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Easter and bank holiday weekends
The long weekends, with dates straight from GOV.UK.
Bank holiday (public holiday) weekends bring crowds, full trains and some closed shops and sights. Dates differ between England and Wales and Scotland, so both are listed.
All dates here come from the GOV.UK bank holidays page, opened on Oct 25, 2026.
Dates: where a date is shown, it comes from the organizer's own page (last checked Oct 25, 2026). Where it says "usually", the date is not confirmed: use the official link.
Dated events
- The Boat Race River Thames, London
Easter
- England and Wales
Good Friday and Easter Monday
Good Friday Mar 26, 2027 and Easter Monday Mar 29, 2027
Both are bank holidays in England and Wales.
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Scotland
Good Friday
GOV.UK lists Good Friday for Scotland and does not list an Easter Monday bank holiday there.
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
May and summer
- UK
Early May bank holiday
The same date in England, Wales and Scotland.
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- UK
Spring bank holiday
The same date in England, Wales and Scotland.
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- England and Wales
Summer bank holiday, England and Wales
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
- Scotland
Summer bank holiday, Scotland
Scotland's summer bank holiday falls earlier than the one in England and Wales.
GOV.UK (opens in new tab) · checked Oct 25, 2026
Before you go
- Book trains and rooms early for Easter and the August weekends.
- Check opening hours for each sight on the organizer's page before you go.
- Check rail and Tube service changes before you set off.
Sources
Pages we opened to write this guide. Organizers change dates: check before you book.
- GOV.UK: UK bank holidays (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
- The Boat Race (opens in new tab) · opened Oct 25, 2026
More: All events · When to visit · Plan your trip · Walks
More seasonal guides
- UK in spring: festivals, blossom and bank holidaysBlossom in the parks, festivals in university cities and two bank holiday weekends.
- UK in summer: festivals, sport and long days outBig sport and street festivals in London, and all of Edinburgh in August.
- UK in fall: color, city festivals and fireTurning leaves, rutting deer and city festivals that fill the evenings.
- UK in winter: Christmas markets, lights and HogmanayChristmas markets and lights, then New Year in London and Edinburgh.
- Christmas markets and winter lightsWhere to find markets and lights, with the organizers' own dates.
- Bonfire Night, fire festivals and HogmanayFire and fireworks from late fall to Hogmanay.