Calendar · 3 nations
Public holidays in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has 6 public holidays everywhere, and each nation adds days of its own. Pick one to see its dates, the weekdays they fall on, and the bridge days around them.
Bank holidays are set by statute for each nation (England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), with substitute days appointed by statute or royal proclamation. School term dates are determined by local authorities and individual schools or education sectors.
When a holiday falls on a weekend, it moves to the next working day.
Holidays by nation
Common holidays
6 days
- 1 JanThursday
- 3 AprFriday
- 4 MayMonday
- 25 MayMonday
- 25 DecFriday
- 28 DecMonday
Regional holidays
8 days
- 2 JanFridayScotland
- 17 MarTuesdayNorthern Ireland
- 6 AprMondayeverywhere except Scotland
- 15 JunMondayScotland
- 13 JulMondayNorthern Ireland
- 3 AugMondayScotland
- 31 AugMondayeverywhere except Scotland
- 30 NovMondayScotland
Bank holidays and school terms across the United Kingdom
Bank holidays vary across the UK's nations, reflecting distinct historical traditions. In Scotland, following the Reformation (1560), the Kirk's General Assembly abolished traditional feast days in 1575, establishing Hogmanay as the primary winter celebration — Christmas Day only became a statutory bank holiday in Scotland in 1958 (and Boxing Day in 1974), which is why Scotland continues to observe 2 January as a public holiday.
School term dates are not fixed nationally. In England and Wales, terms are set by local authorities and individual academies, while Scottish councils also designate their own local public holidays. School terms follow a three-term rhythm structured around Christmas, Easter, and summer.