Bank holidays in England are days when most banks and many businesses close, set by law rather than by individual choice

A bank holiday in England is a public holiday declared by the government when banks, post offices, and many other businesses shut down. The term comes from the fact that banks were the first institutions to close on these days — it stuck even though the closure now applies much more widely. Unlike the United States, where federal holidays are set by Congress and explore nationwide, England's bank holidays are set by the government and vary slightly between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

When a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the following Monday becomes a substitute bank holiday, usually called a "bank holiday in lieu". This means you get the day off work on the Monday instead. The day itself is still called a bank holiday, not a "floating holiday" or "observed holiday" — the name reflects what actually happens.

Bank holidays are not the same as annual leave. Your employer is not required by law to pay you extra or give you time off on a bank holiday unless your employment contract says so. Many employers do give the day off, but some — particularly in retail, hospitality, and healthcare — ask staff to work and may pay extra or offer a different day off in exchange. This is a point of real confusion, so check your contract or ask your manager directly.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank holidays in England are set by the government and include New Year's Day, Easter Monday, May Day, summer bank holidays, and Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
  • When a bank holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes a substitute bank holiday so you do not lose the day.
  • Your employer is not legally required to give you the day off or pay you extra unless your contract specifies it, even though many do.
  • Banks, post offices, and government offices close on bank holidays, which can affect when payments clear and when you can access services.
  • Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have different bank holidays from England, so if you work across borders or move between countries, check the local calendar.

The fixed bank holidays in England each year

England has eight bank holidays that fall on the same date or follow the same pattern every year. New Year's Day is 1 January. Easter Monday falls on the Monday after Easter Sunday, which changes each year because Easter is calculated by lunar calendar — it can fall anywhere between 22 March and 25 April. May Day is always the first Monday in May. The summer bank holiday is always the last Monday in August. Christmas Day is 25 December and Boxing Day is 26 December.

Two additional bank holidays were added for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and are not repeated annually. The Spring Bank Holiday, normally the last Monday in May, was moved to 2 June that year, and an extra bank holiday was declared for 3 June. These are historical exceptions and do not recur.

If Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the substitute bank holiday is observed on the following weekday — usually the Monday and Tuesday after Christmas. This means if Christmas Day is a Saturday, you get Monday 27 December and Tuesday 28 December off instead. If both fall on a weekend, you get two days off in the following week.

How bank holidays affect payments and banking services

On a bank holiday, banks are closed and do not process payments. This matters most for same-day transfers and cheque clearing. If you send a bank transfer on a bank holiday, it will not leave your account until the next working day. If you deposit a cheque on a bank holiday, it will not start clearing until the next working day, which can add an extra day to the usual three to five working days for a cheque to clear.

Standing orders and direct debits still go out on bank holidays — these are processed automatically by the banking system, not by staff. However, if a standing order or direct debit is due on a bank holiday, it may go out on the bank holiday itself or on the next working day depending on your bank's system. Check with your bank if you have a payment due on or around a bank holiday and need to know the exact timing.

Faster Payments and CHAPS transfers (the two main same-day transfer systems in the UK) do not operate on bank holidays. If you need money to reach someone urgently and a bank holiday is coming, send the transfer before the bank holiday, not on it. International transfers are also affected — correspondent banks in other countries may be closed on different days, so a transfer sent on an English bank holiday may be delayed at the receiving end as well.

Differences between England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland each have their own bank holidays, and they do not all match England's. Scotland has nine bank holidays, including 2 January (New Year's Day holiday) and St Andrew's Day (30 November). Wales has nine as well, including St David's Day (1 March). Northern Ireland has ten, including St Patrick's Day (17 March) and the Battle of the Boyne (12 July).

If you work for a company with offices in more than one country, or if you work remotely for a company based in another part of the UK, check which bank holidays explore to you. Some employers follow the bank holidays of the country where their head office is located. Others follow the bank holidays of the country where you work. This should be in your contract or your employee handbook.

If you are moving between countries or planning to do banking across borders around a bank holiday, remember that the other country's banks may be open when England's are closed, or vice versa. This can actually speed up a transfer if you are sending money from England to Scotland on an English bank holiday — the Scottish bank may still be processing it.

What stays open on bank holidays

Not everything closes on a bank holiday. Supermarkets, shops, restaurants, and most businesses stay open, though some may have reduced hours. Post offices close, which means you cannot buy stamps, send parcels, or access Post Office services. Government offices close. The NHS operates on a reduced schedule — GP surgeries are usually closed, but A&E departments and out-of-hours services remain open.

Online banking and mobile banking apps work normally on bank holidays — you can check your balance, set up payments, and view transactions at any time. You just cannot send a payment that will clear the same day. ATMs and cash machines operate normally and dispense cash 24 hours a day, bank holiday or not.

Utility companies, insurance companies, and most customer service lines operate normally on bank holidays, though some may have reduced staffing. If you need to contact your bank by phone on a bank holiday, you may wait longer than usual, but most banks have a 24-hour helpline for emergencies.

Planning around bank holidays for payments and important date

If you have a bill due on or just after a bank holiday, send the payment before the bank holiday. A direct debit set up for the day after a bank holiday may go out on the bank holiday itself or on the next working day — contact your biller if you are unsure. If you are paying by bank transfer and the important date is the day after a bank holiday, assume the transfer will not arrive until the day after that.

For cheques, add extra time. A cheque posted on a bank holiday will not be collected until the next working day, and clearing takes three to five working days after that. If you need a cheque to clear by a specific date and a bank holiday is in the way, post it at least a week earlier.

If you are expecting a payment — a salary, a refund, a benefit payment — and a bank holiday is coming, it may arrive a day later than usual. Salary payments are usually processed the day before payday, so they should arrive on payday even if a bank holiday falls on payday itself. But refunds and one-off payments can be delayed. If a payment is late and a bank holiday has passed, wait until the next working day after the bank holiday before contacting the payer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work on a bank holiday?

Not unless your contract says so. Your employer can require you to work on a bank holiday if the contract includes that term. Many employers in retail, hospitality, healthcare, and emergency services do require staff to work bank holidays. If you do work, you should receive extra pay or a day off in lieu — check your contract or ask your manager what applies to you.

If a bank holiday falls on a Saturday, do I get Friday off instead?

No. If a bank holiday falls on a Saturday, the substitute bank holiday is the following Monday. You do not get Friday off. The same applies if a bank holiday falls on a Sunday — the substitute is the following Monday. This is set by law and applies to all bank holidays except Christmas and Boxing Day, which have their own rules.

Will my salary be paid on time if payday is a bank holiday?

Usually yes. Most employers process salaries the working day before payday, so the money arrives in your account on payday even if payday itself is a bank holiday. However, some employers may pay a day early if payday falls on a bank holiday. Check with your payroll department if you are unsure.

Can I send a bank transfer on a bank holiday?

You can initiate a transfer using online or mobile banking on a bank holiday, but it will not leave your account or arrive at the recipient's account until the next working day. If you need money to reach someone urgently, send it before the bank holiday. Faster Payments and CHAPS do not operate on bank holidays.

What happens to my direct debit if it is due on a bank holiday?

Direct debits are processed automatically and usually go out on the due date even if it is a bank holiday. However, some banks may process them on the next working day instead. If you have a direct debit due on or around a bank holiday and need to know the exact timing, contact your bank or the organisation collecting the payment.