stuff like DIY and gardening, the 8 bank holidays each year is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of free days off from work courtesy of the UK government.
Synchronise bank holidays with our school holidays guide and get even more out of these days off by utilising our handy bank holiday tips to maximise your holiday allowance from work.
Bank holidays can vary across the UK with different dates for England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and the helpful guide below will get you planning in no time.
Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales
Bank holidays in England and Wales 2024
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Monday | New Year’s Day 2024 |
| March 29 | Friday | Good Friday 2024 |
| April 1 | Monday | Easter Monday 2024 |
| May 6 | Monday | Early May bank holiday 2024 |
| May 27 | Monday | Spring bank holiday 2024 |
| August 26 | Monday | Summer bank holiday 2024 |
| December 25 | Wednesday | Christmas Day 2024 |
| December 26 | Thursday | Boxing Day 2024 |
Bank holidays in England and Wales 2025
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| April 18 | Friday | Good Friday |
| April 21 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| May 5 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| August 25 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Friday | Boxing Day |
Bank holidays in England and Wales 2026
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| April 6 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| May 4 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 25 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| August 31 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| December 28 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Upcoming bank holidays in Scotland
Bank holidays in Scotland 2024
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 27 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| August 5 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 2 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day (substitute day) |
| December 25 | Wednesday | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Thursday | Boxing Day |
Bank holidays in Scotland 2025
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| January 2 | Thursday | 2nd January |
| April 18 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 5 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| August 4 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 1 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day (substitute day) |
| December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Friday | Boxing Day |
Bank holidays in Scotland 2026
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| January 2 | Friday | 2nd January |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 4 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 25 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| August 3 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| November 30 | Monday | St Andrew’s Day |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| December 28 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Upcoming bank holidays in Northern Ireland
Bank holidays in Northern Ireland 2024
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| May 6 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 27 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| July 12 | Friday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| August 26 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25 | Wednesday | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Thursday | Boxing Day |
Bank Holidays in Northern Ireland 2025
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day |
| March 17 | Monday | St Patrick’s Day |
| April 18 | Friday | Good Friday |
| April 21 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| May 5 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 26 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| July 14 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day) |
| August 25 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25 | Thursday | Christmas Day |
| December 26 | Friday | Boxing Day |
Bank holidays in Northern Ireland 2026
| Date | Day of the week | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| March 17 | Tuesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| April 6 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| May 4 | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| May 25 | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| July 13 | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) (substitute day) |
| August 31 | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| December 28 | Monday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Bank Holiday Tips
Things to do on a Bank Holiday
So you have that precious extra day off, what are you going to do with it, here are 10 ideas to get you started.
- Plan a long weekend away
- Explore the outdoors
- Throw a barbecue or party, even a wedding
- Spring clean or decorate your home
- Go to. a festival or event
- Plan, plan, plan
- Book, book book
- Shop til you drop
- Visit lost long friends and family
- Fulfil the bucket list
How to maximise your annual leave with Bank Holidays
The best way to maximize your yearly holiday allowance is to combine it with bank holidays to get longer time away and use less of your own holiday entitlement with these handy tips
Book these days off to maximise your annual leave in 2024:
New Year Bank Holiday
Get 9 days off with only 4 days of your holiday allowance.
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: New Years’’ Day (1 day)
Book off: Tuesday 4th January to Friday 7th January (4 days)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Total 9 days off
Easter Bank Holidays
Get 10 days off with only 4 days of your holiday allowance.
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Book off: Monday 25th March to Thursday 28th March (4 days)
Bank Holiday: Good Friday (1 day)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Easter Monday (1 day)
Total 10 days off
Or, if you are looking for a longer break in 2024 extend it by
Get 16 days off with only 8 days of your holiday allowance.
Book off: Monday 25th March to Thursday 28th March (4 days)
Bank Holiday: Good Friday (1 day)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Easter Monday (1 day)
Book off: Tuesday 2nd April to Friday 5th April (4 days)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Total 16 days off
May Bank Holidays
Get 9 days off with only 4 days of your holiday allowance.
Early May Bank Holiday:
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Early May (1 day)
Book off: Tuesday 7th May to Friday 10th May (4 days)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
or
Late May Bank Holiday:
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Late May (1 day)
Book off: Tuesday 28th May to Friday 31st May (4 days)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Total 9 days off
Late Summer Bank Holiday
Get 9 days off with only 4 days of your holiday allowance.
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Summer (1 day)
Book off: Tuesday 27th August to Friday 30th August (4 days)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Total 9 days off
December: Christmas and New Year Bank Holiday
Get 12 days off with only 5 days of your holiday allowance.
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Book off: Monday 23rd December to. Tuesday 24th December (2 days)
Bank Holiday: Wednesday Christmas Day (1 day)
Bank Holiday: Thursday Boxing Day (1 day)
Book off: Friday 27th December (1 day)
Weekend: Saturday & Sunday (2 days)
Book off: Monday 30th December to Tuesday 31st December ( 2 days)
Bank Holiday: New Year’s Day (1 day)
Total 12 days off
Frequently asked questions about bank holidays
How many bank holidays in 2024?
There are 8 bank holidays in 2024 in England and Wales, which
Do employers have to give bank holidays off?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. Employers are not officially entitled to give bank or public holidays as paid leave and ca choose to include Bank holidays in the employee’s yearly entitlement or not.
The law says workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday each year, and it’s up to the employer whether any of these days coincide with bank holidays or not.
The good news is, that it is common practice for most employers to treat bank holidays as additional days off and pay for you to be absent from work too. For many who do work they possibly be able to benefit from double time (or similar in their hourly wage.
What are UK bank holidays and their history?
For the inquisitive ones in you,
Bank holidays are public holidays when banks and many government and public institutions are closed, giving most employees time off.
The first bank holidays were named in the Bank Holidays Act 1871:
- Easter Monday, Whit Monday, First Monday in August and Boxing Day for England and Wales
- Easter Monday, Whit Monday, First Monday in August and St Stephen’s Day for Ireland
- New Year’s Day, Good Friday, First Monday in May, First Monday in August and Christmas Day for Scotland
In everywhere except Scotland, Good Friday and Christmas Day were considered traditional days of rest anyway, so these weren’t included in the act.
The Bank Holidays Act 1871 was in effect for 100 years, until it was replaced by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, which is still in place to this day.