📅 UK Public Holidays 2026 & 2027
Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2026 · Thu | New Year's Day | Public |
| 3 Apr 2026 · Fri | Good Friday | Public |
| 6 Apr 2026 · Mon | Easter Monday | Public |
| 4 May 2026 · Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Public |
| 25 May 2026 · Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Public |
| 31 Aug 2026 · Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Public |
| 25 Dec 2026 · Fri | Christmas Day | Public |
| 28 Dec 2026 · Mon | Boxing Day (Boxing Day (substitute)) | Public |
Public Holidays 2027
Provisional — most countries publish the official calendar late in the year.
| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 · Fri | New Year's Day | Public |
| 26 Mar 2027 · Fri | Good Friday | Public |
| 29 Mar 2027 · Mon | Easter Monday | Public |
| 3 May 2027 · Mon | Early May Bank Holiday | Public |
| 31 May 2027 · Mon | Spring Bank Holiday | Public |
| 30 Aug 2027 · Mon | Summer Bank Holiday | Public |
| 27 Dec 2027 · Mon | Christmas Day (Christmas Day (substitute)) | Public |
| 28 Dec 2027 · Tue | Boxing Day | Public |
ℹ️ Why these dates matter
British bank holidays turn an ordinary weekend into a nationwide getaway, especially in May and late August. The dates below follow the England and Wales calendar; Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different or additional holidays. Banks and offices close, many attractions remain open with altered hours, and the roads towards the coast are busiest from Friday afternoon.
Festivals Worth Planning a Trip Around
Beyond the stat holidays — the events that define the travel year.
Trooping the Colour — 13 June 2026 (Sat)
The King’s official birthday parade brings massed bands, mounted guards and the RAF flypast to central London. Standing along The Mall is free, while enclosures and seats around Horse Guards Parade are ticketed; arrive early for the free view and apply or book as soon as ticket details are released.
Notting Hill Carnival — 30–31 August 2026 (Sun–Mon)
Europe’s biggest street carnival fills west London with sound systems, steel bands, costumes and Caribbean food over the August bank-holiday weekend. Book a room well ahead, use the Tube rather than a taxi, and go on Sunday for the family parade or Monday for the biggest crowds and main procession.
Bonfire Night — 5 November 2026 (Thu)
Bonfire Night is not a public holiday, but fireworks and bonfires appear nationwide on and around 5 November; Lewes stages the most intense historic procession and imposes strict transport controls. For another winter spectacle, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party falls on 31 December and needs both accommodation and event tickets booked months ahead.
Christmas Day — 25 December 2026 (Fri)
London builds Christmas into a full season: Winter Wonderland fills Hyde Park, Oxford Street switches on its lights and theatres stage pantomimes for families. Book popular shows and central hotels early, visit the lights on a weekday evening, and remember that most transport and attractions close or sharply reduce service on Christmas Day itself.
💡 Quick Tips
- Leave the coast before Sunday evening or return on Tuesday, because bank-holiday traffic is heaviest late Monday afternoon.
- Book intercity trains as soon as advance fares appear and check for engineering works over long weekends.
- Banks and offices close on bank holidays, while shops and attractions usually open with Sunday or reduced hours.
- Check the relevant nation’s calendar if your trip includes Scotland or Northern Ireland, where some holiday dates differ.
⚡ Pro Tips
- For Notting Hill Carnival, stay east of the route and walk from a Tube station one stop beyond the busiest exits.
- See Oxford Street’s Christmas lights just after dusk on a Monday or Tuesday, before shoppers and theatre crowds overlap.
- Pair a bank-holiday city stay with Tuesday countryside travel, when room rates and roads often settle.
📋 Summary
Plan around every UK bank holiday in 2026 and 2027, then pick the celebrations worth a journey: Trooping the Colour, Notting Hill Carnival, Bonfire Night and Christmas in London. Bank-holiday weekends fill roads, trains and seaside hotels quickly, so a little timing makes a big difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are shops and attractions open on UK bank holidays?
Most shops, restaurants and major attractions open, often with Sunday or shortened hours. Banks and offices close, and Christmas Day brings much wider closures, so check each venue and transport operator before setting out.
Do all four UK nations share the same public holidays?
No. England and Wales largely share a calendar, while Scotland and Northern Ireland have additional or differently timed holidays. Use the table as the England and Wales baseline and check the local calendar for every other part of the UK.
When should I avoid driving on a bank-holiday weekend?
Friday afternoon leaving major cities and late Monday afternoon returning from the coast or countryside are usually the slowest periods. Travel early in the morning, return after dinner, or add a Tuesday night to avoid the main wave.
