Bank Holidays 2025 Uk – Complete Guide by Region

For anyone planning holidays, travel, or business operations in 2025, knowing exactly when the UK bank holidays fall is essential. The official dates, set by the UK Cabinet Office and published on gov.uk, vary by region. England and Wales have eight, Scotland has nine, and Northern Ireland has ten. All dates for 2025 have been confirmed and align across multiple official and secondary sources.

Bank holidays are days when most businesses, schools, and public services close. They are established by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and by royal proclamation. While some dates are fixed each year, others shift depending on the calendar. In 2025, all bank holidays fall on weekdays, meaning no substitute days are required.

The list below covers every region of the UK, drawing directly from government data and corroborated by sources including the Debt Management Office spreadsheet and commercial calendars. No speculative or unconfirmed dates are included.

What are the UK bank holidays in 2025?

Total (England & Wales)
8 bank holidays

First holiday
New Year’s Day – Wednesday 1 January

Last holiday
Boxing Day – Friday 26 December

Movable holidays
Good Friday, Easter Monday, May, Spring & August dates change annually

Several key observations stand out for the 2025 calendar. These insights come directly from the confirmed schedule.

All eight bank holidays in England and Wales fall on weekdays. No weekend substitutions are needed.
November has no bank holidays. The gap between the Summer bank holiday on 25 August and Christmas Day on 25 December is 67 days.
New Year’s Day lands on a Wednesday, creating a short mid-week break rather than a long weekend.
Scotland has nine bank holidays, including 2 January and St Andrew’s Day on 1 December (substitute).
Northern Ireland has ten bank holidays, adding St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland.
The Spring bank holiday falls on the last Monday of May (26 May) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Fact	Detail
Year	2025
Country	United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland)
Bank holidays (England & Wales)	8
Bank holidays (Scotland)	9
Bank holidays (Northern Ireland)	10
Earliest date	1 January
Latest date	26 December
Movable holidays	Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May bank holiday, Spring bank holiday, Summer bank holiday
Fixed holidays	New Year’s Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day
Weekend substitutes needed	None — all dates fall on weekdays
Official source	gov.uk and DMO spreadsheet

When are the May and August bank holidays in 2025?

Two of the most anticipated bank holidays each year are the May and August breaks. In 2025, these dates are spread across late spring and summer, offering three distinct long weekends for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Early May bank holiday 2025

The Early May bank holiday falls on Monday 5 May 2025. This is the first Monday in May and is observed across all four UK nations. It is sometimes called May Day and has been a fixed May bank holiday since 1978.

Spring bank holiday 2025

The Spring bank holiday occurs on Monday 26 May 2025. For England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this is the last Monday of May. Scotland also observes a Spring bank holiday on the same date in 2025.

Summer bank holiday 2025

The Summer bank holiday falls on Monday 25 August 2025 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland observes its Summer bank holiday earlier, on Monday 4 August 2025. This difference reflects long-standing regional traditions.

Planning tip for long weekends

With the Early May bank holiday on 5 May and the Spring bank holiday on 26 May, workers in England and Wales who take four days of annual leave between these dates can create a stretch of 11 days off. The same principle applies around the Summer bank holiday on 25 August.

When is Easter 2025 in the UK?

Easter is a movable feast, determined by the lunar calendar. In 2025, Easter Sunday falls on 20 April. The two associated bank holidays are Good Friday and Easter Monday, both widely observed.

Good Friday 2025

Good Friday is on Friday 18 April 2025. It is a bank holiday across the entire United Kingdom, including Scotland. This marks the start of the Easter weekend.

Easter Monday 2025

Easter Monday is on Monday 21 April 2025. This is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, but not in Scotland. Schools and many businesses close on Easter Monday in those three nations.

The movable nature of Easter means these dates shift each year. In 2024, Easter Sunday was on 31 March. In 2026, it will be on 5 April. The 2025 dates align with the standard formula used by the UK government.

Are there any bank holidays in November 2025 in the UK?

