UK Holidays 2027: Bank Holidays and How to Maximise Your Time Off
UK bank holidays 2027 fall in a way that rewards a little planning. With Easter at the end of March and Christmas Day on a Saturday, you can turn a modest amount of annual leave into several long breaks. This guide lists every confirmed date for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, shows you how to stretch your leave, and suggests trips abroad from the UK for each break
UK bank holidays 2027: England and Wales
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Because Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Saturday and Sunday in 2027, the bank holidays move to the following Monday and Tuesday.
Scotland bank holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 4 January | Monday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 2 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Tuesday | St Andrew’s Day |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland, and the summer bank holiday falls at the start of August rather than the end.
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2027
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 17 March | Wednesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
How to maximise your annual leave in 2027
These examples assume you work Monday to Friday. Weekends and bank holidays are included in the total days off.
| Break | Book these days | Leave used | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter (all except Scotland) | 30 March to 2 April | 4 days | 10 days: 26 March to 4 April |
| Long Easter | 22 to 25 March and 30 March to 2 April | 8 days | 16 days: 20 March to 4 April |
| Early May | 4 to 7 May | 4 days | 9 days: 1 to 9 May |
| Spring bank holiday | 1 to 4 June | 4 days | 9 days: 29 May to 6 June |
| Summer (England, Wales, NI) | 31 August to 3 September | 4 days | 9 days: 28 August to 5 September |
| Christmas and New Year | 29 to 31 December | 3 days | 10 days: 25 December to 3 January 2028 |
In England and Wales, using these five breaks with the shorter Easter option turns 19 days of leave into 47 days off. The Christmas break assumes New Year’s Day 2028, a Saturday, is replaced by a substitute bank holiday on Monday 3 January 2028, as in previous years.
Extra options for Scotland and Northern Ireland
| Break | Book these days | Leave used | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland summer | 3 to 6 August | 4 days | 9 days: 31 July to 8 August |
| St Andrew’s Day | 29 November | 1 day | 4 days: 27 to 30 November |
| St Patrick’s Day | 15, 16, 18 and 19 March | 4 days | 9 days: 13 to 21 March |
| Twelfth of July | 13 to 16 July | 4 days | 9 days: 10 to 18 July |
University holidays for students
University term dates are set by each institution, but most UK universities follow a similar pattern:
| Break | Typical timing | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas vacation | Mid December to early or mid January | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Easter vacation | Late March to mid or late April | 3 to 5 weeks |
| Summer vacation | June to late September | 12 to 15 weeks |
| Reading week | Usually November and February or March | 1 week |
Scottish universities often start earlier in September and finish earlier in May. Check your own university calendar, as exam periods can fall straight after the Easter break. International students on a Student visa can usually work full time during official vacations, but check your university’s vacation dates with UKVI rules on GOV.UK.
Trip ideas abroad for each break
| Break | Short haul idea | Long haul idea |
|---|---|---|
| Easter (late March) | Seville, Lisbon or Madeira for early spring sun | Japan for cherry blossom season |
| Early May | Amsterdam, Copenhagen or the Algarve | New York in spring |
| Spring bank holiday | Croatia, Greek islands or the Italian lakes | Canada’s Rockies before peak summer |
| Summer bank holiday | Norway’s fjords or Slovenia | Cape Town in the dry season |
| Christmas and New Year | Christmas markets in Vienna or Prague | Australia or New Zealand in summer |
For long haul trips, a 10 day or 16 day break makes the travel time worthwhile. Book flights early for Easter and Christmas, as prices rise quickly around school holidays.
Travel tips for UK holidaymakers
- Passports: many countries require at least 3 to 6 months of validity remaining, so check before you book.
- Entry to Europe: the EU Entry/Exit System now records your fingerprints and photo at the border, and ETIAS travel authorisation is due to follow. Check GOV.UK foreign travel advice for each country.
- Long haul entry: the USA needs an ESTA, Canada an eTA, Australia an ETA and New Zealand an NZeTA for most UK visitors.
- Insurance: buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip.
- Health cover in Europe: carry a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for state healthcare in the EU.
Plan your leave around the bank holidays early in the year, and the same allowance gives you far more time away.
Pros and cons of booking around bank holidays
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More consecutive days off for the same leave | Flights and hotels cost more at peak times |
| Colleagues expect quieter periods | Popular weeks get booked quickly at work |
| Easier to plan long haul trips | School holidays overlap with many breaks |
Ten tips for planning your 2027 time off
- Request leave early in January before colleagues book the best weeks.
- Check whether your employer counts bank holidays within your allowance.
- Use the long Easter option if you want a long haul trip.
- Avoid school half term weeks if you do not have children, to save on travel.
- Compare flights on Tuesday and Wednesday departures.
- Check your passport has enough validity for your destination.
- Look at visa or ESTA requirements before you book long haul.
- Use Christmas leave for southern hemisphere summer trips.
- Combine regional holidays if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- Use a long break to visit a country you might move to.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many bank holidays are there in 2027?
There are 8 in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
2. When is Easter 2027?
Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March 2027. Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland.
3. Why are the Christmas bank holidays on 27 and 28 December 2027?
Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a Saturday and Sunday, so substitute bank holidays are given on the following Monday and Tuesday.
4. When is the summer bank holiday in 2027?
Monday 30 August in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Monday 2 August in Scotland.
5. Is St Patrick’s Day a bank holiday?
Yes, in Northern Ireland only. In 2027 it falls on Wednesday 17 March.
6. Is St Andrew’s Day a bank holiday in Scotland?
Yes. In 2027 it is on Tuesday 30 November, although not all employers give the day off.
7. How can I get the most time off in 2027?
Book 4 days around Easter, early May, the spring and summer bank holidays, and 3 days at Christmas. That gives 47 days off for 19 days of leave in England and Wales.
8. Do I get paid for bank holidays?
There is no legal right to paid leave on bank holidays. Your employer may include them in your statutory 5.6 weeks of annual leave.
9. When are university holidays in 2027?
Most universities break from mid December to January, late March to April, and June to September. Check your university’s term dates.
10. Where can I check official bank holiday dates?
Use the bank holidays page on GOV.UK, which lists confirmed dates for every UK nation.
Using a long break to plan a move abroad?
Many people use a long break to explore a country before moving there. If a trip turns into a plan, read our guides to moving to Australia, moving to Canada and moving to New Zealand. When you are ready, our international removals team can help, and you can get a free quote the same working day.
