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 down, post offices close, and most shops and offices do not operate. If you work for an employer, you are usually may have access to to the day off. The key difference from a regular weekend is that bank holidays are paid time off — you do not lose wages because the business is closed.

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 shut down too. The name stuck, even though today the holiday is about giving workers a day off rather than about banking specifically.

Bank holidays are not the same as religious holidays like Christmas or Easter, though some bank holidays fall on those dates. The government decides which days count as bank holidays each year, and the dates can shift slightly depending on how they fall on the calendar.

Key Takeaways

  • Bank holidays are set by the UK government and give most workers a paid day off, though some sectors like retail and hospitality may still operate.
  • There are between eight and ten bank holidays each year in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and the dates vary slightly by country.
  • If you work on a bank holiday, you are usually may have access to to pay at your normal rate, or a day off in lieu, depending on your contract.
  • Banks, post offices, and most government offices close on bank holidays, which can affect when you can handle financial or administrative tasks.

How many bank holidays happen each year

England and Wales have eight bank holidays each year. Scotland has nine. Northern Ireland has ten. The exact number varies because some holidays are fixed to a date (like Christmas on 25 December) while others move to the nearest Monday if they fall on a weekend.

The standard bank holidays across the UK are: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Early May Bank Holiday (first Monday in May), Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May), Summer Bank Holiday (last Monday in August), Christmas Day, and Boxing Day. Scotland adds a second New Year holiday on 2 January. Northern Ireland adds St Patrick's Day on 17 March.

The government can also declare an extra bank holiday for special occasions — for example, the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 or a state funeral. These are announced in advance, usually several months ahead.

What closes and what stays open on a bank holiday

Banks, building societies, and post offices close on bank holidays. Most government offices and courts shut down. Schools close. Many shops and supermarkets close, though some large supermarkets and convenience stores stay open with reduced hours.

Hospitals, emergency services, and utilities stay open and staffed. Public transport usually runs, though on a reduced or weekend schedule. Restaurants, pubs, and hotels often stay open because they rely on people having the day off. Retail and hospitality workers are more likely to work a bank holiday than office workers.

If you need to do banking, post a letter, or handle government business, you will need to wait until the next working day. If you have a regular appointment with a doctor or dentist on a bank holiday, check with them in advance — many reschedule to the day before or after.

Your pay and time off if you work on a bank holiday

Your right to pay on a bank holiday depends on your employment contract. If your contract says you get bank holidays off, and you do not work, you are paid your normal wage. If you work on a bank holiday, you are may have access to to pay at your normal rate — you do not automatically get extra pay just for working that day, though some employers offer a premium.

Some contracts say you get a fixed number of days off per year, and bank holidays count toward that total. Others say bank holidays are in addition to your annual leave. Check your contract or ask your employer which applies to you.

If your employer requires you to work a bank holiday and you do not want to, you can negotiate a day off in lieu — a day you take off later instead. This should be agreed in writing. If you are unsure what you are may have access to to, your employer's HR department or ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) can clarify.

Bank holidays in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland and Northern Ireland have different bank holiday dates from England and Wales in some cases. Scotland observes 2 January as a bank holiday instead of Easter Monday. Northern Ireland observes St Patrick's Day on 17 March and also has a different summer bank holiday date in some years.

If you live in one part of the UK but work in another, your employer's location usually determines which bank holidays you get. If you work for a UK-wide company, they may give you the bank holidays of the country where their main office is, or they may give you all the bank holidays across the UK.

If you are unsure which bank holidays explore to you, ask your employer or check the UK government's official bank holidays page, which lists the dates for each country.

Planning around bank holidays

Bank holidays cluster around certain times of year. There are usually two in May (Early May and Spring Bank Holiday), and the summer break has one in August. Christmas and New Year have four bank holidays across the two weeks. If a bank holiday falls on a weekend, the government usually moves it to the following Monday, which can extend a break.

If you need to handle banking, post something, or visit a government office, plan ahead. Many people try to do these things on the Friday before a bank holiday Monday, so expect longer queues. If you have a regular appointment that falls on a bank holiday, contact the provider early to reschedule.

If you are planning a holiday or time off, remember that bank holidays are when many other people are also off work, so travel, accommodation, and attractions are busier and often more expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to work on a bank holiday?

It depends on your contract and your industry. If your contract says you get bank holidays off, your employer cannot force you to work without agreement. Some sectors like retail, hospitality, and healthcare routinely work bank holidays. If you are asked to work and do not want to, you can negotiate a day off in lieu instead.

What if a bank holiday falls on a weekend?

The government moves the bank holiday to the following Monday. For example, if Christmas falls on a Saturday, the bank holiday is observed on Monday 27 December instead. This is called a "substitute" bank holiday and is announced in advance.

Can my employer refuse to give me a bank holiday off?

If your contract says you get bank holidays off, your employer cannot refuse without your agreement. However, if your contract says you get a fixed number of days off per year and bank holidays count toward that total, your employer can require you to use a bank holiday as one of your annual leave days. Check your contract or ask HR.

Do I get paid extra for working a bank holiday?

You are may have access to to pay at your normal rate for working a bank holiday. You do not automatically get extra pay or "time and a half" just because it is a bank holiday, though some employers offer a premium. The best approach is to negotiate a day off in lieu instead, or to agree on extra pay before you work the day.

Are bank holidays the same across the whole UK?

No. Scotland has nine bank holidays, Northern Ireland has ten, and England and Wales have eight. Some dates differ — for example, Scotland observes 2 January instead of Easter Monday. If you work across different parts of the UK, your employer usually follows the rules of the country where their main office is located.