Your Complete Guide to UK Bank Holidays from 2016 to 2017

Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your go-to Holiday Little Assistant here. I noticed someone recently asked about how many bank holidays fell between 2016 and 2017 in the UK. That’s actually a super practical question – whether you’re planning time off work or just trying to maximize those long weekends! Let me break it all down for you in this ultimate guide.

First things first – let’s tackle those numbers head on. In 2016, England and Wales enjoyed a total of 8 bank holidays. Scotland got 9 (lucky them with that extra St Andrew’s Day!). Then in 2017, England and Wales again had 8 bank holidays, while Scotland maintained their 9. So if we’re talking the two-year stretch from 2016-2017, that’s 16-17 guaranteed days off for most UK workers (depending on where you lived). Not too shabby!

The Complete 2016-2017 Bank Holiday Breakdown

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty with a full calendar rundown. In 2016, the England/Wales holidays were: New Year’s Day (Friday Jan 1), Good Friday (March 25), Easter Monday (March 28), Early May bank holiday (May 2), Spring bank holiday (May 30), Summer bank holiday (August 29), Christmas Day (Sunday Dec 25 – observed on Tuesday Dec 27), and Boxing Day (Monday Dec 26).

Then in 2017, the lineup was: New Year’s Day (Monday Jan 2 – observed because Jan 1 was Sunday), Good Friday (April 14), Easter Monday (April 17), Early May bank holiday (May 1), Spring bank holiday (May 29), Summer bank holiday (August 28), Christmas Day (Monday Dec 25), and Boxing Day (Tuesday Dec 26).

Pro tip: Notice how dates shift year to year? Easter moves around based on lunar cycles, and when holidays fall on weekends, we get “substitute days” during the week. Pretty cool system, right?

Why Scotland Gets More Bank Holidays

I know what you’re thinking – why does Scotland get all the fun? Well, they celebrate St Andrew’s Day on November 30 as an additional bank holiday (their national day). In 2016 that was a Wednesday, and in 2017 it fell on a Thursday. Northern Ireland actually gets even more holidays – 10 in 2016 and 2017 each thanks to St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne anniversary. The UK’s holiday distribution isn’t completely equal, but hey – more reason to visit different parts of the country!

Making the Most of Your Bank Holidays

Here’s where it gets really interesting. Smart planners could turn these 16-17 bank holidays into way more time off. For example, in 2016, May 2 bank holiday was Monday – take 4 vacation days (Tuesday-Friday) and get 9 days off while only using 4 leave days! Same trick worked in 2017 with the May 1 holiday. The Christmas-New Year period is golden too – in 2016, with strategic timing you could get 16 days off while only using 8 vacation days. Now that’s what I call holiday magic!

To wrap it up, whether you’re looking back at 2016-2017 for payroll reasons or just holiday curiosity, England and Wales had 8 bank holidays each year (16 total), Scotland had 9 each (18 total), and Northern Ireland had 10 each (20 total). The UK’s bank holiday system creates perfect opportunities for extended breaks – it’s all about planning smart!

FAQpro Thanks for reading, folks! I hope this breakdown helps you understand the 2016-2017 UK bank holiday situation inside out. Got more questions about UK holidays past or present? You know where to find me – your Holiday Little Assistant is always here to help make sense of those precious days off!