First time in Britain

When are the UK bank holidays?

England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own list. The dates below come from GOV.UK.

Facts last checked Nov 1, 2026. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

Calm turquoise sea off Porthminster Beach, St Ives, with houses on the wooded hillside behind
Photo: ArildV, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Short answer: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each have their own list. The dates below come from GOV.UK.

Are bank holidays the same across the UK?

No. GOV.UK publishes separate lists for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; for example, St Andrew's Day is a Scottish bank holiday and St Patrick's Day is a Northern Irish one.[1]

Are shops open on bank holidays?

Many are, but large shops in England and Wales must close on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Check opening times with each shop or attraction.[2]

Quiet stretch of sand at Portobello beach in Edinburgh under a pale blue sky
Photo: Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Is transport busier on bank holidays?

Travel guides note that many residents travel on bank holiday weekends, so roads and trains can be busier; if your dates are flexible, avoid travelling on those weekends.[3]

Bank holiday dates, Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 5, 2028

From the GOV.UK bank holidays feed.[1] Dates are as GOV.UK lists them, including any it marks as a substitute day.

England and Wales
DateHoliday
Friday Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day
Monday Dec 28, 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday Jan 1, 2027New Year’s Day
Friday Mar 26, 2027Good Friday
Monday Mar 29, 2027Easter Monday
Monday May 3, 2027Early May bank holiday
Monday May 31, 2027Spring bank holiday
Monday Aug 30, 2027Summer bank holiday
Monday Dec 27, 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)
Tuesday Dec 28, 2027Boxing Day (substitute day)
Monday Jan 3, 2028New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Scotland
DateHoliday
Monday Nov 30, 2026St Andrew’s Day
Friday Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day
Monday Dec 28, 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday Jan 1, 2027New Year’s Day
Monday Jan 4, 20272nd January (substitute day)
Friday Mar 26, 2027Good Friday
Monday May 3, 2027Early May bank holiday
Monday May 31, 2027Spring bank holiday
Monday Aug 2, 2027Summer bank holiday
Tuesday Nov 30, 2027St Andrew’s Day
Monday Dec 27, 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)
Tuesday Dec 28, 2027Boxing Day (substitute day)
Monday Jan 3, 2028New Year’s Day (substitute day)
Tuesday Jan 4, 20282nd January (substitute day)
Northern Ireland
DateHoliday
Friday Dec 25, 2026Christmas Day
Monday Dec 28, 2026Boxing Day (substitute day)
Friday Jan 1, 2027New Year’s Day
Wednesday Mar 17, 2027St Patrick’s Day
Friday Mar 26, 2027Good Friday
Monday Mar 29, 2027Easter Monday
Monday May 3, 2027Early May bank holiday
Monday May 31, 2027Spring bank holiday
Monday Jul 12, 2027Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
Monday Aug 30, 2027Summer bank holiday
Monday Dec 27, 2027Christmas Day (substitute day)
Tuesday Dec 28, 2027Boxing Day (substitute day)
Monday Jan 3, 2028New Year’s Day (substitute day)

Sources

Read on the dates shown. Rules, fees and services change: check the source before you rely on it. Pages marked “not read” refused automated access, so we state nothing from them.

  1. UK bank holidays (opens in new tab), GOV.UK, read Nov 1, 2026
  2. Trading hours for retailers: the law (opens in new tab), GOV.UK, read Nov 1, 2026
  3. United Kingdom (travel guide) (opens in new tab), Wikivoyage, read Nov 1, 2026