Public holidays in the UK

Public holidays in the United Kingdom are commonly known as bank holidays. They are days when many banks, offices, schools, public services, shops, and private businesses may close or operate reduced hours. In London, the relevant official list is usually the bank holiday list for England and Wales. However, the United Kingdom does not have one single identical holiday calendar for every nation. Scotland and Northern Ireland have some different dates, and local arrangements may also vary.

Bank holidays can affect daily life in practical ways. Banks may be closed, customer service departments may have limited cover, deliveries may be delayed, public transport may run to a special timetable, and some shops, pharmacies, GP surgeries, council offices, libraries, and local services may change their opening hours. For this reason, it is sensible to plan ahead, especially if you need medical advice, prescriptions, travel, banking, childcare, official appointments, or access to public services.

If you are visiting London, living in the UK temporarily, working with UK clients, or arranging appointments around public services, always check the bank holiday calendar for the current year. Bank holidays can fall on different dates each year, especially Easter-related holidays. If a fixed-date holiday, such as Christmas Day or Boxing Day, falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday may be given instead. This is why the exact calendar should always be checked before making important plans.

Last reviewed: May 2026
Area: England & London
Cost: Free services

Official bank holiday lists

The official UK Government bank holiday page provides the current and future bank holiday dates for England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. For London, use the England and Wales section unless a service specifically tells you otherwise.

England and Wales usually include the following bank holidays:

New Year’s Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Early May bank holiday
Spring bank holiday
Summer bank holiday
Christmas Day
Boxing Day

Scotland has a different pattern and normally includes additional or alternative dates, such as 2 January and St Andrew’s Day, while some holidays observed in England and Wales may be treated differently.

Northern Ireland also has its own public holiday calendar, including dates such as St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne / Orangemen’s Day, in addition to other UK-wide or commonly observed holidays.

Because these dates can change, and because special bank holidays may sometimes be announced for national events, always verify dates using official sources before relying on them.

Planning ahead

Bank holidays are not just dates on a calendar. They can affect many ordinary activities, especially if you need something urgently or are working to a deadline.

Healthcare

GP surgeries are often closed on bank holidays, and routine appointments may not be available. If you need urgent medical help but it is not a life-threatening emergency, use NHS 111 online or call 111. NHS 111 can direct you to the most appropriate service, which may include an out-of-hours GP service, an urgent treatment centre, a pharmacy, a dentist, mental health support, or accident and emergency.

For serious or life-threatening emergencies, call 999 immediately. Examples may include chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, signs of a stroke, major injury, heavy bleeding, loss of consciousness, or any situation where someone’s life is at immediate risk.

Pharmacies may open for reduced hours on bank holidays. Some pharmacies remain open, but not always the same ones that are open during normal weekdays. If you rely on medication, order repeat prescriptions early and collect essential medicines before the holiday period. Do not leave repeat prescriptions until the last working day before a bank holiday, especially around Easter, Christmas, and New Year.

Dental services may also operate differently. Routine dental appointments are usually not available on public holidays. If you have urgent dental pain, swelling, bleeding, or trauma, NHS 111 can advise you where to go.

Mental health and crisis support

Bank holidays can be difficult for people who feel isolated, unsafe, anxious, depressed, or overwhelmed. Some local services may have reduced opening hours, but urgent support remains available. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you need urgent mental health support but it is not an immediate life-threatening emergency, NHS 111 can help direct you to local crisis services. Some charities and helplines also continue to operate during holidays, although opening times may vary.

Travel and transport

Public transport may run to a reduced, weekend, or special holiday timetable. In London, Transport for London services may be affected by engineering works, closures, strikes, or altered schedules, especially during Christmas, New Year, Easter, and long weekends. Always check your journey before travelling.

National Rail services may also be affected by engineering works during bank holiday periods, as quieter commuter days are often used for planned maintenance. If you need to catch a flight, train, coach, or ferry, allow extra time and check live travel updates before leaving.

Roads can be busier than usual before and after long weekends. Motorways, major routes, tourist areas, airports, shopping centres, and coastal destinations may experience heavy traffic. Parking restrictions can also vary by borough or local authority, so check local signs carefully. Do not assume that parking is free just because it is a bank holiday.

Shopping and supermarkets

Many supermarkets, shopping centres, convenience stores, and high street shops remain open on bank holidays, but opening hours may be shorter than usual. Larger stores may close earlier. Around Easter Sunday and Christmas Day, opening rules and trading patterns can be more restricted. Smaller shops may choose their own opening hours. If you need essential items, medication, baby supplies, food, or travel goods, check opening times in advance. Online delivery slots may fill quickly before long weekends and festive periods.

Banking and money

Banks and many financial institutions are usually closed on bank holidays. Online and mobile banking may still be available, but some payments, transfers, mortgage transactions, business banking services, cheque processing, and customer support requests may not be completed until the next working day. If you need to make an urgent payment, pay a bill, transfer funds, or meet a financial deadline, check processing times before the bank holiday. Businesses should plan payroll, supplier payments, rent, invoices, and direct debits in advance.

