UK Bank Holidays 2027: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland Compared
There are 8 bank holidays in England and Wales in 2027, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. Because Christmas Day and Boxing Day both fall on a weekend in 2027, the Christmas bank holidays move to Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28.
Key facts
- First bank holiday of 2027: Friday, January 1 (New Year’s Day).
- Easter 2027 is early: Good Friday is March 26 and Easter Monday March 29.
- Christmas bank holidays: Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28 (substitute days).
- New Year’s Day 2028 is a Saturday, so the bank holiday moves to Monday, January 3, 2028.
Bank holidays 2027 in each part of the UK
| Bank holiday | Date | England and Wales | Scotland | Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Fri, January 1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2nd January (substitute day) | Mon, January 4 | No | Yes | No |
| St Patrick’s Day | Wed, March 17 | No | No | Yes |
| Good Friday | Fri, March 26 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Easter Monday | Mon, March 29 | Yes | No | Yes |
| Early May bank holiday | Mon, May 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Spring bank holiday | Mon, May 31 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day) | Mon, July 12 | No | No | Yes |
| Summer bank holiday | Mon, August 2 (Scotland), Mon, August 30 (rest of UK) | Aug 30 | Aug 2 | Aug 30 |
| St Andrew’s Day | Tue, November 30 | No | Yes | No |
| Christmas Day (substitute day) | Mon, December 27 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boxing Day (substitute day) | Tue, December 28 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Total | 8 | 9 | 10 |
What’s different in Scotland?
Scotland has its own set of bank holidays. It gets an extra day after New Year (January 2, which moves to Monday, January 4 in 2027 because the 2nd is a Saturday) and St Andrew’s Day on November 30. But it doesn’t have Easter Monday as a bank holiday, and its summer bank holiday is at the start of August instead of the end. Many Scottish employers also give local holidays that vary by town.
What’s different in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland has the most bank holidays in the UK. On top of the England and Wales list, it adds St Patrick’s Day (March 17) and the Battle of the Boyne, or Orangemen’s Day (July 12).
Why Christmas moves to December 27 and 28
When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday is given instead, usually the following Monday. In 2027, Christmas Day is on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday, so the bank holidays are Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28. New Year’s Day 2028 also falls on a Saturday, so the next bank holiday is Monday, January 3, 2028.
This creates the best holiday deal of the year: book Wednesday, December 29 to Friday, December 31 as annual leave, and you get 10 days off in a row, from December 25 to January 3. See more ideas in our guide to 2027 long weekends.
Are bank holidays a legal right to a day off?
Not exactly. UK law gives most full-time workers at least 5.6 weeks (28 days) of paid holiday a year, and employers can include bank holidays in that. Many do, but there’s no legal right to have bank holidays off or to get extra pay for working them. Check your contract.
Bank holidays 2027 at a glance (England and Wales)
- Friday, January 1: New Year’s Day
- Friday, March 26: Good Friday
- Monday, March 29: Easter Monday
- Monday, May 3: Early May bank holiday
- Monday, May 31: Spring bank holiday
- Monday, August 30: Summer bank holiday
- Monday, December 27: Christmas Day (substitute day)
- Tuesday, December 28: Boxing Day (substitute day)
How we checked these dates
We checked the 2027 dates against GOV.UK’s official bank holiday list and the Royal Proclamation issued by the Privy Council in July 2026, which formally appoints New Year’s Day, the early May bank holiday and the December 28 substitute day, and the July 12 holiday in Northern Ireland. Dates can occasionally be changed by royal proclamation for special events, so we update this page if that happens.
Frequently asked questions
How many bank holidays are there in 2027?
8 in England and Wales, 9 in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland.
When is the Easter bank holiday in 2027?
Good Friday is March 26 and Easter Monday is March 29, 2027. Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland.
When are the Christmas bank holidays in 2027?
Monday, December 27 and Tuesday, December 28, because Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on a weekend.
Is there an extra bank holiday in 2027?
As of October 2026, no extra bank holidays have been announced for 2027.
See every date on our UK holidays 2027 page, count down with our Easter countdown, or print a 2027 UK calendar.
