Planning a holiday, a wedding or just a long weekend around the bank holidays 2027 dates? The UK bank holidays 2027 calendar has a few surprises. Easter falls early, in late March. Christmas Day and Boxing Day both land on a weekend, so the days off move to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. And with a little planning, you can turn a handful of annual leave days into several long breaks.
This guide lists every date for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, explains substitute days, and shows exactly which days to book off. All dates match the official GOV.UK list.
Quick answer: England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027, Scotland has 9 and Northern Ireland has 10. The first is New Year’s Day on Friday 1 January and the last is the Boxing Day substitute on Tuesday 28 December.
Bank Holidays 2027 in England and Wales
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Bank Holidays 2027 in Scotland
Scotland has its own pattern. There is no Easter Monday, the summer bank holiday is at the start of August, and there are two extra days: 2 January and St Andrew’s Day.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 4 January | Monday | 2nd January (substitute day) |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 2 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 30 November | Tuesday | St Andrew’s Day |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Many Scottish towns and cities also have local holidays, which vary by council, so check with your employer.
Bank Holidays 2027 in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland follows the England and Wales dates and adds two of its own: St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne.
| Date | Day | Bank holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| 17 March | Wednesday | St Patrick’s Day |
| 26 March | Friday | Good Friday |
| 29 March | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 3 May | Monday | Early May bank holiday |
| 31 May | Monday | Spring bank holiday |
| 12 July | Monday | Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) |
| 30 August | Monday | Summer bank holiday |
| 27 December | Monday | Christmas Day (substitute day) |
| 28 December | Tuesday | Boxing Day (substitute day) |
Substitute Days in the Bank Holidays 2027 Calendar
When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a weekday is usually given instead, called a substitute day. In 2027, Christmas Day is a Saturday and Boxing Day is a Sunday, so the bank holidays 2027 calendar moves them to Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. In Scotland, 2 January is a Saturday, so the substitute day is Monday 4 January.
Why Is Easter So Early in Bank Holidays 2027?
Easter Sunday 2027 is on 28 March. Easter is set by the first full moon after the spring equinox, so it can fall anywhere between 22 March and 25 April. An early Easter means Good Friday (26 March) and Easter Monday (29 March) both fall in March, which shortens the gap between New Year and your first long weekend.
Bank Holidays 2027 Leave Hacks: 38 Days Off With 13 Days of Leave
The smartest way to use bank holidays 2027 is to book the days around them. Based on the England and Wales dates and a Monday to Friday job, these four breaks turn 13 days of annual leave into 38 days off when you count weekends and bank holidays.
| Break | Book these days | Leave used | Days off in a row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easter | Tue 30 Mar to Fri 2 Apr | 4 | 10 (Fri 26 Mar to Sun 4 Apr) |
| Early May | Tue 4 May to Fri 7 May | 4 | 9 (Sat 1 May to Sun 9 May) |
| Spring | Tue 1 Jun to Fri 4 Jun | 4 | 9 (Sat 29 May to Sun 6 Jun) |
| Christmas | Wed 29 Dec to Fri 31 Dec | 3 | 10 (Sat 25 Dec to Mon 3 Jan 2028) |
The Christmas break works because New Year’s Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, so the substitute bank holiday is expected on Monday 3 January 2028. Add 4 days around the summer bank holiday (Tue 31 Aug to Fri 3 Sep) for another 9-day break.
Tip: Once the bank holidays 2027 dates are in your diary, request leave early. Popular weeks such as Easter and Christmas fill up fast at work. Request your leave in January, when most holiday calendars open.
Do You Get Paid for Bank Holidays?
There is no automatic legal right to time off on bank holidays in the UK. Whether you get the day off, and whether it is paid, depends on your contract. Full-time workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday a year (28 days for a five-day week), and employers can choose to include bank holidays within that figure. Part-time workers get a pro-rata amount. If you work shifts or in retail, hospitality or healthcare, check your contract for enhanced pay rules.
School Holidays and Bank Holidays 2027 (Planning Tips)
School term dates are set by local councils and academy trusts, not by the government, but most line up with the national dates. The May half-term usually covers the week of the spring bank holiday (31 May 2027), and Easter school holidays will likely start around the end of March. Check your council website before booking family trips, as prices jump during these weeks.
US Federal Holidays 2027
Searching from the US? Federal holidays are the American equivalent of bank holidays. Here are the observed dates for 2027:
| Holiday | Observed date |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 15 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 18 (June 19 is a Saturday) |
| Independence Day | Monday, July 5 (July 4 is a Sunday) |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 6 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 11 |
| Veterans Day | Thursday, November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 24 (December 25 is a Saturday) |
Planning Christmas 2027 Already?
Because Christmas falls on a weekend in 2027, the festive break is longer than usual for many workers. Start your plans early with our guides on how to budget for Christmas and Christmas Eve box ideas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bank holidays are there in 2027?
England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2027, Scotland has 9 and Northern Ireland has 10.
When is the first bank holiday of 2027?
New Year’s Day, Friday 1 January 2027, is the first of the bank holidays 2027 calendar across the whole UK.
Is Christmas Eve a bank holiday?
No. Christmas Eve is not included in the bank holidays 2027 list for any part of the UK, although many employers close early.
Are there any extra bank holidays in 2027?
No additional one-off bank holidays have been announced for 2027. Any changes would be published on GOV.UK.
Final Thoughts
Bank holidays 2027 give you an early Easter, two May long weekends and a long Christmas break thanks to weekend substitute days. Save this page, share it with your family or team, and book your leave early to make the most of every long weekend.
