UK Bank Holidays

When planning time off or budgeting for the year, understanding UK bank holidays, the officially recognised public holidays in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Also known as public holidays, they affect work schedules, travel plans and pay calculations. The phrase public holiday, any day when banks, schools and most businesses close is often used interchangeably with bank holiday, but a statutory holiday, a day mandated by law for employee leave carries specific legal obligations for employers. A well‑kept holiday calendar, the yearly schedule of all UK bank holidays broken down by region helps you see when the extra day off lands and plan around it.

Why do these dates matter? First, they shape the holiday pay landscape. In England and Wales, most workers receive their normal wage on a bank holiday, but some contracts add a premium rate or overtime. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own nuances—Scotland, for example, includes St. Andrew's Day as a statutory holiday, while Northern Ireland adds St. Patrick's Day. Understanding these regional quirks can save you from surprise payroll issues. Second, transport providers – trains, buses and airlines – often run special timetables, so checking the holiday calendar ahead of time prevents missed connections.

Key Things to Know About UK Bank Holidays

Every year the UK government announces eight to nine official days, but the exact list varies. England and Wales typically get New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May bank holiday, Spring bank holiday, Summer bank holiday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Scotland swaps Easter Monday for St. Andrew’s Day, and Northern Ireland swaps the Summer bank holiday for the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) and adds St. Patrick’s Day. These differences create a patchwork where the same date can be a workday in one nation and a holiday in another.

Employers must treat bank holidays as part of the statutory leave entitlement, which is 28 days for a full‑time worker in England and Wales. If your contract already includes paid annual leave, you don’t get extra days for the holidays; they’re counted within that 28‑day pool. However, many organisations top up with additional days for major holidays, especially around Christmas, to keep staff motivated.

Travel enthusiasts love bank holidays because they extend weekends, but they also bring crowds and price hikes. Booking accommodation or tickets early, checking the holiday calendar for regional variations, and planning flexible itineraries can turn a packed day into a smooth getaway.

For freelancers and gig workers, the rules differ. Since they aren’t covered by statutory holiday pay, they often set aside a portion of earnings to mimic paid leave. Knowing the exact dates from the national holiday calendar helps them schedule projects around busy periods when clients may be offline.

Below you’ll find a curated selection of articles that dive deeper into each holiday’s date, regional quirks, payroll guidance and travel tips. Whether you’re a manager sorting shift patterns, a traveler chasing a long weekend, or just curious about why the UK observes these days, the posts ahead have you covered.