UK Bank Holidays 2025: All The Dates You Need To Know

Planning your holidays for 2025? You’ll want to know about the UK bank holidays coming up! These special days off work give you a chance to relax, spend time with your favourite people, or take a short trip. (Or even lay on the sofa all day eating cake.)

The UK has eight bank holidays in 2025 for England and Wales, with a few extra days for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The number of annual bank holidays varies by region within the UK. The dates include popular favourites like New Year’s Day, Good Friday, and Christmas Day, as well as others sprinkled throughout the year.

Bank holidays can affect opening hours for shops, banks, and public services. It’s a good idea to plan ahead if you need to run errands on these days. But you can also plan your holidays around them, too.

2025 bank holidays in the UK

The UK has eight bank holidays in 2025, but how many bank holidays there are can vary by country. These public holidays give you time off work to celebrate special occasions and enjoy time with loved ones.

The UK has different bank holiday schedules for each nation.

England and Wales share the same days off, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own unique celebrations. Here's a look at the special holidays in each region.

England and Wales' bank holidays

England and Wales will have 8 bank holidays in 2025. These include New Year's Day, Good Friday, and Easter Monday. You'll also get two bank holidays in the springtime alongside the Summer Bank Holiday.

Christmas Day and Boxing Day round out the list of bank holidays in England. It's worth noting that St. George's Day, England's national day, is not a bank holiday. Wales doesn't have any specific bank holidays of its own either.

Here's a quick look at the dates:

• 1st January: New Year's Day
• 18th April: Good Friday
• 21st April: Easter Monday
• 5th May: Early May Bank Holiday
• 26th May: Spring Bank Holiday
• 25th August: Summer Bank Holiday
• 25th December: Christmas Day
• 26th December: Boxing Day

Bank holidays in Scotland

Scotland celebrates 9 bank holidays in 2025, one more than England and Wales.

The differences are firstly for St Andrew's Day, Scotland's national day. This is normally celebrated on the 30th November, but that's a Sunday, so it's moved to the following day, the first of December.

Scots also celebrate the 2nd January as a bank holiday instead of Easter Monday. This provides an extra day to recover from Hogmanay celebrations!

Here are Scotland's unique dates:

• 1st January: New Year's Day
• 2nd January: January Bank Holiday
• 18th April: Good Friday
• 5th May: Early May Bank Holiday
• 26th May: Spring Bank Holiday
• 25th August: Summer Bank Holiday
• 1st December: St Andrew's Day (substitute day for 30th November)
• 25th December: Christmas Day
• 26th December: Boxing Day

Bank holidays in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland tops the list with 10 bank holidays in 2025. You get two extra days compared to England and Wales. These are St Patrick's Day on the 17th of March and the Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) on the 12th of July.

If either of these falls on a weekend (which is true in 2025 for the Battle of the Boyne), you'll get the following Monday off instead. Northern Ireland follows the same Easter Monday holiday as England and Wales, unlike Scotland.

Here's a list of Northern Ireland's bank holidays for 2025:

• 1st January: New Year's Day
• 17th March: St Patrick's Day
• 18th April: Good Friday
• 21st April: Easter Monday
• 5th May: Early May Bank Holiday
• 26th May: Spring Bank Holiday
• 14th July: Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen's Day) (moved from 12th July)
• 25th August: Summer Bank Holiday
• 25th December: Christmas Day
• 26th December: Boxing Day

Making the most of your bank holidays

Bank holidays are a welcome opportunity to take a break, relax, and recharge – especially in today's hybrid work environment, where the lines between personal and professional life can blur. With many employees juggling remote and in-office responsibilities, these pockets of time off are essential for mental wellbeing and maintaining productivity. With a little planning, you can make the most of these days. Here are some tips to help you maximise your bank holidays:

1. Plan ahead: Check the bank holiday calendar and plan your activities in advance. Booking your travel and accommodations early can help you avoid last-minute rushes and secure the best deals.
2. Combine bank hols with annual leave: Consider wrapping a few extra days off around the bank holiday to create a longer break. This way, you'll have more time to unwind and enjoy your holiday.
3. Explore local events: Look for local events, festivals, and activities happening round your area during the bank holiday. This is a great way to see things in a different light and gain a greater appreciation for your local community.
4. Take a staycation: If you can’t travel far, why not take a staycation? Explore local attractions, try new restaurants, or just enjoy a relaxing break at home.
5. Spend quality time with family and friends: Bank holidays are perfect for spending quality time with your loved ones. Plan a picnic, BBQ, or game night to reconnect with your favourite folks.

Balancing work and play

Bank holidays are a great opportunity to take a break. But if you’re a bit of a workaholic, you might not find it easy to switch off. Here are some tips to help you get some proper rest during your time off:

1. Set boundaries: Make sure to set clear boundaries between work and leisure time. If you can, avoid checking work emails or taking work calls during your break to take that mental load off. While half of employees feel pressured to respond to work emails out of hours, it's not always a healthy practice, and can increase your risk of burnout.
2. Prioritise self-care: Use your bank holiday to prioritise self-care. Take time to relax, exercise, and recharge, so you can return to work feeling refreshed.
3. Plan ahead for work: Before taking your break, plan ahead for work. Box off any urgent tasks and don't leave yourself a stressful pile of work for when you return.