So, How Many Bank Holidays Are in April in the UK? (Spoiler: It’s a Short One!)

Hello everyone, I am your dedicated public holiday assistant, the Holiday Little Assistant. Recently, a little friend hit me up asking about how many bank holidays in April in the UK. I could tell they were trying to plan out their month, maybe sneak in a little getaway or just excited for a long weekend. So, I figured I’d break it all down for you—because let’s be real, nobody wants to miss out on a day off, right? Let’s dive into what April looks like on the UK bank holiday calendar.

Alright, so the short answer is: in April, the UK usually has just **one bank holiday**. Yeah, I know, it feels a little stingy compared to May, which is packed with a couple of them. But don’t sleep on that one—it’s a biggie! That holiday is **Good Friday**, which falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday. In 2025, Good Friday is on April 18th. So, you’ve got a whole Friday off to kick off the Easter weekend. Some folks might also get Easter Monday off, but here’s the thing: Easter Monday is technically a bank holiday in the UK (except in Scotland, where it’s not a public holiday). Wait, doesn’t that mean there are two? Well, hold on, because Easter Monday is actually in March some years, or it can fall in April. For 2025, Easter Monday is on April 21st. So, yes, in 2025, the UK (excluding Scotland) actually gets **two bank holidays in April**: Good Friday (April 18) and Easter Monday (April 21). But here’s the catch: if you’re in Scotland, you just get Good Friday. So it really depends on where you are in the UK.

But historically, April is a very light month for bank holidays. Most years, only Good Friday is guaranteed in April. Easter Monday can sometimes slip into March if Easter falls early, like in 2024 when Easter was in March. So for planning purposes, always double-check the year. Let me tell you, I’ve seen plenty of people assume they have a four-day weekend in April, only to realize that Easter Monday is not a holiday in their region or that it’s a different date. So, be a smart planner, okay?

Now, you might be wondering, “Why does April have so few holidays?” Well, it’s all about tradition and seasons. The UK’s bank holiday system is a mix of Christian holidays and ancient days off for workers. Good Friday is a major Christian observance, and it’s been a public holiday for ages. After the winter months, April is still kinda chilly in the UK, so maybe the government thinks we don’t need as many days off? Haha, I’m just kidding—but seriously, the next big batch comes in May (May Day and Spring Bank Holiday) and then August (Summer Bank Holiday). So you gotta enjoy what you get in April, even if it’s just one or two days.

What about other potential holidays? Well, there’s St. George’s Day on April 23rd, but that’s not a bank holiday in England, even though it’s the patron saint’s day. Some people think it should be, but for now, it’s just a normal day. So don’t plan a party expecting a day off for that, unless you work for a super special company that gives it to you. Same goes for April Fools’ Day—I mean, that’s not a holiday at all, just a day for pranks. So no day off there, unfortunately.

Questions related to how many bank holidays in April UK

Q: Can I combine April bank holidays with annual leave to get a longer break?

Absolutely! In fact, this is a pro-tip from many UK workers. If Good Friday (or Easter Monday) falls on a Friday or Monday, you can take the four days between them off to get a nice long weekend. For example, in 2025, if you take annual leave from Tuesday to Thursday (April 22-24), you could get a nine-day break from April 18 to April 27. That’s because Good Friday and Easter Monday bookend the weekend, and the next Friday is the start of the weekend again. Check your company’s leave policy, but this is a common trick to maximize your time off.

Q: Are schools and banks closed on these holidays?

Yep, banks are closed on bank holidays—that’s kind of the point, right? In the UK, bank holidays mean banks, most offices, and many retail shops are either closed or have adjusted hours. Schools are also closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday (and usually for a whole spring break around Easter). So if you’ve got kids, you’re probably ready for this. But always check with your specific bank or school, because some places might have slightly different schedules.

Q: What if I live in Scotland? Do I still get two holidays?

Nope. In Scotland, Easter Monday is not a public holiday. So only Good Friday (and maybe a local substitute holiday) is applicable. However, Scotland has its own set of bank holidays that are different from England and Wales, like St. Andrew’s Day in November. So in April, Scottish folks just get Good Friday. That’s still a nice long weekend, though!

Q: Are there any other April bank holidays I might be missing?

Honestly, the only two you might see are Good Friday and Easter Monday. Some people might mistakenly think the Early May Bank Holiday (which is in May) is in April, but that’s a different month. So don’t get your hopes up for extra days off in April—plan your leave wisely.

So, to wrap it all up: In most years, April in the UK has just one bank holiday (Good Friday), but occasionally Easter Monday also falls in April, giving some regions two. The year 2025 is one of those lucky years with both in April (except in Scotland). And remember, always check the exact dates for your region and your employer’s holiday schedule. It’s a good idea to mark your calendar early so you can start daydreaming about that long weekend.

public holiday calendar.COM Thanks for reading, I hope this article can help you fully understand how many bank holidays in April in the UK. Whether you’re looking forward to Good Friday worship, an Easter egg hunt, or just a quiet day at home catching up on sleep, April’s bank holidays are a little slice of rest. If you have more questions about UK bank holidays or need help planning your time off, please contact us—I’m always here to help you navigate the holiday maze. Take care and enjoy your April days off!