With the next public holiday almost here, we explain how to strategically tag days off onto your 2024 bank holidays in the UK and weekends over May half term and beyond to get 55 days off using just 25 days of annual leave.
Paid annual leave is a right for every UK worker, but it's limited. Use your days wisely, though, and you can enjoy extended periods away from work.
For instance, take four days of leave over the Spring Bank holiday, and you'll get nine days off to head on holiday or rest and recuperate at home (if you include adjoining weekends).
So mark your calendars. We’ve outlined the UK bank holidays in 2024 and 2025 below, plus how best to use them. For this, we've assumed you have 25 days of leave on top of bank holidays, so adjust the below if you have fewer or more paid days off.
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When is the next UK bank holiday?
The next bank holiday is on Monday 27 May.
When are the 2024 UK bank holidays in England and Wales?
- 1 January - New Year’s Day
- 29 March - Good Friday
- 1 April - Easter Monday
- 6 May - Early May bank holiday
- 27 May - Spring bank holiday
- 26 August - Summer bank holiday
- 25 December - Christmas Day
- 26 December - Boxing Day
When are the May bank holidays in 2024?
The early May bank holiday fell on Monday, 6 May. The other is on Monday 27 May.
How to extend the spring bank holiday
With the next bank holiday falling at the end of May, you can enjoy an extended nine-day break by taking just four days of annual leave.
After your day off on 27 May, book off 28, 29, 30 and 31 May to enjoy an extended nine-day break. It’s the perfect opportunity to make a beeline for sunnier climes; sun, sea and sangria in Spain are calling.
Keen for more inspiration on where to travel in May? Check out more great holiday destinations for May.
Annual leave days needed: 4
Actual days away from work: 9
Dates for the diary:25 May - 2 June
Planning a holiday in 2024? Check out our package holiday company reviewsbefore parting with your money to ensure you book with a company you can count on.
When is the August bank holiday 2024?
The summer bank holiday lands on 26 August. Adding leave to this gives you a chance to squeeze in a UK break to enjoy the last of the British summertime before the days become colder and darker. Just be sure to find a reputable holiday cottage provider from our survey if you plan to book a self-catering break - and don't forget to pack some well-rated walking shoes if you're planning to check out some of the UK's best UK walks as rated by Which? members.
How to extend it
With the bank holiday landing on a Monday, book off Tuesday - Friday to enjoy a nine-day holiday. You could choose to head to a top-rated seaside town in the UK.
Annual leave days needed: 4
Actual days away from work: 9
Dates for the diary: 24 August - 1 September
When are the Christmas bank holidays 2024?
Christmas Day falls on a Wednesday in 2024, and Boxing Day lands on a Thursday; both are bank holidays.
Whether your Christmas plans involve kicking back in front of the TV with a box of mince pies - rated well by our in-house testing team - or heading to a Which? member favourite European city break, make the most of the festivities by extending your downtime.
How to extend the Christmas holidays
Book five days of annual leave on Monday 23, Tuesday 24 and Friday 27, plus the following Monday and Tuesday (30 and 31 December) and receive 11 days off in 2024. You'll technically get 12 days off because New Year's Day 2025 is also a bank holiday.
Annual leave days needed: 5
Actual days away from work: 11 (12 if you include 1 Jan in 2025)
Dates for the diary: 21 December - 1 January
How many bank holidays are there in 2024?
England and Wales have eight bank holidays in 2024, while Scotland sneaks in an extra one to make nine and Northern Ireland has 10.
Scotland bank holidays 2024
Scotland's bank holidays are slightly different to those of England and Wales. See below for the list of 2024 dates:
- 1 January (New Year's Day)
- 2 January
- 29 March (Good Friday)
- 6 May (Early May bank holiday)
- 27 May (spring bank holiday)
- 5 August (summer bank holiday)
- 2 December (St Andrew's Day substitute)
- 25 December (Christmas Day)
- 26 December (Boxing Day)
Northern Ireland bank holidays 2024
Similarly, Northern Ireland bank holidays aren't exactly the same as England, Wales or Scotland. See the list of 2024 dates:
- 1 January (New Year's Day)
- 18 March (St Patrick's Day substitute)
- 29 March (Good Friday)
- 1 April (Easter Monday)
- 6 May (Early May bank holiday)
- 27 May (spring bank holiday)
- 12 July (Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day)
- 26 August (summer bank holiday)
- 25 December (Christmas Day)
- 26 December (Boxing Day)
What dates are the 2025 bank holidays in England and Wales?
- Wednesday 1 January (New Year’s Day)
- Friday 18 April (Good Friday)
- Monday 21 April (Easter Monday)
- Monday 5 May (Early May bank holiday)
- Monday 26 May (Spring bank holiday)
- Monday 25 August (Summer bank holiday)
- Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
What dates are the 2025 bank holidays in Scotland?
- Wednesday 1 January (New Year's Day)
- Thursday 2 January
- Friday 18 April (Good Friday)
- Monday 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)
- Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
What dates are the 2025 bank holidays in Northern Ireland?
- Wednesday 1 January (New Year's Day)
- Monday 17 March (St Patrick's Day substitute)
- Friday 18 April (Good Friday)
- Monday 21 April (Easter Monday)
- Monday 5 May (Early May bank holiday)
- Monday 26 May (spring bank holiday)
- Monday 14 July (Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen's Day)
- Monday 25 August (summer bank holiday)
- Thursday 25 December (Christmas Day)
- Friday 26 December (Boxing Day)
