Bank Holidays in the UK

National holidays or public holidays are called Bank Holidays in Britain. The UK has fewer public holidays than many other countries including Japan and India. See a listing of bank holidays in the UK.

The main public (bank) holidays in the UK are:

January 1 – New Year’s Day

Good Friday (late March or early April)

Easter Monday (late March or early April)

First Monday in May (May Day)

Last Monday in May

Last Monday in August

December 25 – Christmas Day

December 26 – Boxing Day

* If January 1 or December 25 or 26 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the Monday becomes a holiday.

Bank holidays are the same in England and Wales but differ slightly in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Bank Holidays in Scotland

Scotland celebrates St Andrew’s Day in late November or early December and also the 2 January. The August bank holiday is in the first week of August.