Your Complete Guide to Bank Holidays in 2019-20: Dates, Count, and Planning Tips

Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your Holiday Little Assistant back with the scoop on everyone’s favorite topic—bank holidays! Today we’re tackling a question I get ALL the time: “Exactly how many bank holidays were there in 2019-20?” Whether you’re planning retroactive time off or just curious, let’s break it down together.

So, How Many Bank Holidays Were There in 2019-20?

Drumroll please… England and Wales had 8 bank holidays in 2019 and 8 in 2020 (yep, same number both years!). Scotland rocked 9 each year (lucky ducks with that extra St Andrew’s Day!), while Northern Ireland scored 10 in 2019 and 2020 thanks to St Patrick’s Day and the Battle of the Boyne anniversary. Here’s the full lineup:

2019 Bank Holidays (England/Wales)

✅ New Year’s Day (Jan 1)

✅ Good Friday (April 19)

✅ Easter Monday (April 22)

✅ Early May Bank Holiday (May 6)

✅ Spring Bank Holiday (May 27)

✅ Summer Bank Holiday (August 26)

✅ Christmas Day (Dec 25)

✅ Boxing Day (Dec 26)

2020 Bank Holidays (England/Wales)

Nearly identical except…

✅ New Year’s Day (Jan 1)

✅ Good Friday (April 10)

✅ Easter Monday (April 13)

✅ Early May Bank Holiday (May 8 – moved for VE Day 75th anniversary!)

✅ Spring Bank Holiday (May 25)

✅ Summer Bank Holiday (August 31)

✅ Christmas Day (Dec 25)

✅ Boxing Day (Dec 28 – observed Monday the 28th since the 26th was a Saturday!)

Wait, Why Do Scotland and NI Get More Days Off?

Great question! The UK’s four nations have slightly different holiday traditions:

• Scotland celebrates St Andrew’s Day (Nov 30) as a local hero 🏴

• Northern Ireland honors St Patrick’s Day (March 17) and the Battle of the Boyne (July 12) with parades and festivities 🎉

Pro tip: If you live near borders, you might sneak in extra celebrations!

Fun Fact About 2020’s Special VE Day Holiday

That moved May bank holiday? It was a one-time deal to mark 75 years since WWII’s Victory in Europe Day! The govt shifted it from Monday May 4 to Friday May 8 to match the historic date. Union Jacks everywhere!

To wrap up: England/Wales get 8 bank holidays yearly, while Scotland and NI enjoy 1-2 extra. Pro travelers know to check exact dates—Easter hops around, and “substitute days” can surprise you (looking at you, 2020 Boxing Day!).

Thanks for hanging out! Now you’re a total 2019-20 bank holiday expert. Got questions about upcoming holidays or weird historical date changes? Hit me up anytime—your Holiday Little Assistant lives for this stuff! 🎊