Public services and councils

Council offices, libraries, housing offices, registry offices, waste collection services, and customer service phone lines may be closed or run reduced hours. Bin collections often change around bank holidays, especially at Christmas and New Year. Check your local council website for revised collection days and emergency contact numbers. If you need help with homelessness, domestic abuse, adult social care, children’s services, or emergency housing, local authorities usually provide emergency out-of-hours contact routes. These may be separate from normal office numbers, so it is worth saving the correct details before a holiday period if you think you may need them.

Work and employment

Bank holidays do not automatically mean every worker has the day off. Whether you are entitled to time off, holiday pay, or time in lieu depends on your employment contract and workplace policy. Many sectors continue working on bank holidays, including healthcare, hospitality, transport, retail, emergency services, logistics, security, cleaning, care work, and media. If you are employed in the UK, check your contract or speak with your employer about how bank holidays are counted as part of your annual leave entitlement. Some employers include bank holidays within annual leave, while others offer them in addition.

Schools and childcare

Schools are usually closed on bank holidays, but school holiday dates are not the same thing as bank holidays. Term dates vary by local authority, academy trust, and school. Parents and carers should check the school’s own calendar, especially around Easter, May half-term, summer holidays, Christmas, and inset days. Nurseries, childminders, after-school clubs, and holiday clubs may also have different arrangements. If you rely on childcare, confirm availability early.

Visitors and tourists

If you are visiting London or another part of the UK during a bank holiday, many attractions, museums, restaurants, pubs, theatres, and tourist sites may remain open, but some may use special hours. Popular attractions can be much busier than usual, and advance booking is recommended where possible. Hotels and restaurants may charge peak rates during long weekends. Transport, airport transfers, and taxis may also be busier. If your trip involves a public holiday, plan your itinerary with flexibility and check official websites before travelling.

Businesses and appointments

Bank holidays can affect business deadlines. Deliveries may be delayed, offices may be closed, and customer service teams may take longer to respond. If you are arranging legal, financial, immigration, property, medical, or government-related appointments, check whether the office is open and whether deadlines move to the next working day. Do not assume that an online form, application, or payment submitted on a bank holiday will be processed immediately. If something is time-sensitive, complete it before the holiday or confirm the deadline with the relevant organisation.

Common UK bank holiday periods

New Year

New Year’s Day is a bank holiday across the UK, but Scotland also usually observes 2 January as a bank holiday. Services may be reduced over the New Year period, and public transport may run special timetables. Some businesses may close for several days between Christmas and New Year.

Easter

Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Scotland observes Good Friday, but Easter Monday is not always treated in the same way as in England and Wales. Easter dates change every year, so always check the current calendar.

Early May bank holiday

The Early May bank holiday usually falls on the first Monday in May. Many offices and public services close, while shops and leisure venues may remain open with reduced or amended hours.

Spring bank holiday

The Spring bank holiday usually falls in late May. It often coincides with school half-term periods in some areas, which can make travel, attractions, and accommodation busier.

Summer bank holiday

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the Summer bank holiday usually falls on the last Monday in August. In Scotland, the Summer bank holiday is usually earlier in August. This is an important difference for anyone planning UK-wide work, travel, or service delivery.

Christmas and Boxing Day

Christmas Day and Boxing Day are bank holidays. If either falls on a weekend, substitute weekdays may be used. This period often causes the biggest disruption to opening hours. Many services close or reduce operations for several days, and public transport may be limited or unavailable on Christmas Day. Pharmacies, shops, GP services, council offices, and customer support lines may all operate differently.

How to prepare before a bank holiday

Check the official bank holiday date for your part of the UK.
Confirm opening times for any service you need, including GP surgeries, pharmacies, shops, banks, council offices, and transport providers.
Order repeat prescriptions early.
Make essential payments before the holiday period.
Check travel routes and public transport timetables.
Book appointments in advance where possible.
Save emergency numbers and out-of-hours contact details.
Keep basic supplies at home, including medication, food, baby items, phone chargers, and important documents.
Allow extra time for deliveries, applications, and customer service responses.
Check local council updates for bin collections, parking, and emergency support.

Emergency and urgent help

Bank holidays do not stop emergency help from being available.

Call 999 for police, ambulance, fire, or coastguard emergencies.
Use NHS 111 online or call 111 if you need urgent medical help and are not sure what to do.
For non-emergency police matters, call 101.
For urgent but non-life-threatening healthcare needs, NHS 111 can guide you to the right service.
If you are unsafe at home, experiencing violence, or at risk of harm, call 999 in an emergency.
For homelessness, social care, or emergency housing support, check your local council’s out-of-hours service.

Why checking the current year matters

Bank holiday dates can change because of weekends, substitute days, Easter dates, regional differences, and special national events. A date that applied last year may not apply this year. Businesses may also set their own opening hours, even when the official holiday date is fixed.

For example, a pharmacy may open on one bank holiday but close on another. A supermarket may open for reduced hours. A GP surgery may close completely, while an urgent care service remains available. A train route may be open but affected by engineering works. A council service may be closed, but an emergency out-of-hours line may still operate.

For this reason, the safest approach is to check the official list first, then check the specific service you plan to use.

Official lists

Planning ahead summary

Bank holidays can be enjoyable long weekends, but they can also create practical difficulties if you need healthcare, transport, banking, prescriptions, childcare, official appointments, or emergency support. Check dates early, confirm opening hours, and avoid leaving important tasks until the last working day before a holiday.