No. November 2025 has no bank holidays anywhere in the United Kingdom. This is consistent with the standard pattern. Remembrance Day on 11 November is a commemorative occasion but not a public holiday.

The gap between the Summer bank holiday on 25 August and Christmas Day on 25 December is 67 days. This stretch in the autumn calendar is normal. There is no proposal or historical precedent for adding a November bank holiday in the UK.

Why no November bank holiday?

The UK bank holiday schedule is set by the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and royal proclamation. Unlike some countries, the UK does not observe a November public holiday. The existing schedule has remained stable for decades, with no changes proposed for 2025.

Check employer policies

Some employers in the UK offer additional “privilege days” or local holidays that do not appear on the national list. These are discretionary and vary by company. Always verify your specific holiday entitlement with your employer.

What are the bank holidays in Scotland 2025?

Scotland’s bank holiday schedule differs from England and Wales in several ways. The most notable differences are the inclusion of 2 January as a public holiday and the observance of St Andrew’s Day on 1 December (a substitute for the Sunday 30 November date). Scotland’s Summer bank holiday is also earlier, falling on 4 August.

Date	Holiday	Day
1 January	New Year’s Day	Wednesday
2 January	2nd January	Thursday
18 April	Good Friday	Friday
5 May	Early May bank holiday	Monday
26 May	Spring bank holiday	Monday
4 August	Summer bank holiday	Monday
1 December	St Andrew’s Day (substitute)	Monday
25 December	Christmas Day	Thursday
26 December	Boxing Day	Friday

Northern Ireland also has its own distinct schedule, with ten bank holidays including St Patrick’s Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne on 14 July (substitute from Saturday 12 July). The full list for Northern Ireland is available from gov.uk.

When is Christmas Day and Boxing Day 2025?

Christmas Day falls on Thursday 25 December 2025. Boxing Day is Friday 26 December 2025. Both are bank holidays across the entire United Kingdom. This creates a natural four-day weekend for most workers, from Christmas Eve through to the weekend.

No substitution is needed for either date, as both fall on weekdays. This is the same arrangement as 2024. In 2026, Boxing Day will fall on a Saturday and be substituted to Monday 28 December.

1 January (Wednesday) – New Year’s Day (all regions)
2 January (Thursday) – 2nd January (Scotland only)
17 March (Monday) – St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland; no substitute needed)
18 April (Friday) – Good Friday (all regions)
21 April (Monday) – Easter Monday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
5 May (Monday) – Early May bank holiday (all regions)
26 May (Monday) – Spring bank holiday (all regions)
14 July (Monday) – Battle of the Boyne (Northern Ireland; substitute for Saturday 12 July)
4 August (Monday) – Summer bank holiday (Scotland)
25 August (Monday) – Summer bank holiday (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
1 December (Monday) – St Andrew’s Day (Scotland; substitute for Sunday 30 November)
25 December (Thursday) – Christmas Day (all regions)
26 December (Friday) – Boxing Day (all regions)

The chronological order above is based on the official dates published by the UK Cabinet Office and verified against the DMO spreadsheet.

Are all 2025 bank holiday dates confirmed by the government?

Yes. All dates for 2025 are confirmed. The UK Cabinet Office publishes the list in advance, and no changes or additional holidays have been announced. The dates match across all official and secondary sources without any discrepancies.

Established information

All eight bank holidays in England and Wales confirmed.
Scotland’s nine dates, including St Andrew’s Day substitute.
Northern Ireland’s ten dates, with Battle of the Boyne substitute.
All holidays fall on weekdays — no weekend substitution needed.
No extra bank holidays for 2025 (e.g., no coronation anniversary).

Information that remains unclear

No uncertainty about 2025 dates — all are fixed.
Future years (2026 onward) may have substitution changes, but these are known in advance.
Local holidays (e.g., in specific Scottish council areas) are not covered by the national list.

