A bank holiday in the UK is a day when banks and most businesses close, and most workers get the day off with pay

Bank holidays are official public holidays set by the UK government. On these days, banks shut their doors, post offices close, and most shops and offices do not open. If you work for an employer, you are usually may have access to to the day off with your normal pay — though this depends on your employment contract and which sector you work in.

The term "bank holiday" comes from the 19th century, when the Bank of England's closure on certain days meant that financial transactions could not happen, so other businesses closed too. The name stuck, even though today the reason is straightforward that the government has declared the day a public holiday.

Bank holidays are different from regular weekends. They are extra days off on top of your weekends, and they are set by law. However, not every worker gets every bank holiday off — some industries run on bank holidays, and some workers have different arrangements.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank holidays are official public holidays when banks, post offices, and most businesses close, and most workers get paid time off.
  • The UK has between eight and ten bank holidays per year, depending on which part of the UK you live in and whether additional holidays are declared.
  • Some workers in essential services — hospitals, emergency services, transport, retail — may be required to work on bank holidays, usually for extra pay.
  • If you work on a bank holiday, your employment contract should specify whether you get paid extra, a day off in lieu, or both.
  • Bank holidays affect when you can do financial transactions: you cannot visit a bank branch, and some online services may be delayed.

Which days are bank holidays in the UK

England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland each have a slightly different set of bank holidays. England and Wales share most of them, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own variations.

In England and Wales, the standard bank holidays are: New Year's Day (1 January), Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), Easter Monday (the Monday after Easter), Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December). That is eight days.

Scotland observes New Year's Day, 2 January, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — also eight, but with a different second holiday in January instead of Easter Monday.

Northern Ireland has New Year's Day, St Patrick's Day (17 March), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday, Spring Bank Holiday, Summer Bank Holiday, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day — nine days total.

The government can declare additional bank holidays for special occasions. For example, extra bank holidays were declared for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 and the King's Coronation in 2023. These are announced in advance, usually several months ahead.

How bank holidays affect your pay and time off

If you are employed and your contract does not say otherwise, you are may have access to to be paid your normal wage on a bank holiday even if you do not work. Your employer cannot force you to take unpaid leave on a bank holiday unless your contract specifically allows it.

However, your contract may state that bank holidays are part of your annual leave entitlement rather than extra days off. This means the days count toward your holiday allowance. For example, if you get 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, you might actually get 25 days total, with bank holidays included in that figure. Check your contract to see how your employer treats them.

If you work on a bank holiday, what you receive depends on your contract. Some employers pay you your normal rate plus a bonus (often called "time and a half" or double pay). Others give you a day off in lieu — a day off at another time instead of extra pay. Some do both. Ask your employer or check your contract to know what applies to you.

If a bank holiday falls on a day you would normally have off — for example, a Saturday — your employer is not legally required to give you an extra day off or extra pay. However, many employers do offer a substitute day off during the following week.

Which workers are usually required to work on bank holidays

Workers in essential services often work on bank holidays. This includes hospital staff, emergency services (police, fire, ambulance), public transport workers, and utility companies. Retail and hospitality workers also commonly work bank holidays, especially around Christmas and Easter.

Your employment contract should make clear whether you are expected to work bank holidays. If it does not, and your employer suddenly requires you to work one, you can raise this with them — though in practice, many workers in these sectors know from the start that bank holidays are working days for them.

If you are self-employed, bank holidays do not affect you in the same way. You do not get paid time off, but you also have no obligation to work. Many self-employed people choose to close on bank holidays anyway, as their clients may be unavailable.

How bank holidays affect financial services and transactions

On a bank holiday, you cannot visit a bank branch in person. ATMs and online banking usually work normally, but some services are delayed. For example, if you transfer money to another bank on a bank holiday, the receiving bank may not process it until the next working day.

Cheques take longer to clear around bank holidays. If you deposit a cheque on a Friday before a Monday bank holiday, it may not clear until Wednesday or Thursday. The bank will tell you the expected clearing time when you deposit it.

If you need to contact your bank by phone on a bank holiday, most banks have a limited service line for emergencies (fraud, lost cards, urgent issues), but general customer service is closed. Check your bank's website or the back of your card for the emergency number.

Mortgage and loan payments due on a bank holiday are usually processed on the next working day without penalty. However, if your payment is due on a bank holiday and you have not set up automatic payment, contact your lender to confirm the new due date.

What happens if a bank holiday falls on a weekend

If a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the government usually declares a substitute day off on the following Monday or Tuesday. This is called a "substitute bank holiday" or "in lieu" day. For example, if Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, Boxing Day (26 December) is moved to the following Monday.

This rule applies to most bank holidays, but not all. Check the government's official bank holiday calendar for your part of the UK to see which days are observed in any given year, as the dates can shift.

Bank holidays in different parts of the UK

If you live in one part of the UK but work in another, you follow the bank holidays of the country where you work. For example, if you live in England but work in Scotland, you get Scottish bank holidays off, not English ones.

This matters most around Easter and in May, when the dates differ slightly between England and Scotland. It also matters for St Patrick's Day (17 March), which is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland but not in England, Wales, or Scotland.

If you work for a UK-wide company with offices in different countries, your employer may give you a choice of which bank holidays to take, or they may give you the bank holidays for the country where your main office is located.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work on a bank holiday if my employer asks me to?

It depends on your employment contract. If your contract says you may be required to work bank holidays, your employer can ask you to. If it does not mention bank holidays, you can refuse — though in practice, workers in essential services and retail are usually told upfront that bank holidays are working days. If you are unsure, check your contract or ask your employer.

What if I work on a bank holiday — do I automatically get extra pay?

Not automatically. Your contract sets the terms. Some employers pay extra (time and a half, double pay, or a flat bonus), some give you a day off in lieu, and some do both. Check your contract or ask your employer what the policy is before you work a bank holiday.

Can my employer count bank holidays as part of my annual leave?

Yes, if your contract says so. Some employers give you a set number of holiday days that includes bank holidays; others give you holiday days on top of bank holidays. This must be stated in your contract. If you are unsure, ask your employer or check your written contract.

What should I do if I need to contact my bank on a bank holiday?

Most banks have an emergency number on the back of your card or on their website for urgent issues like fraud or lost cards. General customer service is closed on bank holidays. For non-urgent matters, wait until the next working day. Online banking and ATMs usually work normally.

If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, do I get an extra day off?

Usually yes. The government declares a substitute bank holiday on the following Monday or Tuesday. Check the official bank holiday calendar for your part of the UK to see which day is observed in any given year.