Public Holidays in United Kingdom
Statutory public holidays in United Kingdom, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
United Kingdom at a glance
The UK has public holidays known as bank holidays, and the four nations set their own lists, so the calendar differs between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Most fall on a Monday to create long weekends, and when Christmas or New Year falls at a weekend a substitute weekday is added.
United Kingdom public holidays 2026
The dates below come from United Kingdom’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| 2nd January | Jan 2Fri | 2026 |
| Twelfth Night | Jan 5Mon | 2026 |
| Epiphany | Jan 6Tue | 2026 |
| Orthodox Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | 2026 |
| Orthodox New Year | Jan 14Wed | 2026 |
| Isra and Mi'raj | Jan 16Fri | 2026 |
| Burns Night | Jan 25Sun | 2026 |
| Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) | Feb 2Mon | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 89 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in United Kingdom
The urban centres that anchor most trips to United Kingdom.
London
A capital of parliaments, museums and markets along the Thames.
Edinburgh
A city of a medieval Old Town, a Georgian New Town and a castle on a crag.
Manchester
An industrial city transformed, with music, football and canal-side quarters.
Liverpool
A port city of a waterfront, two cathedrals and a famous musical heritage.
Cardiff
A compact capital with a castle, a bay and mountains an hour away.
Belfast
A city of shipyard history, murals and a reworked waterfront.
Top attractions in United Kingdom
The places that draw most visitors to United Kingdom.
Stonehenge
A Neolithic stone circle aligned to the solstices, on Salisbury Plain.
Edinburgh Old and New Towns
Two contrasting planned cities stacked on either side of a valley.
Lake District
Lakes, fells and stone villages, the birthplace of British romanticism.
Giant's Causeway
Basalt columns formed by ancient lava on the Antrim coast.
Tower of London
A Norman castle holding the Crown Jewels and a thousand years of history.
Scottish Highlands
Glens, lochs andMunro peaks stretching to the northern coast.
Festivals, food and getting around United Kingdom
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
2nd January
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
Twelfth Night
Falls on Jan 5
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🎉
Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
Orthodox Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
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🎉
Orthodox New Year
Falls on Jan 14
Food & drink
Getting around
Trains link every city, though fares can be high; coaches are cheaper and buses cover rural areas.
Travelling around United Kingdom’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in United Kingdom tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
United Kingdom's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
United Kingdom public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does United Kingdom have?
United Kingdom has 89 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for United Kingdom is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are United Kingdom's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, United Kingdom typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in United Kingdom?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for United Kingdom?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.