For any year, the substitution rule is clear: if a bank holiday falls on a weekend, it moves to the following Monday. In 2025, this rule does not apply because no bank holiday lands on a Saturday or Sunday.

How are UK bank holidays determined?

UK bank holidays are established under the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 and by royal proclamation. The Act sets out the core dates, while additional holidays can be declared by royal proclamation for special occasions, such as royal jubilees or coronations.

Regional differences exist because Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own historical and cultural observances. For example, Scotland observes 2 January as a bank holiday and celebrates St Andrew’s Day on 30 November (with a substitute if it falls on a weekend). Northern Ireland observes St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.

The number of bank holidays has increased over time. The May Day bank holiday was introduced in 1978. The Spring bank holiday was moved to the last Monday in May following a trial period. No further expansions have been announced for 2025.

What is the official UK government source for bank holiday dates?

The definitive source for UK bank holiday dates is the UK Government’s website at gov.uk/bank-holidays. The page is updated annually and includes separate sections for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The data is published by the Cabinet Office.

“Upcoming bank holidays in England and Wales 2025” — gov.uk table listing all eight dates with corresponding days of the week.

Secondary sources such as Calendarpedia, Good Tuesday and Factorial HR all reproduce the same dates. The DMO spreadsheet, available from the Debt Management Office, provides a machine-readable version of the official list.

“All dates match the official DMO spreadsheet and gov.uk tables. No discrepancies have been found across any of the verified sources.” — cross-source analysis of 2025 bank holiday data.

For Scotland, the dedicated page gov.uk/bank-holidays/scotland lists the nine dates including the St Andrew’s Day substitute. For Northern Ireland, the page gov.uk/bank-holidays/northern-ireland provides the ten dates with the Battle of the Boyne substitute.

What should I keep in mind when planning for UK bank holidays in 2025?

All 2025 bank holiday dates are confirmed and published. No changes or additional holidays are expected. For those planning travel or leave, the three long weekends in May, August and the Christmas period offer the best opportunities to maximise time off. Scotland’s earlier Summer bank holiday on 4 August and the St Andrew’s Day holiday in December provide additional options for residents there. Always check your employer’s holiday policy for any local or discretionary days that may apply to you.

For other planning considerations, see the 90-Day Weather Forecast UK and the DWP One-Off Support December 2025 guide.

Frequently asked questions about UK bank holidays 2025

Is 1 January 2025 a bank holiday?

Yes, New Year’s Day on Wednesday 1 January is a bank holiday across the entire United Kingdom.

Is Good Friday a bank holiday in Scotland?

Yes, Good Friday on 18 April is a bank holiday in Scotland, as it is in all UK nations.

When is the May bank holiday 2025 in Scotland?

Scotland observes the Early May bank holiday on Monday 5 May 2025. The Spring bank holiday also falls on Monday 26 May 2025.

Are there any bank holidays in November 2025?

No. November has no bank holidays in the UK. Remembrance Day on 11 November is not a public holiday.

What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend in 2025?

No bank holiday in 2025 falls on a weekend, so no substitute days are needed. If a holiday does fall on a weekend, it moves to the following Monday.

Is Boxing Day a bank holiday in Scotland?

Yes, Boxing Day on Friday 26 December is a bank holiday in Scotland.

Why does Northern Ireland have more bank holidays than England?

Northern Ireland observes St Patrick’s Day on 17 March and the Battle of the Boyne on 12 July (with substitutes if needed). These are additional to the common holidays.

How can I get a printable calendar of 2025 bank holidays?

Sites such as Calendarpedia and gov.uk offer downloadable and printable versions of the official bank holiday list.

Are 2026 bank holiday dates available yet?

The UK government typically publishes future year dates in advance. The 2026 schedule starts with New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January and includes a substitute for Boxing Day on Monday 28 December.

Do all employers observe all bank holidays?

Most public sector and many private sector employers observe the national bank holidays, but some businesses, particularly in retail and hospitality, may remain open. Check your contract or employee handbook.