Bank holidays are the UK’s public holidays. Their legal basis is the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971, together with royal proclamations that can add or move days. Banks and most offices close, and most employees get the day off — although employers are not legally required to give paid leave on bank holidays specifically, as long as statutory holiday entitlement is met.
The 8 bank holidays in England and Wales
- New Year’s Day — 1 January
- Good Friday — the Friday before Easter Sunday
- Easter Monday — the day after Easter Sunday
- Early May bank holiday — first Monday in May
- Spring bank holiday — last Monday in May
- Summer bank holiday — last Monday in August
- Christmas Day — 25 December
- Boxing Day — 26 December
Because Easter moves, Good Friday and Easter Monday can fall anywhere from late March to late April.
Substitute days
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a substitute day is given, normally the next weekday. Christmas is the classic case: if Christmas Day is on a Saturday, the substitute days are Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December, because Boxing Day (Sunday) also needs a weekday. Our UK calendars show both the original date and the substitute day.
Bank holidays in England and Wales, 2027
| Holiday | Date | Substitute day |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January | — |
| Good Friday | Friday 26 March | — |
| Easter Monday | Monday 29 March | — |
| Early May bank holiday | Monday 3 May | — |
| Spring bank holiday | Monday 31 May | — |
| Summer bank holiday | Monday 30 August | — |
| Christmas Day | Saturday 25 December | Monday 27 December |
| Boxing Day | Sunday 26 December | Tuesday 28 December |
All 2027 UK bank holidays and observances →
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland has 2 January as a bank holiday, St Andrew’s Day (30 November) and a summer bank holiday on the first Monday in August instead of the last; Easter Monday is not a bank holiday there. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick’s Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July). Many local holidays in Scotland also vary by town.
One-off bank holidays
Occasionally an extra bank holiday is declared for a national event — for example for royal jubilees, coronations and state funerals — or a regular one is moved, as the Early May bank holiday has been for anniversaries. These one-off changes are announced in advance on GOV.UK, so check there for the official list. You can then download the 2026 UK calendar or the 2027 UK calendar and add any extra day in the notes.